Pallas's Warbler and more Starlings than you can count

Pallas's Warbler

Pied Wagtail

Waiting for the Stalings

Grey Heron

Finches & buntings galore

 

Marsh Harrier

This way.....

Who doesn't love a Sunday at the Sewage works

We both fancied going to see the Starling murmuration at Otmoor on Sunday, with the overnight fog due to clear, we set off down the M40 after breakfast. We had to wait for our first Red Kite to flyover, once the first had we then saw them at regular intervals.

 

Our morning target would be at Abingdon Sewage Works, although sounding grim it was easy walking under foot and only about ten minutes from where we parked. As soon as we turned into the lane we could hear a number of wintering Chiffchaff that were feeding on the abundance of insects. I'd only seen one Pallas's Warbler previously which involved brief views up a private drive however this was substanically better with the bird showing instantly low down before flying up above me before crossing over to the high conifers. The stunning individual was very speedy which made for great viewing but very difficult with my camera to get any shots at all. There were loads of Pied Wagtails and a Siberian Chiffchaff present.

 

From there were drove close to Otmoor where we lunched at the Abingdon Arms, highy recommended. Otmoor was very wet making welly boots essential. On the marsh 2 Peregrines were taunting the wildfowl constantly flushing them as they hunted for a late lunch. A female Marsh Harrier could be seen throughout our visit, another first of the year and Red Kites could be also observed at regular intervals.

 

From the hide there were a nice selection of birds feeding on seed placed on the paths includinh Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch but no Brambling which was strange given local numbers.

 

In all honesty, the Starlings were disappointing. There were thousands and thousands to be seen but they didn't arrive until very late. In addition they didn't roost in the reeds so there was no big murmuration which is what we really wanted to see.  The walk back to car seemed longer than normal with the cold temperature and muddy wellies.

A bank holiday Wryneck & Otmoor

                                           Wryneck (Borough Hill)

                                                   Redshank

                                               Spotted Redshank

                                                Drake Pochard  

                                                    Glossy Ibis

                                                  Marsh Harrier

                                                 Marsh Harrier

                                          Distant video footage

RSPB Otmoor was our chosen destination for bank holiday Monday hoping the hegdrows might give us a bit of cover from a cold wind. Otmoor isn't a place I've visited often and I tend to always side with Slimbridge for that type of days birding. We landed around 8am to find the car park, complete with singing Garden Warbler, almost full. 

The paths and the signage are excellent the only downside is having to walk back the same way you walked out. There was a number of first sightings of year for us including a Spotted Redshank, Glossy Ibis, Marsh Harrier & feral Barnacle Geese. The warblers around the reserve were in great voice, most teased the camera with posing and then diving for cover. A male Cuckoo feasted on a hoard of catterpillars it had found and the Lapwings displayed above us throughout our visit. Red Kites were circuling until we left Oxfordshire and diverted to Borough Hill in Northamptonshire where a Wryneck had been located. With a heavy storm approaching we manged to watch the fabulous Wryneck for about ten minutes before making a run for the car. The drive back was through some very heavy rain underlining how lucky we had been to make the most of the morning.

Finally a………….Wryneck

Wryneck is a species I've never had any luck in catching up with. With being a Midland based birder opportunities are rare without a three hour drive to the east coast. So after grabbing a snack after my morning patch walk around the gravel pits and check of Rare Bird Alert a Wryneck had been spotted at RSPB Otmoor. I didn't need to consider the option to go for more than a minute given its only a 75 minute drive.

Walking up to the reported areas the news wasn't good and when reaching the path where the bird had been last seen I found around 15 frustrated birders and photographers. I did get a two second view as the bird crossed the patch in flight but patience was waning among the audience of which most decided to go leaving just three of us. 

Another thirty minutes of patience was rewarded with the bird showing really well on the path. The views were brief but as you can see I did manage to get a few digiscoped images that I was really pleased with.

The birds plumage was stunning with the mottling effect really catching the eye. For those who don't know these are part of the Woodpecker family and are migrants and just passing through the UK from their breeding grounds. The birds are around 16.5 cm in height and get their name from the ability to turn their head.  

It was great to meet fellow Twitterarti members RSPB's Kirsty Brannan and Gareth Blockley.

Beautiful Otmoor

 Beautiful Otmoor

 Yellowhammer

Common Tern

 Turtle Dove

 Turtle Dove

 Turtle Dove

With the lads tied up with friends this enabled me to plan a few hours down at RSPB Otmoor for some quality birding. Setting off at 7.15am it took us just over an hour to land in the car park. Garden Warblers and Blackcaps greeted us whilst Skylarks were singing high above us as we walked up the path past the feeders. 

The main pasture had a nice selection of birds including Red Kites, Buzzard, Snipe, Lapwing, Tufted Duck and Little Egret. Many of the Lapwing took flight above their nests when any corvids were getting close to warn off the predators. 

On approaching the wildlife hide a Yellowhammer was feeding with a flock of Linnets on the gravel allowing some great views. From inside a Shoveller was on the pool and a Redshank was feeding on the waters edge.

Stepping outside we picked up a Cuckoo calling which I manage to find with my scope although it was a long way away. Further along the walk way we found pairs of Common Terns at different places.

As we walked back towards the car park we heard our first Turtle Dove of the day purring. Fantastic ! It wasn't long before we had located the bird sat up and being very comfortable with us and other passers by watching him go about his early summer routine.

Turtle Dove and Glossy Ibis at Otmoor

Arrival

Over looking Otmoor

 Glossy Ibis

 Turtle Doves

Which sign is worst ?

After missing the beautiful Turtle Doves in Norfolk I opted to take the 40 mile trip down the M40 to RSPB Otmoor on Sunday. A relatively easy drive was instantly rewarded as I got out of the car to hear a Cuckoo calling and then a Red Kite soar over after an early breakfast.

Heading up the main path the bird song increased with every step with Whitethroats and Blackcaps taking the honours. Before heading left I noticed a Glossy Ibis feeding in the fields to the left. Sadly he wasn't quite as sociable as the one I'd seen earlier in the year at Brownhills and it was difficult to get any sort of decent image.

I didn't find the Turtle Doves instantly however on my returning journey I picked up their purring call but not just one bird but three in close proximately to each other. These dainty doves looked amazing through my scope and it's superb to see the colours and patterns of their backs and wings in detail. It's difficult to imagine how difficult their migration must have been back to Otmoor given the absolute carnage over Malta which was highlighted brilliantly by Chris Packham. Once the European elections are complete I think it will be time to write to my MEP once again.

Elsewhere on the reserve there were many Lapwing with young, Redshank, Ruff, Greylags and Warblers. As I turned back for the car park a full family of 6 badgers crossed the path five yards in front of me without giving me a second glance. 

Beardies, Kites, Hares and Egret

Cattle Egret (Digiscoped)

Otmoor

Fieldfare (Digiscoped)

Bearded Tit (Thanks to Pete Walkden)

Taking to the air

Hare (to left of path)

Red Kite (Digiscoped)

Cattle Egret Video (Digiscoped)

In need of fresh air and a day birding (having endured cocktails and "Strictly Come Dancing" the night before for the wife's birthday) I got up early and headed south east hoping to avoid the very poor weather forecast. Travelling just over an hour down the M40 I headed to east of Steeple Claydon to try and see the long staying Cattle Egret. The bird was showing well on the front right side of the farm. The rain at this time was pouring down so I watched the bird as well as I could from a distance and tried to get a record shot and mini video through my scope.

I then headed to RSPB Otmoor, thankfully I'd read up on directions as signage was non existent. The reserve was superb and their were volunteers who were very kind in offering advice of where to walk. Despite the forecast the rain stopped. From the car park I headed towards the reserve passing scrub land which had good numbers of Fieldfare, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Tits, Bullfinches and Chaffinches. The feeders at the top were especially busy with birds awaiting their turn. 

In front on me was pasture land that was flooded (having not visited this reserve before there may always be some small lakes and scrapes in this area). Starlings flew in their hundreds looking for feeding opportunities. The hedgerows were simply full of birds all the way up the patch. The paths were in remarkable good condition given all the rain which was really pleasing. The top field was full of Lapwing, Teal, Wigeon and Canadian Geese. Ruff had been reported but I was unable to locate any. After a session there I headed to the first screen area where a viewing area was being built. I was told by a local that the summer Hobbies in this area are awesome to watch.  The lake ahead of me contained Gadwell, Pochard, Tufted Ducks and good number of Shoveller. A flock of around 400 Golden Plover took flight on regular occasion giving great views.

With time getting on I thought I'd have one more look through the scope and as I turned to check the area on my right a bird flew quickly and then perched towards the top of a reed. As a focused the scope I could see it was a Bearded Tit. The bird then took an undulating flight to the next reed bed but it was easy to note the distinctive long tail. Happy days ! Just needed a Bittern fly pass for a perfect visit but couldn't manage that however I watched two separate Red Kites hunt on the edge of the reserve. As I headed back to the car park a Hare appeared in from of me clearly trying to find some dry land. 

I can say for certain Otmoor is most definitely worth a visit at any time of year !