Saturday and Sunday 27th and 28th September

Chiffy (c) Bark

Back after a fortnight and the Indian summer goes on. Its as if the season is teetering on the edge of change, like a swimmer on the edge of the sea dabbling their toes in the water but reluctant to dive in. It felt very much as if nature was holding its breath on Saturday and it was very quiet and still, by Sunday we were basking in warm sunshine from the start and there was much more activity to be seen.

It looks very much as if the Cettis Warbler that has been heard once or twice in the last month or so has finally found an area to its liking. It was heard on both Saturday and Sunday in the hedgerow and ditches near to the second screen. As well as calling occasionally with its characteristic shout, it could also be heard chuntering away with a complex and much quieter sub-song. It is so good to hear once again what had been a characteristic sound of the moor until the severe winter of 2011/2. 

and again (c) Bark

There are also a fair number of Chiffchaffs present with the tit flocks and at least two Reed Warblers are still here.

The bittern on flyabout (c) anon

The Bittern put on a splendid flying display on Sunday morning. It appeared to be mobbed by some Black headed gulls that put it up from the northern edge of the southern reedbed and then pursued it out across Greenaways as far as Ashgrave, it then turned back towards us and made a stately flight back towards the reedbed where it did a couple of circuits before vanishing into the reeds. It was beautiful to see it in such bright low sunlight and it was possible to really appreciate the complexity, subtlety and colour of its plumage.

There are a significant number of Stonechats on the reserve now with seven being counted on the path between the hide and July’s Meadow on Saturday and at least three on the way to the first screen on Sunday. There are still Wheatears and Whinchats to be found with several of each reported over the weekend. There was a Whinchat hunting from the heavily cropped hedge on the way out to the Pill on Sunday morning.

A Grey Wagtail landed on the mud bank in front of the first screen briefly on Sunday morning and then rapidly made off towards Ashgrave, it is always a nice bird to seen as they are not common on the moor. 

Geese on flyabout (c) Bark

From time to time all sounds are obliterated by the honking of the huge flocks of feral geese that are currently to found on the moor. They presage every move with a honking that starts off fairly quietly but steadily rises to a crescendo until they take to the air en masse. This happens several times each morning as they commute between the lagoons on the reedbed and their feeding or resting areas. Herons ,Egrets and Kingfishers continue to put on a great show at the first screen.

Grey heron (c) Mark Chivers

Little Egret (c) Mark Chivers

Kingfisher (c) Tezzer

There were still at east two Hobbies present on Sunday. On Saturday morning a Kestrel spent a long time persistently mobbing three juvenile Common Buzzards that were sitting on posts on Ashgrave. There was no sign of the Marsh Harriers this weekend and I did not hear of any sightings last week it could be that they have moved on now for the winter.

Seven Swans a'swimming (c) Bark

Two Redwings flew over on Sunday an augury of what is to come in October, while at least a hundred hirundines, mostly swallows, hawked low over the reeds on Saturday morning pausing only briefly before moving on.

The delight of autumn colour (c) Bark

 

October will soon be upon us and winter visitors will start to flood in to exploit the bounty in the hedgerows. This weekend however it is the return of the Cettis that has given me most pleasure, it is always good to get something back where you feel it belongs.

Still busy Hornets  (c) Bark

Saturday and Sunday 13th and 14th September

Young Sedgie (c) John Reynolds

A rather quiet weekend on the birdfront. The moor was rather grey and still first thing but warmed up during the mornings. There is a quietness about this part of the season almost as if nature is taking a deep breath before plunging into autumn and then all to rapidly into winter. The hedgerows are full of fruit and seeds and leaves are just beginning to turn colour so the foliage is tinted with oranges and soft browns.

Haws (c) Bark

A Green sandpiper is still frequenting the second Greenaways scrape, which is now little more than a few muddy puddles and before the week is over will be dry. There are still several Marsh Harriers present and on Saturday at least three Hobbies were on and over Big Otmoor and Greenaways. A Peregrine was mobbed by corvids along the northern edge of big Otmoor on Saturday and there are a number of Kestrels over the whole reserve. A Honey Buzzard was seen on passage on Wednesday one of three seen recently in the county. It was also a welcome addition to the yearlist.

Noke Swallows (c) Bark

A couple of Whinchats  and a Wheatear were seen and up at Noke Swallows are gathering on the wires like musical notes on a stave. 

Greylags and Canadas (c) Bark

There are huge numbers of feral geese on the reserve with a count of over five hundred on Sunday.

Jays are much more noticeable around the reserve now as they move in to harvest the acorns from the oaks along the bridleway and roman Road.

Jay (c) John Reynolds

At the first screen a Kingfisher has continued to entertain both birders and photographers alike.

Kingfisher (c) Bark

Herons are stalking the shallows and Snipe can be spotted probing the large areas of mud that have now been exposed. Occasionally Water Rails, both adults and juveniles can be seen scurrying from one patch of cover to another. More often than not they are heard and not seen, squealing in their distinctive pig like way.

Water Rail (c) John Reynolds

There was still at least one Redstart still in Long Meadow today and one or two Lesser Whitethroats.

It was good to find a freshly emerged Comma Butterfly along the Roman Road this morning. It provided a warm splash of colour amid the cooler greens and a reminder of both of the summer that has passed and the colours of autumn to come.

A splash of colour (c) Bark

Saturday and Sunday 6th and 7th September

Bird of the week: Little Stint (c) Mark Chivers both pics

 Calm grey starts to the days this weekend but giving way mid morning to warm sunshine. The moor seemed very still with barely a breath of wind and as I arrived on Saturday morning all I could hear was a very quiet sub-song coming from a Willow Warbler feeding in the briars and a couple of Chiffchaffs calling along the Roman Road. On Saturday I had the place entirely to myself until mid morning, which was its own particular pleasure. As over the last few weeks, finding a mixed feeding flock is always rewarding and this weekend was no different. In amongst the Great Tits and the Long Tails were all the expected warblers including a Garden Warbler and several Blackcaps. Along the trail to the first screen I was pleased to find the first returning Stonechat of the autumn in company with a couple of Whinchats. 

Whinchat (c) Bark

It was a single male but by Sunday it seemed to have moved on. A Wheatear was on the large pile of manure just beside the gate onto Closes on Saturday morning. There were still five Redstarts and a single Spotted Flycatcher in Long Meadow.

Harrier (c) John Reynolds

Two over the reedbed (c) Bark

Lone male? over Greenaways

There are currently at least three and possibly four Marsh Harriers hunting over the reserve, at one time on Sunday morning three were visible at the same time and later a mature male was reported and none of those three were mature males....hence possibly four. At one time two Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, two Kites and a Common Buzzard were all occupying the same sector of the sky, and clearly from their interaction, not happy to share it.

The interest this weekend however switched away from passerines and on to waders. At least two

Common Sandpiper Monday (c) John Reynolds

Green sandpipers were present and most easily seen on the Greenaways scrape. On Sunday they were accompanied at times by a very inconspicuous Ringed Plover. There was still at least one Black Tailed Godwit favouring the lagoon in front of the first screen and also a Greenshank that came and went from time to time calling loudly. Two Ruff also dropped in on Sunday.

Calling Greenshank (c) Bark

The highlight was a Little Stint that turned up in front of the screen on Sunday afternoon. There was also a Little Ringed Plover with it that really served to emphasise the tiny nature of the Stint. On Saturday morning a Golden Plover was heard flying over yet another indicator of the changing seasons. I am sure that the passage of waders is not yet over, as the water evaporates more and better feeding areas will be exposed and so we might look forward to other passage visitors. Perhaps a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Lesser Yellowlegs or some other exciting and unusual American visitor will return and spend some time out on the moor.

Grey Heron (c) John Reynolds

Strike ! (c) John Reynolds

Heron (c) Andy Last

Little egret pics (c) Andy Last

Even without the waders there was a lot to see at the screen with Herons and Little egrets performing out on the lagoon and even the odd Bittern flying past. From careful observation there would appear to be at least two Bitterns present. The Egrets in particular are hoovering up the small fry in the shallows. The fish are also being targeted by several Kingfishers that are becoming increasingly tolerant of observers and taking advantage of the perches around the edges.

Kingfisher on a convenient post (c) John Reynolds

Over the next few weeks there will be lots to look out for and perhaps a few surprises, its a great time of year.

I'll be watching too (c) Bark

Saturday and Sunday 30th and 31st August

Spot Fly (c) Bark

There was a welcome return to summer weather this weekend, at the end of what has been a rather chilly and unseasonal month.

There were fewer waders present with just a single Greenshank and a Green Sand being reported on Sunday and of course the regular Snipe and Lapwings at the first screen. 

Greenshank Greenaways (c) John Reynolds

I failed to see either of the Marsh Harriers that have been regular over the last two months and have not heard of any sightings of them. It may well be that they have moved on. Another Osprey was reported on Sunday drifting over but not staying to fish. Hobbies were reported on both days with up to four present on Saturday.

Most of the interest this weekend was focussed on passerines in the hedgerows and out on the field margins. Whinchats are present in good numbers and on Saturday there were ten up by the farm at Noke there were also four out at the Pill and a couple on the edges of Big Otmoor. They are always animate and busy, hawking insects from fence-lines and perching high on rushes and docks. 

Whinchat Big Otmoor (c) Bark

There were six Spotted Flycatchers out in Saunders field on Saturday, they may well have been there still on Sunday but the red flag was flying and so there was no access. They have become very obliging and will allow a fairly close approach. They are very delicately and softly marked, close scope views really allowing one to appreciate their beauty.

Spot Fly (c) Peter West

It has been a good year for Redstart passage and again they were cropping up along the hedges and especially in Long Meadow where there were at least six on Sunday. Terry and I found another half way along the bridle way. It gave itself away by that distinctive tail of red-gold as it flew across in front of us. I can't imagine a time when I would not be excited by that flash of colour.

Fireflirt along bridleway (c) Tezzer

While looking for Redstarts in Long Meadow I had my best birding experience of the whole weekend. There was a large mixed party of tits and warblers moving around the isolated bushes and the hedgerows. When we stopped to look carefully there were at least ten pristine Lesser Whitethroats, slightly fewer Common Whitethroats, a few male and female Blackcaps and a large number of Willow warblers and Chiffchaffs. This mixture of warblers had coalesced around a party of Long Tailed Tits, Great and Blue Tits. There was even a Marsh Tit amongst them as a bonus. 

Chiffy (c) John Reynolds

Marsh Tit (c) John Reynolds

Another chiffy ? (c) Bark

The birds were feeding partially on blackberries and also on the abundant insects that the ripe fruit was attracting. As well as feeding there was some very busy interaction going on between birds as they chased each other and occasionally intimidated a bird of another species, if it was feeding where they wished to be. It was great standing there with so much going on and with so much to look at. Sometimes the best birding happens when you stay still and let things come to you rather than chasing around after them.

Holy Cow? (c) Badger