Saturday and Sunday 25th and 26th August

Osprey (c) Bark

Osprey (c) Bark

Little Egret hunting (c) Bark

Confiding Ringed plover (c) Bark

 

Dragonflies everywhere

Whinchat from Hide (c) Badger

Ashgrave peregrine (c) Badger

 Harrier from first screen (c) Terry Sherlock

It was an excellent weekend on the moor, with fine weather, apart from a sharp shower on Saturday and some great birding.
Early autumn migration is getting under way and we were treated to sightings of eight raptor species over the weekend. The best of which was a low fly-over Osprey on Sunday morning. The bird came from the north circling and appeared to check out the reedbed before drifting off south eastward. It was only the third sighting that I have had in all the time that I have been birding on the moor. In addition an immature Marsh Harrier was seen on both days although there is some suggestion that there are two different individuals present. On one occasion it was seen to be harassed and driven off by three Red Kites. Hobbies seemed to be everywhere you looked, which is no surprise given the very large numbers of Dragonflies. A young Peregrine was spotted sitting out on the ground on Ashgrave.
A Ringed tailed Harrier species was seen by several visitors during the last week and apparently was photographed. I would appreciate any information about this sighting.
The best place to be on the moor at present is at the first screen. The sensitive way that the reeds have been cut allows views in to some of the muddy areas and yet still affords the birds some cover and security. Over the weekend we saw three eclipse Garganey, a minimum of four Green Sandpipers, a juvenile Ringed Plover and many small parties of Snipe in this area. I also saw two different individual Water Rails one of which was a juvenile suggested by its dark bill. Kingfishers also put in several appearances as did several of the fifteen or so Little Egrets currently on the moor. Grey Herons are present in good numbers and once or twice a very pale neck stretched out above the sedge gave us a brief moment of excitement in the light of last weeks Great White Egret.
On the passerine front there were at least eight Whinchat on the reserve with three showing very well on the southern side of the hide. At Lower Farm Noke we found five Wheatears on Sunday morning, three on the barn roof and others on the fence and among the sheep. There are still Redstarts in Long Meadow and many mixed flocks of tits and warblers working the hedgerows. There are still no signs of a Stonechat but it may still be a little early for them.

Saturday and Sunday 18th and 19th August

 Juvenile Reed Warbler (c) Bark

Juvenile Reed Bunting (c) Bark

Juvenile Green Woodpecker (c) Bark

Common Tern (c) Bark (out of focus but hell!)

Female Common Blue? (c) Bark

Young Common Lizard (c) Paul Greenaway

It took me until Sunday morning to realise what the subtle change that has happened over the last week was. Both mornings felt very different. It wasn’t the heat, the sunshine or the lack of wind, but the almost complete absence of birdsong. It is still possible to hear the tzacks, gurks and wheets of contact calls as parties of adults and juveniles feed along the hedgerows and reedbeds, but very few are now singing, just one rather mournful Robin in the car park field and a brief snatch of Sedge warbler from the ditch. Birds are concentrating on fattening up and moulting, and are often remaining in cover as they do so. There were a family party of young Green Woodpeckers that preceded me along the bridle way on Sunday and a clutch of six Reed buntings, not long out of the nest, practicing flying and landing in the reeds beside the path to the first screen. With patience it was possible to see all the common warblers except Gropper and the Lesser Whitethroats that I saw were looking especially smart.
A Spotted Flycatcher was feeding in the oaks behind the first screen on Sunday morning and a juvenile Peregrine flew low over Greenaways. From the first screen it was possible to see at least eighteen Snipe feeding on the edge of the reeds and a lone Green Sand. There was no sign of the Marsh Harriers that had been reported on Thursday and Friday, but Hobbies were taking full advantage of the large numbers of dragonflies that are now on the wing. There was also a report from a visitor of a Wood Warbler in midweek, he comes from somewhere in the Welsh borders and said that he was very familiar with the species. They must move through the county and I would really appreciate any further information that anyone has on this sighting.
While it is still dewy in the mornings we have often noticed efts (very young newts) crossing the paths. Young Common Lizards have been glimpsed and even photographed near the first screen. There have been several reports of diving beetles on the paths and I guess that if the pool that they are in starts to dry up their only resort is to wander off and try to find another. Any bug specialists who know better, please let us know. Many butterflies are on the wing and our non-avian surveyor Chris Bottrell saw five Brown Hairstreaks around the “master tree”, an ash along the Roman road. It will be very interesting to see, over the next few weeks, how successful they have been in such a difficult year.

Saturday and Sunday 11th and 12th August

Mother Tufty with five well grown young. (c) Bark

Small Copper on Fleabane (c) Bark

Bubbles coming in to land.

Fresh Peacock (c) Bark

Nineteen Snipe (c) Bark

Magpie Moth (c) Bark

I would like to start by welcoming the new blog about Otmoor, that has arrived while I have been away. It is good to get another perspective on the moor and there is always lots to see, plenty to write about and to photograph. It is great to celebrate such a wonderful site.

Green Sand (c) Peter Coombes

After a two weeks away it was good to get back to normal with a couple of visits to the moor. Birdwise we are really into the August doldrums, with a smattering of waders moving through, that are difficult to find on Otmoor, with the vegetation around the scrapes being so lush and long. The compensation is Butterflies and Dragonflies that are at their most prolific now.
Redstarts are around with at least five present on Saturday morning. There was no sign of the Whinchat that had been seen earlier in the week, but it is still probably a little early for them. The last juvenile Cuckoo was seen last Wednesday, and was reported as being fully feathered and able to fly, so has probably now departed. It would seem to have been a very successful year for them, I know of four different individuals that have been seen and it is fair to assume that there would have been others in the unvisited parts of the reserve. The most significant waders seen this weekend were a flock of around forty Snipe that seemed to split into two smaller flocks and flew over Greenaways and Big Otmoor calling frequently. Elsewhere there were Black Tailed Godwits, Greenshanks, Greensands and a Common Sand on the tern raft. There are large numbers of juvenile and eclipse adult ducks on the reserve but they are spending a lot of time out in the big lagoon on Ashgrave and are only visible when flushed by a raptor or, as on Saturday morning, by a hot air balloon. It just managed to avoid the power lines and landed over the hedge on the western side of Ashgrave, a close run thing. It is evident that Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Shoveller have all bred successfully this year. We also have a picture taken a week ago that shows, what appears to be a Garganey with a duckling.
We may have seen our first Brown Hairstreak on Saturday morning but it moved too quickly for a positive id. and couldn’t be relocated. Other butterflies seen this weekend included Brimstone, Peacock, Small Copper and Common Blue. Another unusual sighting was a Magpie Moth by the first screen.
We should start to have more migrant birds coming through in the next few weeks and amongst them I hope to find Stonechat, a species that used to over winter here in good numbers, but has not been seen on the moor since a single passage male last Autumn.

Blackwit (c) Pat

Saturday and Sunday 21st and 22nd July

female Blackcap(c) Bark

Reflective Badger (c) Bark

Juvenile Redstart (c) Bark

Lucky shot of Emperor Dragonfly (c) Bark

Silver Washed Fritillary(c) Bark

Devils Coach Horse (c) Peter Coombes

Juvenile Turtle (c) Peter Coombes

Reed Warbler (c) Mike Kosniowski

Obliging Gropper (c) Mike Kosniowski

Summer finally arrived this weekend and it was long overdue. It meant that there were more birds to be seen out and about in the hedgerows and both Butterflies and Dragonflies were on the wing in significant numbers making up for lost time.
Redstarts are still present with at least four on Sunday, one of which is a very young juvenile (see picture on otmoor birding) still speckled and with a yellow gape showing. Elsewhere the Grasshopper Warblers near the feeders have put on a great show this weekend offering excellent photo opportunities for the patient. I suspect that they are a family group and individuals have been seen on the fence and in the willow tree that is about ten metres out and to the right of the seat. Whitethroats, Willowchiffs and Blackcaps were also easy to find.
There were fewer waders to be seen this weekend with the large flock of Lapwings loafing around in the middle of Ashgrave and a lone Green Sandpiper flying over on Saturday morning. Several broods of Tufted Ducks could be seen with very young ducklings including one with eight balls of fluff, in the channel dividing the two halves of Big Otmoor. Both Turtle Doves and Hobbies were reported on both days.
Having found Silver Washed Fritillaries on the edges of the reserve in previous years, it was great to actually find them on Sunday morning flying over the fence and onto the southern tip of Ashgrave, to take on minerals in the heavily puddled and poached mud. On the pond in July’s Meadow an Emperor Dragonfly, resplendent in blue and green, has taken up residence and posed a challenge to photographers, by never settling for a moment. The wet weather has been good for flowering plants and there is a colourful display of wildflowers to be seen along all the paths.

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!

Saturday and Sunday 7th and 8th July

Loafing Redshanks (c) J.Coppock

Juvenile Blue Tit (c) J. Coppock

Juvenile Great tit (c) J. Coppock

Reflective Green Sand (c) J.Coppock

Sunset last week. (c) J.Coppock

Singing Gropper (c) Paul Greenaway

Young Whitethroat (c) P. Barker

Despite having had misgivings about the impact of the unusual summer weather on breeding passerines, there are good numbers of juvenile birds to be seen in the car park field. There are many custard coloured Blue Tits and Great Tits making use of the feeders, while juvenile warblers chase each other around and forage in the bushes. Adult birds are singing again in preparation for second broods. There were at least three Grasshopper Warblers reeling this weekend with two in the car park field and another along the path between the bridle way and the first screen. When I arrived on Saturday morning there were Bullfinches, Linnets, a Reed bunting, two Whitethroats,a Yellowhammer and a Turtle Dove all seen on the wires before getting to the pump house.
Waders were again in evidence with two Little Ringed Plovers and three Green Sandpipers on the Big Otmoor scrapes. Juvenile Redshanks are noticeable around the same scrapes distinguishable from adults by their more speckled backs, plain bills and their yellowish-orange legs. There are a substantial number of Lapwings, both adults and juveniles around over Ashgrave and Big Otmoor. There are still one pair near the bridle way protecting a late chick and it is interesting to see that twenty or thirty Lapwings are still flying up to harass red Kites when they come over the field. The bulk of the Lapwings, a flock we estimated at about one hundred and twenty, are spending a lot of time around the invisible scrape in the centre of Ashgrave. They can be seen when the birds flush for passing raptors. Along with them are two Black Tailed Godwits, a couple of Dunlin and possibly other wader species. They are only visible in flight and at a considerable distance. As the water draws down on Big Otmoor and more mud appears there will be better feeding opportunities there and thus more chance of seeing them. If anyone has managed to photograph them it would be good to identify which subspecies they belong to.
There are also increasing numbers of ducks using the open water on Ashgrave, at least thirty Teal were there on Sunday and a substantial flock of Mallard. Tufted Ducks, Gadwall, Pochard and Shovellers are also out there.
A Kingfisher was seen on Saturday morning and a pair of Ravens spent several hours sitting on the posts in the middle of Big Otmoor. Having decided that the Cuckoo I saw last weekend was likely to be the last of the year we saw another this Sunday. There have also been reports of a juvenile being fed, halfway down the lane from Beckley.
The lack of sunshine meant that again there were few butterflies to be seen which is very disappointing......but as the song says “things can only get better”..........at least I hope so!

Just a footnote ! There is no holding some birders back.

Saturday 30th June and Sunday 1st July

Common Tern second screen (c) P. Barker

Kestrel Wash and brush up All pics (c ) P. Barker

Juvenile Whitethroat (c) P. Barker

Well it still doesn’t feel like high summer, better this weekend than last, but still breezy with occasional showers.
There were a few more waders about with a Green Sandpiper on the second scrape on Greenaways in addition to the two seen during the previous week on Ashgrave. A Greenshank was reported on Friday and heard on Sunday. There are still one or two Lapwing chicks on Big Otmoor and there are at least seven fledged juvenile Redshanks together and moving around the scrapes. A Little Ringed Plover was also present on the Big Otmoor scrapes. One of the scrapes has drained down well and is showing a lot of attractive mud for passage migrants. Unfortunately there was no sign of Fridays reported Knot. I have also heard of a summer plumaged Black Tailed Godwit that was seen on Saturday on Big Otmoor
Many warblers are singing again and the Grasshopper Warbler in the usual spot by the feeders was showing well on Sunday morning. Lesser Whitethroats are again very vocal along the bridleway and on the path to the second screen. A Cuckoo seen on Sunday morning may be the last adult that we see this year.
A juvenile Kestrel gave excellent views beside the path to the second screen and offered great photographic opportunities as it went through a complete preening session after a bath. It seemed unafraid and showed amazing flexibility in the way that it managed to service all of its different feathers even those that seemed most difficult to access. Hobbies continued to hunt actively over Greenaways and it was very pleasing to see at least five Turtle Doves in the carpark/Roman road/cattle pen areas.
There were many more dragonflies about but the cool breezy conditions have meant that there are still not as many Butterflies on the wing as we would expect for early July, a warm, still and sunny day will bring them out in great numbers......should we ever have such a day again!

Large Skipper (c) P. Barker

Red Admiral (c) P.Barker

Hobbies left overs (c) P. Greenaway

Dragonfly nymph ? (c) P. Greenaway