Saturday was one of the most beautiful days so far this summer, Sunday
reverted to the damp grey norm that we have experienced over the past few
weekends. The wildlife really responded to the warmth and the calm sunshine.
There were lots of good birds to see and increasing numbers of interesting
invertebrates.
The Turtle Doves are still putting on a great show near the pumphouse and
another was calling from the Roman Road/Long Meadow direction. A Bittern flew
out from the reedbed and flew along the broad ditch beside the path to the first
screen landing near the bridleway after about ten minutes it took off and flew
back into the reedbed. It was later seen making a similar flight from the second
screen.
Bittern and Harrier (c) JR
The two resident Marsh Harriers were very much in evidence both over the
reedbed and the adjacent fields, one of them showed superbly just to left of the
hide, out on Ashgrave. We were pleased to see two juvenile Mistle Thrushes fly
over our heads at the second screen. We could be sure of their youth because
JR’s photograph shows the fringing on their feathers.
Juvenile Mistle Thrush (c) JR
There is still a very
elusive Grasshopper Warbler reeling in July’s meadow, just once or twice it
forgot itself and called in plain view. We found a Spotted Flycatcher in the
Roman Road area again, whilst looking for Black Hairstreaks. The Flycatcher was
very obliging showing well and using prominent perches.
Gropper (c) JR
Calling Gropper (c) Bark
Spot Fly (c) JR
The Hairstreaks were
less obliging, flicking around the tops of the bushes and seldom settling in
plain sight. They are becoming stars in their own right and on both days we met
visitors who had come to the moor specially to see them and incidentally the
other butterfly species that are more prolific and noticeable. We were
accompanied by at least twenty Small Tortoiseshells fluttering ahead of us as we
walked along the path to July’s Meadow.
Small Torts (c) Bark
On Sunday morning there were three leverets by the cattle pens on
Greenaways all at different stages of growth. Another almost ran into us along
the path to the second screen, as it fled ahead of two visitors coming from the
opposite direction. The indications are that they have had a very good breeding
season.
Racing Leveret (c) JR
For the first time this summer I noticed a mixed flock of juvenile Tits and
Warblers and these parties will become more and more frequent as the weeks
progress. The security of feeding in a flock with a multitude of eyes and ears
cannot be underestimated.
Whimbrel (c) Helaine Cadman
A Whimbrel seen last week was a good record although not the first this
year. It seems to be either very late going or very early returning. The Common
Cranes were seen briefly both last week and at the weekend. Later this week I
will be posting an extra supplement on here describing what they have
been up to since April, I hope you will all enjoy it.
STOP PRESS: Steve Roby had a calling Little Owl in Otmoor Lane on Sunday evening.
Soggy Bullfinch on Sunday (c) Bark
Video clip courtesy of Paul Thomas of a juvenile Cuckoo
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