Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th July

Bullfinch with food (c) Pete Coombes

Juvenile Cuckoo in the reeds (c) Pete Coombes

Singing Sedge (c) Bark

Scarlet Tiger (c) Bark

Beauty in the botanic (c) Bark

Male Redstart (c) Paul Greenaway

Female Redstart (c) Badger

One of the last of the juv. Lapwings (c) Badger

Another grey and drizzly day on Saturday but at least on Sunday there was a bit of a reprieve with some very welcome and unusual sunshine, but as I write on Monday morning, the weather has once again reverted to its default mode.
There were still some birds to be seen, at least six Snipe were flying around together over Greenaways and the eastern side of big Otmoor, not quite drumming but almost. Seven Redshank were flying together as a small flock and were probably some of this years juveniles. At least one black tailed Godwit is still on the reserve but it is almost impossible to tell if there are any other waders around as water levels are high and the grass is even higher.
Another juvenile Cuckoo was seen by the first screen being fed by Reed Warblers on Sunday morning. At least three Redstarts are still present one male and two females, they look like adults and are possibly failed breeders. Sadly there was no sign of the Whinchat that I had seen earlier in the week along the bridle way, but there will certainly be more through as we move into late summer.
The better weather on Sunday brought out a lot of Dragonflies of five different species and more butterflies were on the wing, but all the authorities are predicting that this will be a catastrophic year for them.
Four Hobbies were taking advantage of the dragonflies over Greenaways and providing spectacular close views. The wet has meant that hedgerow herbs and flowering plants are lush and prolific and there is thus a little compensation to be found in admiring the botanic!