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| Glossy overhead... (c) Bark |
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| ...and on the ground (c) Badger |
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| and then up again (c) Mark Chivers |
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| Cuckoo (c) Bark |
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| Reed Warbler (c) Richard Tyler |
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| Sum. Plum. Ruff (c) Badger |
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| Sedgie (c) Mark Chivers |
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| Turtle Dove (c) Mark Chivers |
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| Drake Garganey (c) Badger |
Otmoor this weekend was almost as good as it can be. The weather was
perfect and the vegetation was as lush and as flowery as it gets. The colours
are at their most vibrant, with every imaginable shade of fresh green
contrasting with masses of pale hawthorn blossom and an understory of cow
parsley. There is a generous sprinkling of yellow from dandelions, buttercups
and fresh flag Irises; with pale pinks and creams from the first dog roses that
are now opening in the briars. The soundscape too was wonderful with Snipe
drumming, Cuckoos calling, Lapwings and Redshank alarming and a continuous
chorus of warblers from the hedgerows, reedbeds and ditches.
The birdlife this weekend matched the richness of the hedgerows and fields.
The Glossy Ibis that appeared last week is commuting between different pools
both sides of the river Ray. It was tending to favour the pools at the eastern
end of the Closes on Sunday and was very popular with the many visitors
encouraged out by the weather. The most popular birds however were the Turtle
Doves that have set up a territory just ten or twelve metres along the bridle
way. Their purring was a delight to hear, they showed well and brief display
flights were a prelude to mating. It is reassuring to realise that we have both
male and female present. unfortunately their popularity is also an indicator of
just how rare they have become elsewhere.
We had a fly through male Montagu's Harrier on Sunday morning. It was
pursued west to east across Greenaways by Black Headed Gulls and Lapwings
disappearing over the hedge and onto the MOD land. We walked out to the Pill in
the hopes of seeing it hunting over the hundred acre but it appeared to have
kept on going. We had some little compensation by finding a very showy and
extrovert Grasshopper warbler reeling away on the south pill ground.
A Wood Sandpiper was found on Friday and a summer plumaged male Ruff. The
Ruff was still present on Sunday but sadly the Wood Sand moved on. A Whimbrel
was heard calling out on the Pill on Saturday, conditions out there look perfect
for passage birds with plenty of water still and soft ground. A pair of Garganey
were seen but they are very elusive and secretive once they have arrived.
Our single Snow Goose is looking very smart and is currently associating
with a party of Grey Lags. It probably originates from the feral flock at
Blenheim.
As predicted last week the warm and clement weather has encouraged
Dragonflies and Damselflies to emerge in numbers and many fresh and pristine
specimens could be seen. There were at least nine Hobbies feeding on them over
Greenaways on Sunday but as is normal with this species they are a little like
teenagers and tend not to get going until late morning or lunchtime.
Sadly I did not hear last weeks Quail but the summer is only just beginning
and I know there is still lots of interest and excitement to come.
Bug and flower Supplement
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| Dog Rose (c) Bark |
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| Broad Bodied Chaser (c) Bark |
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| Flag Iris (c) Bark |
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| Four spotted Chaser (c) Bark |
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| Brimstone (c) Bark |
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| Mayfly (c) Badger |
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| Banded Demoiselle (c) Badger |
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| Broad Bodied Chaser (c) Badger |
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| Last but not least female Banded Demoiselle (c) Badger |
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