Saturday and Sunday 30th and 31st March

Dunnock (c) Bark

Huge contrast between the two mornings this weekend, on Saturday by ten o clock I realised was wearing one fleece too many on and on Sunday morning one too few. Saturday warm and sunny by contrast Sunday was grey with a cold easterly wind.

Chiffy (c) JR

As I got out of the car on Saturday, I heard my first Blackcap of the year singing from the Roman Road and then again along the bridleway. Chiffchaffs are getting going properly now and there were five or six calling repetitively across the reserve.

Garganey pair (c) Tezzer

We were keen to get out to the first screen to see if the pair of Garganey from the previous evening were still there but disappointingly they had moved on and were not seen again all weekend.

There was still lots to see and enjoy.

Flying Bittern (c) Above (c) JR below (c) Tezzer

A Bittern was seen on the edge of the reeds directly out from the first screen. It moved along the edge appearing and disappearing, showing just how cryptic its plumage can be. Eventually it flew low across the water and disappeared for good into the south eastern corner of the reedbed, its flight prompting a machine gun like volley of shutter releases. From the photos that I have seen the bird appears to have bluish lores which I understand suggest it is a male.

Tufty (c) JR               Teal (c) Bark

All of the male ducks are looking very smart and our regular leuchistic drake Pochard seems to be holding his own amongst the other drakes, despite looking very different. Tufted Ducks and Teal drakes are absolutely looking at their best.

"Luke"  the leuchistic Pochard (c) JR

There are probably four Marsh Harriers present at the moment and they are hunting over the reedbeds and out across big Otmoor and Ashgrave. We had a close encounter with a Peregrine on Saturday morning when one passed very low just over our heads as we made our way through the carpark towards the bridleway. It was probably a male as it appeared relatively small.

Marsh Harrier (c) JR

Curlew, Lapwings, Oystercatchers and Redshank are all adding their voices to the Otmoor soundscape. There were five Oystercatchers present on Saturday morning and I saw four Curlew displaying over the northern part of Greenaways and the MOD land. There are many of pairs of Redshanks across the reserve including two pairs that are frequenting the scrapes in front of the hide often feeding right in front of it, close enough to make it possible to appreciate the subtle detailed beauty of their plumage.

Redshank (c) Bark

The Linnet flock is showing little sign of shrinking, although there are fewer Reed buntings and Chaffinches taking advantage of the free handouts. On Sunday they were accompanied by a Red-legged Partridge!

Red Legged Partridge (c) JR

On Saturday the sun was beginning to bring out the Grass Snakes in increasing numbers. We talked to an expert herpetologist who believed that there was nowhere better in the UK to see so many and so reliably. The Common Lizards too were once again taking advantage of the sun to raise their metabolic rates.

Common Lizard (c) Bark     Grass Snake (c) JR

We are expecting a cooler wetter week and it might well push down some migrant waders, next week I hope that I will be able to  report our first Willow and Sedge Warblers of the year.

Reed Bunting and Dunnock (c) Bark