Otmoor Redstarts 3rd July

Two of the eight Redstarts seen in Long Meadow Otmoor on Sunday.
photos (c) Pete Barker.

'They seemed to be in two distinct groups with a very smart male and two juveniles at the western end of the field and another party of three juveniles and two adults at the eastern end. The western end juveniles looked much younger than those at the other end in that
they looked much more speckled on the breast and their tails were shorter.
The west end youngsters were pestering the male for food.
It is interesting to speculate where these birds bred. There is suitable broad leaved woodland nearby and it seems very early for them to start heading south'.

Ref: Pete Barker Otmoor Birding. More at http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding


Last known breeding in the county occured in 1985 probably at Wytham woods
where there were between 6-9 singing males in 1980.