Another hot day forecast and so we opted for a trip out in the morning. 
I've not caught up with any restarts so far this year and so we decided to try for some in Long Meadow, by RSPB Otmoor. We dropped the car in the car park and made our way back down Otmoor Lane. We found a flock of linnet and another of goldfinch before reaching the entrance to the meadow - we were then surprised by how overgrown the entrance was, at least to the stile.
We started out and soon came to some of the bush habitat that the redstarts like here. Sure enough, there was a male singing but almost as soon as we saw him, he saw us and departed, stage left. We tried to follow but in vain.
We continued down the meadow and sighted five more and heard more. Those that we saw and managed a record photo of were all females.
On one occasion, while waiting for a singing restart to show, I spotted a lesser whitethroat skulking in the undergrowth beside the fence. Fortunately for me it popped out long enough for a quick snap.
Not many species to report but that wasn't the point today.
Sightings included: blackbird, carrion crow, goldfinch, kestrel, lesser whitethroat, linnet, magpie, red kite, 
redstart, robin, rook and woodpigeon.
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