Otmoor Birding

Sunrise over Otmoor near the first screen @ Adam Hartley

This is a blog of sightings and matters of interest at Otmoor RSPB and in the greater Otmoor basin in Oxfordshire.

Overview
For information on access instructions and species that one might expect go to Background Info section.

Photos
All photo's are copyrighted. Contact details for the photographer can be found by clicking on the photo album link on the right-hand side and then selecting the appropriate album where the contact details will appear at the top of the page. We always welcome photos from contributors which will be full attributed.

Lists
PLEASE NOTE: We have now updated the Otmoor systematic bird list. The mammal list and insect list to follow in due course.

Contact Details
In all cases replace the "at" with @
For birding issues: Peter Barker -  peter"at"otmoorbirding.com
For web-site issues: Adam Hartley - adam"at"otmoorbirding.com

Hi All

After a couple of weeks absence from the moor I was shocked to see how much
water levels have dropped, but not surprisingly considering the lack of
rain. Most interest has shifted from the pools in front of the hide to the
area in front of the first screen as water levels drop on the reedbed and
large muddy areas are exposed. This weekend on the reedbed there were at
least six Green Sandpipers, one Wood Sandpiper, one Common Sandpiper,one
juvenile Dunlin, two juvenile Redshank, several Snipe, a flyover Greenshank
and a summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwit. These birds appeared and
disappeared behind the reeds and were difficult to see at times as much of
the mud is hidden.
A female Marsh Harrier appeared on Saturday and had been seen on Friday as
well, but it had not turned up on Sunday by the time I left at mid morning.
On Sunday a juvenile Cuckoo was seen on the cattle pen by the bridge, it was
hunting for itself and catching small beetles and caterpillars. It may well
be the same individual that featured in a set of pics by Terry Jones we put
on the blog last week, being fed at the time by a diminutive Reed Warbler.
One of the strangest records of the weekend was of a party of 27 Crossbills
that were seen in the carpark field by a group of four birders from Notts. I
had ignored a party of "finches" that flew up into the trees earlier that
morning, that were probably the same birds. They were last seen heading up
the hill towards Beckley.
The other unusual phenomenon this weekend was the unprecedented numbers of
Common Blue butterflies around the reedbed edge. We estimated at least a
thousand along the footpath to the second screen. They were basking and
nectaring on thistles. It gave an idea about how things used to be before
industrial farming and pesticides.

Cheers Peter

Female Marsh Harrier

 

Juvenile Cuckoo

 

Very common Common Blues!

Juvenile Redshanks and Dunlin.  All above pics © Peter Barker

The water level has really dropped in front of the 1st screen and apparently its looking good at present. Pete Roby found a couple of wood sandpipers there today. In the evening Jason Coppock, Steve Roby and Bob Burgess went to look and found 3+Green Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 2 Garganey (m/f) in eclipse, 2 Hobby and at least 20 Little Egret.

Green sandpiper © Nigel Forrow

Little Egret © Nigel Forrow
Common Tern © Nigel Forrow

I thought that I would publish this fabulous set of photos from Terry Jones depicting a poor parent reed warbler struggling to feed a giant juvenile cuckoo.





All photos © Terry Jones

With Peter being away at present and no reports coming in from Otmoor I thought that I would post a pictoral report using some recent photos taken by Terry Jones.

Adam

Common terns at the first screen

Redshank from the new hide
A jay by the feeders
A family of great-crested grebes by the first screen

All photos © Terry Jones

The calm warm settled weather continues and right on cue our first returning Green Sandpiper turned up feeding and bathing with much splashing in one of the pools in front of the Hide. There were also three Little Ringed Plovers two of which were newly fledged juveniles, probably Otmoor bred. The Cuckoo continued to haunt the ditches waiting for a Reed Warbler to be away from home and the Turtle dove called from the dead elms along the bridle way. There are mixed parties of newly fledged tits and warblers in the hedgerows some still being fed by parents. Snipe were drumming on Saturday over Greenaways. Three terns were still fishing over the reedbed, plunge diving for small fry. A fox put in an appearance South of the hide and seemed unaware that it was so close to people. Our Butterfly count rose by two species with several Commas being seen and a Silver Washed Fritillary on the southern edge of Ashgrave. Butterfly of the weekend however was just a few miles away at Bernwood where we twitched a very relaxed and settled Purple Emperor (thanks for the call Wayne).......worth looking out along the bridle way where one was seen and photographed a couple of years ago.

Cheers Peter
Turtle dove in the morning sun.

Siver washed Fritillary

Purple Emperor with open wings.........

and with wings partially closed. All above pics © Peter Barker 

Saturday night on the moor was warm and breezy, blue skies slowly hazing over as the sun set. At first glance the long grasses of Greenaways appeared almost empty of bird life, until the presence of Carrion Crow brought out numbers of alarmed Redshank and Lapwing. The breeze carried Red Kite and Buzzard, and, later, a single Hobby raced over Long Meadow as dusk deepened.

For most of the evening two juvenile Cuckoo perched on the electric fence on the eastern edge of Big Otmoor, regularly dropping into the grass to feed, chat-like, before regaining their perch. Swift, Swallow, House and Sand Martin all passed over the reed beds and a Common Tern fished for ten minutes in the second lagoon, successful in four out of every five strikes.

Turtle Dove were audible above the sea-wash sound of the breeze in the reeds, until the Starling roost grew to several hundred birds and their chatter drowned out other sounds.

Ashgrave was quiet by 9pm as the wind died away but two quad bikes coming along the bridleway from Noke flushed nine Little Egret and three Grey Heron from their roost.

As night fell, the car park and Long Meadow were dominated by dusky Blackbird song, and the far off scolding of Wren and Blackbird.

Darrell

Fishing Common Tern © Peter Barker

Hi All.

The continuing hot weather has quietened down the bird activity considerably. There were still good birds to be seen but we are beginning to try to get to grips with some of the insect life on the reserve. Peregrine was seen both days as was Hobby and all the commoner raptors. Common Terns continue to haunt the reedbed and Cuckoos are still present one of them luking conspicuously on the anti predator fence round Big Otmoor, clearly waiting its chance to lay in a Reed Warbler nest. Three Snipe were seen displaying and drumming over the visitor trail to the first screen. There is a very confiding Lapwing attending a small chick right in front of the new hide and a Redshank also with a single chick in the same area. We managed to see at least nine species of dragonfly and damselfly including Black tailed Skimmer, Emperor, Brown Hawker and Red-eyed Damselfly. We think we managed to discriminate between Azure and Common Blue Damsel but we're not quite sure yet. We also found eight species of Butterfly but later on next month it is possible to see sixteen different species in a morning....at least thats our record.

 Cheers Peter

Cuckoo still here. © Peter Barker

Emerald Damselfly

Small Skipper (I think ,due to orange antennae)

Brown Hawker    All above pics© Peter Barker

Hi All

It's almost mid summers day and I did not expect to wish that I had taken a
woolly hat and gloves with me on Saturday morning. A bitterly cold wind cut
across the moor and kept many of the insects and birds deep in the
hedgerows.
The ground was wet and there were hundreds of toadlets and froglets
migrating from pond to pond. Grass snakes were also taking longer to warm up
in the ditch alongside the carpark field and so could be spotted easily.
There were three Common Terns quartering the lagoons on both days and on
Sunday at least fifty Swifts fed low and fast over the reedbed. Two
different Peregrines were seen on Saturday one feeding on the ground on Big
Otmoor and the other smaller bird, (probably a male) hunting over
Greenaways. A family group of at least six Stock Doves were seen feeding out
on Big Otmoor. Turtle doves, Hobbies and Cuckoos were present, but the
latter will not be here for much longer. In a few weeks time we can look
forward to the first returning waders, usually Green Sandpipers, that will
find the pools on Ashgrave very much to their liking.
The hide has now been formally opened and the interpretive materials inside
are sensitive and appropriate. The reserve staff have done a superb job in
bringing such a complex and high quality project to a conclusion. It was
good to hear the new C.E.O. of the R.S.P.B. saying so and endorsing Otmoor
so wholeheartedly at the opening. I am sure that many of us will spend a
great deal of time there in the coming years and as the habitat settles down
there will be many more exciting birds to be seen from it.

Cheers Peter

Common Tern © Peter Barker

Red Kite © Peter Barker

Basking Grass Snake © Peter Barker

Cuckoo flypast © P.Barker

Little Egret © P.Barker

Richard Ebbes has just e-mailed to say that the quail were heard on the field directly to the South of Maltpit...so on the moor proper. Only a matter of time until they find the 100 acre and Ashgrave. Peter

Hi All

A quiet but enjoyable weekend on the moor. I particularly noticed family parties of birds in the carpark field on Sunday morning, which show that there have been successful first broods from many of our breeders. Finches were particularly noticeable with Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Linnets all showing well along the track to the bridleway. On Saturday morning a Peregrine was seen several times over the reedbed and on one occasion was challenged and chased by one of our Hobbies, there are some pics but unfortunately a bit out of focus! (My camera didn't just let me down, it let itself down!) Hobbies were usually up and about by 10.30 coinciding, of course, with the time that the dragonflies take to the wing. They have been giving spectacular displays over Greenaways and infront of the new hide. I found my first Banded Demoiselle of the year and on a walk round the path that borders Ashgrave I saw Nuthatch, Marsh Tit and Green Woodpecker along the woodland edge. I also had great views of a Brown Hare bounding away through the grass. The purpose of the trip was to see if any Quail have arrived yet, as they have been heard as near as Horton Cum Studley.... perhaps next week.
If you are thinking of visiting this week one of our least pleasant creatures is now on the wing namely the Cleg or horsefly. Insect repellent is a good idea although I think some of them see it as an exotic condiment ! The hide will be closed this week as it is being prepared for its formal opening on Friday there will be very impressive displays and information installed and a new name.

Anticipatory cheers

Peter

Pergrine Falcon © Peter Barker

Leaping Hare © Peter Barker

Banded Demoiselle © Peter Barker

Hi All

Hot and humid on Saturday and much cooler and fresher on Sunday. I was going
to say that it was a quiet weekend and we were headed towards the least
exciting part of the year. However when I stopped and really thought about
it I realised that; by the time I got to the hide from the carpark I had seen or                                                 heard nine species of warbler ( I heard Lesser Whitethroat along the path to                                            the first screen, to get the full set). I had seen Turtle Doves,Cuckoos,                                      Yellowhammer with food and a very obliging pair of Bullfinches that seem                                                    to be breeding halfway along the bridle way.There were a procession of
Red Kites over and mid morning the Hobbys got up. There was an aerial
"dogfight" between a Hobby and a Sparrowhawk, the  Sparrowhawk leaving                                               with its dignity only just intact. Common Tern was the only new bird for the year
hunting over the reedbed. There were at least five young Lapwings in front
of the hide and two Redshank chicks up by Noke along with a Black Tailed
Godwit. Snipe were drumming early on both mornings. It really goes to show
how we begin to take things for granted.
Thanks to those of you who reported back about Cuckoos and Turtle Doves, I
feel confident that there were/are four cuckoos and certainly three Doves.

Cheers Peter

 

Longhorn Beetle © Jonathan Crouch

Yellowhammer with food © David Fearn

Have just recieved a text saying that there was a Knot with two Black Tailed Godwits in front of the hide today.

Cheers Peter

Hairy Dragonfly © Peter Barker
Lapwing in flight © Peter Barker
Duck flotilla © Peter Barker

A quieter weekend birdwise on the moor but still with plenty to see and enjoy. It was cooler and wetter on Saturday and windier than of late on Sunday. Warblers are still singing well and in a 50 metre stretch of the bridle way it is possible to see, hear and compare confusion songs like Blackcap and Garden Warbler. There is certainly one pair of Turtle Doves along the bridle way but it would be good to hear if people think that there might be another pair round towards Noke. There were also at least one pair of Cuckoos but may just be two pairs, again any confirmation would be appreciated. There were three Oystercatchers in front of the hide and in addition three Dunlin in smart summer plumage. Two pairs of Little Ringed Plovers were displaying and quarrelling on the scrapes. There are more young Lapwings to be seen on Ashgrave than have been seen in previous years with three nearly fully fledged birds by the scrapes and four smaller chicks from two different broods at the Noke end. In the same place we saw two Redshank chicks. A very successful female Mallard sailed past the hide with a flotilla of nine almost fledged ducklings in tow. Drumming snipe were heard over the path to the first screen on both days. A hatch of some kind of mayfly meant that larger numbers of Swifts were hunting over the reedbed.
Mid morning on both days the Hobbies got up and got going, giving their regular spectacular flying display.

Cheers Peter

Both the weather and the birding this weekend were brilliant. The star attractions were the two Temmincks Stints that were found on Saturday and still present on Sunday. I could not find them this morning on a brief visit. They may still be there as they were incredibly difficult to pick up as they crept about on the edges of the pools in front of the new hide. It was instructive to see them next to a Little Ringed Plover and realise just how tiny they are. Their plumages were slightly different one bird being more spangled and "contrasty" than the other. The other good find this weekend was the party of twelve Black Terns that moved through on Saturday, sadly they didn't stay. Other waders present included at least ten Ringed Plovers and the usual Oystercatchers, Redshank and Little Rings. Garganey were seen up towards Noke on Ashgrave and in flight over Big Otmoor. There are still four Wigeon present on the Flood and the reedbed. At least ten Hobbies were present both mornings beginning to hunt as the
first dragon flies were taking to the wing. There was an unconfirmed report of a male Marsh Harrier.
Hairy Dragonflies are now flying as are several species of Damselflies. It was noticeable that as the mornings warmed up the number and volume of singing warblers reduced markedly. At least four Cuckoos are present and one, or possibly two pairs of Turtle Doves. We could now do with some short sharp showers to top up the water levels, but preferably at night and preferably not at the weekends.

Cheers Peter

Videograb record shot of the two Temminck's stints © Jason Coppock
Cuckoo © Nigel Forrow
Turtle Dove in flight © Pete Styles

Yet another excellent weekend on the moor with fine sunny weather on Saturday and greyer damper stuff on Sunday. Sadly the Crane, seen on Friday was not re-found but The Spoonbill gave excellent if distant views all weekend. It is a fine adult bird with long plumes and a brightly marked bill. It spent a lot of time in the company of four Little Egrets but seldom came as close as them. A five a.m. guided walk on Saturday gave us a stunning sunrise, all the warbler species, Cuckoo and Hobby. The visitors were really pleased to end their visit with a fly past from the Spoonbill. A Raven was seen on Saturday flying over Ashgrave and unusually a Nuthatch in the oaks at the back of the carpark field. A Black tailed Godwit and a Dunlin were on Ashgrave on Sunday and Little ringed plovers were very evident both days. Three Greenshank were seen at the back of Greenaways and the pair of Oystercatchers went back and forwards between Big Otmoor and Ashgrave. Snipe were heard and seen drumming both days.
Hobby numbers are peaking at at least ten birds feeding over Greenaways on Saturday afternoon. A late female Wheatear was on the posts on the edge of big Otmoor. The first dragonflies of the year were on the wing on Saturday we saw and photographed Four Spotted Chaser, Broad Bodied Chaser was reported and we found and photographed a Downy Emerald along with Steve Burch. This is a very rare dragonfly on Otmoor and in Oxfordshire, although there have been reports of them in the past. The bank alongside the track through the Carpark Field is worth looking carefully as this is a favoured basking spot for Grass Snakes and we saw two there on Saturday morning.

four-spotted chaser © Peter Barker
The spoonbill © Peter Barker
Little Egret © Nigel Forrow
Sedge warbler © Nigel Forrow
The moor at dawn © Peter Barker

The Spoonbill was still present on Otmoor mid morning today, viewed distantly from the new hide. Also several Hobbies around, Little Egret and one LRP. Distant Cuckoo calling as well.

Also of note was a superb and very early male Downy Emerald dragonfly. I believe this is the first record of this species from Otmoor, and the first anywhere in Oxfordshire since 2004. However I did see a possible last year also on Otmoor. It may also be the earliest ever Oxon record of this species. Thanks to Peter Barker and Pete Roby for spotting it flying over my head!



The Downy Emerald - a possible first for Otmoor © Stephen Burch

A crane was seen and photographed again this morning on the reserve by Kevin Ferriday. It was on Greenaways but flew off towards the reedbed and then wasn't re-found. The picture shows that the bird is unringed and mature. I don't know if the previous two were ringed as I didn't see them. Hope it hangs around 'til tomorrow when I can get down there

Peter

A Spoonbill feeding at back of scrapes from the Otmoor hide till at least 7.20pm

Graham Coleman

The crane this morning © Kevin Ferriday (e-mail: kferriday"at"boltblue.com )

A rather bleak and chilly return to the moor after ten days absence. Vegetation has shot up while I have been away and there has been the visit of the Cranes for me to miss! Despite the cold all the warblers were in good voice this morning and the number of singing Reed Warblers has rocketed. There were so many calling this morning in the reed bed that it was almost impossible to seperate specific birds as there was just a general chattering. Waders seem to be adopting the scrapes in front of the hide on Ashgrave and at one time there were ten Ringed Plovers a few Little Rings and three summer plumaged Dunlin feeding there. Two Oystercatchers were behaving as if they intend to nest and I saw my first well grown Lapwing chick on Big Otmoor. A pair of Lesser Black Backs were also carrying out ccourtship behaviour on Ashgrave. There are still at least four drake Wigeon on the flood and several ducks elsewhere a drake Garganey flew from the reedbed towards the flood. Despite the wind it was good to be back

Cheers Peter

Greater spotted woodpecker © Nigel Forrow