Otmoor RSPB 3rd July

Bittern courtesy of Derek Latham

Crane 2
Bittern
Marsh Harrier
Hobby c5
Turtle Dove 1
Grasshopper Warbler reeling in Moorleys

(per Lasty, Bark, Paul Greenaway)

Weekend highlights this week on Otmoor Birding

Courtesy of Derek Latham

Ducklington 3rd July

Spotted Flycatchers Ducklington courtesy of Tony Edwards.

One of four young Spot Flys.

Sonning Eye GPs: 3rd July

Common Sandpiper: Jetski pit. 12:33.
Oystercatcher 11:30.

Marek Walford

Standlake Pit 60: am 2nd July

5 Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
2 Hobby
2 Oystercatcher + 1 chick still
Kingfisher

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

June Highlights and News

Turtle Dove Otmoor RSPB

Headline Birds

Given that it's June, traditionally one of the worst two months of the year and firmly in the summer doldrums, it's not actually been that bad in terms of headline birds. Without a doubt the star turn was as exciting as it was unfortunately untwitchable with a first summer male Common Rosefinch spending one day on someone's feeders off the Abingdon Road. It was actually seen in May though the news didn't filter through to the county birding community until the 1st of June. Sadly very much one that got away but still a great looking bird.

The Common Rosefinch

More twitchable was a White Stork that was seen circling over Summerton on the 25th, before being relocated in a field near the River Thames at Culham later that day. It was then reported again on the 30th so it may linger for a while.

White Stork Culham

 

White Stork courtesy of Badger

Finally there is also some news on our Otmoor Cranes  - see the write-up at the end of the highlights.

Raptors

Marsh Harriers remained at Otmoor RSPB throughout June. Hobbies were seen at Standlake's Pit 60 over the course of June with several birds also being seen regularly on Otmoor. A summering Short-eared Owl was discovered in the south of the county near Blewbury on the 4th.

Shortie at Blewbury courtesy of Lasty

Gulls & Terns

A late Black Tern was at Farmoor Reservoir on the 1st with two birds present on the 3rd keeping company with an equally late Arctic Tern. Away from Farmoor a Black Tern was a great find at Appleford GP's on the 5th .

Wildfowl

Two Bitterns were being seen sporadically above the reed beds on Otmoor throughout June. Six Shelduck were still present at the start of the month on Port Meadow

Bittern Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Derek Latham

Waders

Returning Green Sandpipers (yup it's autumn already!) were seen at Rushey Common on the 14th with a juvenile at the Bicester Wetlands Reserve on the 23rd and one was at on Port Meadow on the 28th. A Greenshank was seen at the superb Bicester Wetlands Reserve on the 4th with three Little-ringed Plovers on the reserve on the 6th. Two Little-ringed Plover were seen at that other gem in the Banbury Ornithological Society's crown, namely the Balscote Quarry reserve on the 23rd with the reserve also hosting six roosting Curlew on the 25th.

Turnstone Farmoor Reservoir courtesy of Dai John

A unexpected but welcomed summer-plumaged male Ruff spent the day on Big Otmoor within the Otmoor RSPB reserve on the 22nd. Other late or returning waders included two Turnstone at Farmoor Reservoir on the 24th.

Male Ruff Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Terry Sherlock

Passerines

At least two male Turtle Doves remained on Otmoor throughout June, fingers crossed that we soon see some young on the reserve before too long... two males were also heard purring from within the Ministry of Defence compound near Arncott on the 22nd.

Cuckoos were still in evidence over much of the month with birds recorded at South Leigh from the 6th and at least two birds on Otmoor until mid month. Grasshopper Warblers were still to be heard reeling within Moorleys at the RSPB Otmoor Reserve this month with no other reports from anywhere else for June. A male Redstart was a surprise find along the Ridgeway at The Devil's Punchbowl on the 25th. Spotted Flycatchers were reported from Upton, Childrey, Ardington and Shiplake this month.

Spotted Flycatcher Childrey courtesy of Steve Burch

Six Crossbill that were seen flying over Coombe towards the Blenheim estate on the 10th was a good record for June as were the four Siskins at Benson on the 20th including juvenile birds.

News - Otmoor Cranes breeding attempt failure

Cranes Otmoor RSPB courtesy of The Gun-slinger

The two Common Cranes that are probably Otmoor’s least well-kept secret have again attempted to breed on the reserve. These two are the same pair that came last year. This year they arrived earlier and from all their behaviour we are certain that they made another breeding attempt. Again from their behaviour we are sure that they were much more successful than last year with one or more chicks hatching and being fed for about three weeks before something happened to them. We have no way of knowing what but some predation event is likely. These birds live a long time and so failure to breed on a regular basis does not matter quite so much. Our birds were of course more mature this year but still need to learn the best way of protecting their chicks. Better luck next time!

Pete Barker.

Cranes 'Wycliffe' and 'Maple Glory' Otmoor RSPB courtesy of The Gun-slinger

Photos below courtesy of Paul Tomlinson

The Art of Birds

This month Paul Tomlinson has shared a page from his May sketchbook featuring one of the Otmoor Cranes in flight.

Old Shifford, 1st July

Grey Partridge 2
Yellowhammer 3 singing males

Clackers & Mrs Clackers

Culham 1st July

No sign of the White Stork around Culham this morning (per Clackers, Brian Wyatt et al).

Otmoor RSPB 30th June

1200-1630hrs

Bittern 2
Little Egret 2
Marsh Harrier 2
Hobby 2
Turtle Dove 1m
Common Tern 1
Oystercatcher 2

Lesser Whitethroat 2 singing males

Culham 30th June

White Stork reported still near Culham on private land 1pm.

Swallow Tackley courtesy of John Reynolds

Otmoor:AM 30th June

Bittern
Turtle Dove
Curlew
Marsh Harrier
Garden Warbler
Tree Creeper

Male and female Bullfinch Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Norman Smith

Woodstock: Perdiswell Farm: 28th June

28th June

Woodstock: Perdiswell Farm
5 Yellow Wagtail

2nd July

Woodstock: Sansoms Farm
Raven

Bob Pomfret

A329 near Moulsford: 28th June

A329 near Moulsford
Corn Bunting: Male in full song - prob in hedgerow between the grassy ley and the maize field opp Little Willows nursery - regular for a week now. SU5985. 09:45.

Mike Amphlett

Otmoor RSPB 27th June

Turtle Dove 2 purring males
Marsh Harrier 1
Hobby 2
Common Tern 2
Grasshopper Warbler reeling in Moorleys (per Andy Last)

Port Meadow: 27th June

Port Meadow
Green Sandpiper
Common Tern

Adam Hartley

Balscote Quarry 26th June

Balscote Quarry
Redshank: Reported by C.Payne & J.Craik. SP3942.

Roger Evans

South Leigh: 24th June

South Leigh
Cuckoo: Calling to south of village. 08:00.

Richard Catling

Otmoor RSPB 26th June

Bittern above & below courtesy of Derek Latham

Marsh Harrier courtesy of Derek Latham

Culham 26th June

Still no sign of the White Stork this afternoon S/E of Abingdon south of the A415 by 16:10.

Childrey: 25 June

Spotted Flycatcher (c) Stephen Burch

See also The Tall Birder and click here for a larger image

: 25th June

Port Meadow
Green Sandpiper

Port Meadow
3 Redshank

White Stork near Culham 25th June

White Stork near Culham please view at 720p HD  

White Stork relocated S/E of Abingdon in field adjacent to A415 and still present at 21:00.
From Abingdon take the A415 east past the traffic lights and turning to Culham.
Continue past the turning for Thame Lane until reaching the first farm track on the right (with the double metal gates) park here and view field to the left of the farm buildings.

Balscote Quarry 25th June

6 Curlew: Evening roost. SP3942.

Roger Evans

Otmoor RSPB 25th June

 0700-1030hrs

 

 

Turtle Dove 1m
Marsh Harrier 1
Hobby 2
Oystercatcher 3+

Little Egret 2
Common Tern 2

singing

Garden Warbler
Blackcap
Common Whitehroat
Sedge Warbler
Cetti's Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler

Culham 25th June

White Stork near Culham in flight between A415 and Thames then seemed to land and was lost to view.
Viewed from Thames Lane 18:10.

White Stork at Culham

White Stork at Culham in grass field by river Thames off Thame  Lane at 4:10 p.m.

(per RBA)

Sent from my iPhone

Standlake, River Windrush, pm 25th June

Kingfisher

Sunningwell 25th June

Probable White Stork 2:00pm flying low. Headed towards Didcot. SU488997.

Andrew Dore

Oxford 25th June

White Stork seen circling over Summertown at 12:25 then flew towards Oxford city (per Jon Uren)

Devil's Punchbowl: 25th June

Devil's Punchbowl
Redstart: male. In bush on Ridgeway, just south of Punchbowl.

Colin Vickers

: 24th June

A329 nr Moulsford
Corn Bunting: Male singing S of railway nr Silly bridge. SU5885. 09:45.

Mike Amphlett

Otmoor.A.M. 24th June.

Coquettish Turtle Dove Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Richard Tyler

2 Turtle Dove (per Richard Tyler)
2 Marsh Harrier
3 Common Tern (with one chick)
1 Pochard (with two chicks)
1 Raven (over)
8+ Little Egret.

Farmoor 24th June

3 Little Egret
2 Turnstone
1 Pochard
Family group of Kestrels.

Standlake pit 60: am 24th June

2 Hobby
2 Oystercatcher + 1 chick
4 Little Egret
2 Common Tern

Little Egret

Little Egret

Farmoor 24th June

Turnstone 2 (per Dai) 10:45

Balscote Quarry Reserve 23rd June

2 Little Ringed Plover: pair SP3942.
Probable 2 Little Grebe
Red Kite: Fly Over
Common Tern: Fly Over

Roger Evans

Bicester Wetland Reserve

1 Green Sandpiper (juv)
1 Kingfisher
13 Gadwall
6 Tufted Duck
2 Teal

Alan Peters, Bill Foley

River Thames: Rushey Lock to Old Mans Bridge: 23rd June

23rd June

River Thames: Rushey Lock to Old Mans Bridge
2 Curlew
3 Reed Warbler 08:45.

Colin Vickers

Garden Warbler Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Norman Smith

Cholsey: 22nd June

Cholsey
Yellow Wagtail: Flew over Cholsey Cricket ground, Fairmile.
26 Swift: Cholsey Cricket ground, Fairmile nesting in main building.

Jed Cleeter

Otmoor. Evening. 22nd. June.

Summer plumage male Ruff.  Big Otmoor.
3 Hobby.
2 Turtle Dove.
Cuckoo m.

Distant views of summer plumage Ruff.

Cholsey: 22nd June

Cholsey
8 Swift: Over new Houses fair mile site and cricket ground. 15:30 to 14:30. 15:30.

Ralph Watts

Arncott 22nd June

Turtle Dove 2 both males calling S/E of Bicester within the Arncott M.O.D compound

(per RBA)

Moulsford 21st June

Corn Bunting: Male, couple of bursts of song. On S side of railway cutting, nr Silly bridge.
SU5985. 09:50.

Mike Amphlett

Upper Cherwell Valley: 21st June

Channel Wagtail, still present with at least 2 Yellow Wagtails

Benson: 20th June

Siskin Benson courtesy of Tom Stevenson

4 Siskin: juv. 4 together on sunflower heart feeder in garden.

Thomas Stevenson

Benson & Ewelme Wildlife

Churn: 21st June

Churn
10 Corn Bunting: Lots singing. 15:30.
Yellow Wagtail 15:30.

Steve Goddard

Farmoor. 21st. June.

3 Oystercatcher.
Barn Owl.
Yellow Legged Gull.
Per. Dai.  TS.

Grey Heron.

Rushey Common Lake, 21st June

Little Egrets 3
Garden Warbler adult feeding juvenile

Clackers

Ardington 21st June

2 Spotted Flycatcher: At least, probably three. One flycatching from the bedroom windowsill at 16:20, and a pair (possibly a third) around the Boar's Head pub at lunchtime. SU4388.

Leo Bateman

Otmoor.A.M. 21st June.

2 Marsh Harrier
2 Hobby
3 Common Tern
1 Bittern (3 flights in 10 mins)
1 Sparrowhawk
C. 80 Lapwing (flock).

Childrey Church: 19 June

1 Spotted Flycatcher. From the road in a tree and on wires at the front of the church yard. Also present yesterday according to the wife!

Upton House: 19th June

Upton House
3 Spotted Flycatcher: Located in paddock behind restaurant perched on fence. 11:30.

Graeme Porter

Cholsey 17th June

Report of Black Brant yesterday at Cholsey recreation grounds was erroneous.

Milcombe: 17th June

Courtesy of Mary Clifton

Milcombe
Sparrowhawk: male. "Murder in the garden!". SP4134.

Mary Clifton

Otmoor A.M. 16th June.

Bittern courtesy of Derek Latham

1 Turtle Dove
1 Marsh Harrier
1 Bittern (flying)

Hobby courtesy of Derek Latham

2 Hobby
3+ Little Egret
2 Cuckoo
2 Common Tern (one chick left)
4 Cettis Warbler
4 or 5 Snipe (drumming).

Turtle Dove courtesy of Derek Latham

Grimsbury Reservoir: 16th June

Grimsbury Reservoir
Oystercatcher

Gareth Blockley

Sedge Warbler Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Derek Latham

Otmoor RSPB 15th June

1230-1330 hrs

Turtle Dove 2 singing males
Marsh Harrier 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 3
Green Woodpecker 1

Willow Warbler 1 and Common Chiffchaff 1 singing males

Common  & Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap families along Roman Road

Otmoor.A.M. 15th June.

2 Raven (over)
2 Oystercatcher
2 Common Tern
1+ Cuckoo
1 Marsh Harrier.

  per TS. & PG.