Summer Leyes :: 28 May 2021

This was more of a twitch than one of my usual visits to Summer Leyes. On Thursday, a purple heron had been reported at Summer Leyes but work kept me at home - through Friday I was itching to drop everything as it was reported again, but still work came first. My wife came home and I suggested an early dinner and that gave the possibility of dashing across to see if I could connect with the purple heron, before the light vanished - the following day would be Saturday, and as we all know there is a curse on birds staying through until a Saturday morning!

I arrived in the car park and was met by a string of people heading away, anti-clockwise around the water. I asked a chap at the tail if that is where the heron was showing and he said they'd been unable to see it from the Pioneer Hide but some people on the other side had waved them across - they were assuming it was showing from there. Halfway to the next hide we met three guys motoring in the opposite direction and they indicated the bird had flown across the reeds and would most likely be visible from the Pioneer Hide - decisions, decisions - I decided to turn back with them and took a free spot in the hide. The residents said the bird had indeed dropped into the reeds but wasn't visible. This turned out not to be completely true as a couple of guys managed to locate it through scopes and gave a running commentary on it turning it's head, dropping down, etc ... anything but coming out. I managed to see it but it was a hardly a sighting. The commentary continued.

After an hour, the excitment grew as the bird moved forward slightly and it's head raised above the reeds. Within a minute it took to the wing and as we had hoped it was relocating to presumably roost - the light was almost gone. I managed a couple of photos and can give it a life tick.

I needn't have worried as report indicated that it had stayed for Saturday and there were some spectacular photos from Nick Truby and Magda Torju.

While I'd been waiting for the heron to show a fox and two cubs hunted and played on the far bank on my right, the cubs being much further advanced than those I saw in Banbury at the beginning of the month - I expect they may be at the same stage by now.

Balscote Quarry :: 22-23 May 2021

Saturday morning started dry and I arrived at Balscote Quarry just before 6.30am. The usual suspects were on the water and two yellow wagtails were feeding behind and to the right of the main island. A single little ringed plover appeared on the main island as I watched. A red kite cruised through and probably a coincidence but both the plover and the yellow wagtail vanished.

As 7.00am approached the numbers of sand martin started to grow from two to ten, but so were the dark clouds. A couple of swallows passed over, as did three swifts. The willow warbler has been calling constantly for weeks and showed nicely in a tree on the right of the feeder area.

The rain clouds began to split and I saw the rain falling both to my left and right - I was going to get away with miising the rain. No such luck and the tail end of the darkest clouds opened and I retired to the car for shelter. In only 10 minutes or so the rain reduced to spots and I stepped back out of the car. Immediately half a dozen house martin turned into 24, passed over the road and over the reserve. Two swallows followed but they could have been the same ones as earlier. The rain seemed to wake up some of the birds and I saw a kestrel hunting over the scrub - there was generally more activity with whitethroat calls adding to the linnet, dunnock and willow warbler.

I watched a stag and doe roe deer feeding on the opposite bank and at one point thought I saw something under the doe - as it moved there was nothing there and so presumed it must have been grooming. A damp looking brown hare fed nervously to my left in the hollow. I returned home for breakfast. By late morning my suspicions about the roe deer were confirmed as photos of two fawns were posted - must have retreated into the undergrowth while I was there.

Later the the afternoon, as everyone else was doing something around the house, I popped back to Balscote. A single red-legged partidge was spotted in the far right of the bowl and eventually made it's way up to the feeders. The stag and doe roe deer appeared and this time I had views of the fawns but often such that a clear photo wasn't possible - with the scope on them I had great views though.

Iain Brown dropped in wearing painting clothes - he has offered to help a friend decorate. The deer started to show a bit better and we both rattled of a few photos. Steve Holliday and his wife arrived and soon we had better views as the doe and one fawn worked their way left. We all left for home.

I returned again at 6.30am and had three mallard drop in with a grey heron - odd travel companions. The grey heron stayed only a couple of minutes and headed SE. The mallards stayed for about 20 mins and returned NW.

Eventually I added yellow wagtail and most of the regulars. It was a cold wind but was happy I stayed as the doe appeared on the opposite bank with both fawns - the male was far to the left. I spent the remained of the time taking photos of the group as they came in and out of cover - cute.

Balscote Quarry :: 16 May 2021

Saturday showers gave me an opportunity to have a bit of a lie in, while Sunday's forecast promised a high probability of it being dry, at least early doors. I set up at Balscote Quarry by 5.30am and found there was a chill in the air and opted to wear gloves - it was nice and calm but the ground and seat were wet - it must have rained in the night. I was welcomed by the ever present singing willow warbler and by a red kite cruising over.

From the off I could see there were two yellow wagtails in the bowl, feeding separately, but in the same area. These yellow wags would ocassionally disappear, either one or both, but this is not unusual as the gorse hides a large expanse of water's edge and much of an island. The coot and their young could be seen on the back pool as could a single little grebe. Five jackdaws loitered around the owl box but didn't enter - once these departed, four stock doves followed suit. A flock of nine lesser black-backed gulls passed over but didn't stop. From 5.40am the sand martins were on the wing (up to 10), perhaps knowing that the rain was due to arrive by lunchtime, they fed without a pause.

A calling magpie directed my attention to a fox making it's way along the far bank. I grabbed the waterproof cover for my camera lens and used it to allow me to sit on the bench without getting a wet bum, thereby reducing my visibility. The fox quartered the ground that has been exposed by the water receding over the last couple of months.

The fox paused and the magpie dropped onto the ground beside, giving it an earful. A couple of the geese took to the land and made for the fox - later Iain Brown noted that he'd seen other birds do much the same, presumably to keep track of exactly where the fox was. Neither the fox nor the magpie were in the slightest bit fazed by the other getting close. I think that the fox had intended making it's way round to the side I was but it had spotted me and possibly thought twice about it.

Five flocks of racing pigeons passed south of the reserve heading NW, the leading group being only ½km in the lead. On a couple of ocassions I tried to take another photo of the willow warbler but each time I set up with a clear view (and when it was within 10ft of then ground) it would return to the top of it's favourite tree and sing it's heart out. To my left a roe deer appeared and foraged, gradually getting more distant. My seated position helped me to stay largely out of view - shortly after, a pair of muntjac crossed between the front and back pools; the male muntjac showing some interesting behaviour, licking the females's neck - it takes all sorts!

I watched the linnets, whitethroat, dunnock all flying around the gorse and managed to misidentify one of the common whitethroat as a lesser - corrected when I looked at the photos later. All very pleasant and made more enjoyable by the range and volume of birdsong.

Iain Brown dropped in and we had a nice chat; he'd been to a dawn chorus event and had noted an interesting list of species, best of which was a cuckoo - it had finished with breakfast from a self-sufficient small-holding. There wasn't much else to add to our count and so he eventually made his way back home having started the dawn chorus event at 4.30am! The talk of breakfast made me hungry but before I left, a final shot at the willow warbler presented itself - I was able to get a clear view, rattling off a few photos.

After an early lunch the rain hadn't yet arrived and so I thought I'd go and see if I could find a spotted flycatcher. Parking is close to where the birds traditionally show, hence a quick dash back to the car is possible. After only a 10 minutes wait I saw a spoted flycatcher land in the tree to the left of the cottage joined to the church and raised my camera ... just in time for the bird to take to the wing and over a hedge. Fortunately it swooped back and landed on a severely pruned bush in the middle of the lawn. I was able to snap off half a dozen photos before it flew high into the trees. I lost it for a while but ocassionally picked it out feeding high in the canopy - not quite the experience I had last year but I got a photo and happily watched the bird on and off for an hour or so.

There were ocassional drops of rain but this didn't come to much - it served to drive swifts, house martin and swallows through. A couple of buzzard and blackcap also put in an appearance.

Summer Leyes :: 09 May 2021

The weather has been unsettled and it was forecast that Sunday morning may be better in the early hours than later morning - Saturday had been a wash-out. I set off for Summer Leyes and arrived as the first car in tne main car park - not the first on site as regulars often park at other entrance points. Stepping out of the car brought a wall of song from the field between me and the water - broken by a few common tern over and the distant black-headed gulls on the islands and scrape. Garden, sedge, willow warblers and chiffchaff all made their presence known.

I peered out over the water and could see hirundines including swift, swallow and both sand and house martin. I looked from the Pioneer Hide and could see redshank but no sign of the spotted - scanning around I could see two black-tailed godwit in the distance.

After a short while I decided to make a circuit of the site adding blackcap and reed warblers as I went. Near the sand martin wall a Cetti's warbler almost burst my eardrum and I stopped to watch it and another individual chasing around beyond the fence. It stopped by a number of times and gave some nice views, even within photo range - it really has been a Cetti's spring.

Contunuing on I eventually found the spotted redshank looking smart in his summer plumage. I watched as it fed passed another wader which turned out to be a ruff.

Continuing round there were more chiffchaff, willow warbler and a green woodpecker feeding in an adjacent field to the right - a common place for me to find one. Soon I was back to the Pioneer Hide and from this vantage point could see that the spotted redshank had relocated here. Always distant but interesting to observe it feeding constantly and as I watched it work across the island I spotted a pale bird which turned out to be a greenshank - that was nice as when I looked for one at Balscote Quarry recently it must have been obscured behind the gorse as other saw it later and the following day.

Ricky Sinfield dropped into the hide - it was good to see him again. While he was talking he mentioned the group feeding by hobby the previous day and I mentioned that I'd seen his photos on Facebook - he suddenly stopped and said that there was a hobby sitting in a nearby tree - to observe social distancing I couldn't squeeze in and made do with a partial view through the leaves. This was an early appearance as it hadn't even reached 10.00am yet - flies were out though. A great visit following more than a year's absence. Sightings (53) included: black-headed gull, black-tailed godwit, blackbird, blackcap, blue tit, buzzard, canada goose, carrion crow, cetti's warbler, chiffchaff, common tern, coot, cormorant, dunnock, gadwall, garden warbler, great crested grebe, great tit, green woodpecker, greenshank, grey heron, greylag goose, hobby, house martin, jackdaw, lapwing, lesser black-backed gull, little egret, magpie, mallard, mistle thrush, moorhen, mute swan, oystercatcher, pheasant, redshank, reed bunting, reed warbler, robin, ruff, sand martin, sedge warbler, song thrush, spotted redshank, starling, stock dove, swallow, swift, tufted duck, wigeon, willow warbler, woodpigeon and wren.

On the way home I saw a message from Mike Curnow that a pair of whinchat were 'still' at the Borrow Pit (by the motorway). I turned off the A43 early and made my way down to park off the A361 and walk in along a footpath. Amazingly the pair were still there but mobile as dog walkers pushed them about - I never got close but took a couple of record shots regardless.

Piddington and Borough Hill :: 05 May 2021

On Tuesday evening I was talking with another Banbury birder, Mark Ribbons, as he tried to confirm the precise location of the wryneck at Borough Hill - he was just arriving at site. He was dropping in after visiting Piddington for the two female dotterel and regaled his encounter making it clear it was an unmisable opportunity. So it was decided and I left home at 5.00am the following morning - I had a video call scheduled for 9.00am, some prep work to do and so time was tight.

I parked on Forest Road and made my way down to the bridleway and out along the fields scattering the occasional skylark sitting on the path. I reached the likely spot and scanned to my left and right but didn't locate them so proceeded higher up the field and picked out movement to my right - it turned out to be a female wheatear, then two. I turned and made my way back down the slope and soon picked the dotterel out hunkered down in the field people have described - another life tick and two in a week. As I came level with them I counted a further five wheatear. I took photos and watched as the dotterel started feeding but too soon I had to leave and was home before 8.00am.

Her indoors had a tennis match in the evening and so we had an early dinner - I thought I'd have another go at the wryneck at Borough Hill. This time I arrived and the sun was shining, despite the forecast. When I pitched up there were a few observers (including Mike Pollard) which made locating the bird easier but it wa far from visible with it's head occasionally bobbing into view. Apparently it had been close earlier but (you won't guess what) a dog had just been through - just like Monday. Still there was time. Eventually the bird partially broke cover but still at distance and only briefly as much of the time it fed in the longer grass. Eventually it took to the wing and into the trees to our right. Not the killer photo I'd hoped for but still great to see again.

Just as well I went for these two as the following day there were no sightings reported and it looks like they have moved on.

Balscote Quarry & Borough Hill :: 03 May 2021

I got up early and went looking for little owl in farm fields where a friend had seen one - I didn't connect in the hour I waited. The wind was getting stronger and I decided that I would relocate to Balscote Quarry which on reflection is an odd choicve as there it was even windier and cold. I recorded most of the likely species including two little ringed plover and was entertained by a showy and vocal willow warbler. The greenshank appeared to have moved on.

It was still only mid-moring and so I made for Boddington Reservoir to see whether I could reconnect with the grasshopper warbler, or any of the reported species. I was standing in the field listening for the gropper when I saw Nick Truby and his wife approach from the car park. I made my way back to see him and he mentioned that he'd just been to see a wryneck - it had been found at Borough Hill the previous day and I'd missed any reports as I hadn't checked my phone. I abandoned any plan I had and made for Daventry.

It didn't take long to locate the bird as there were a dozen or so people already in attendance. Unfortunately, almost as soon as I got my bins on the wryneck three spaniels tore through flushing the bird into a tree - the owner simply said not to worry as they flushed birds every time they were out ... still a life tick for me.

Eventually the bird reappeared but the rain had started and everyone started drifting off. I stayed long enough to get a photo and retreated before I got soaked - it then rained all afternoon.

Graven Hill & RSPB Otmoor :: 02 May 2021

On Saturday evening I was admiring some great photos of a wood sandpiper at Graven Hill Bicester, posted by Nick Truby, and resolved that I would modify my plan to visit RSPB Otmoor - an earlier start would place me by the Graven Hill floodwater field for sunrise and International Dawn Chorus Day.

I arrived and turned the car so that I was on the right side of the car to view out the window. I spotted the pair of garganey but at that point they were on the far righthand edge of the field - they would relocate and gave good but distant views. They could also be heard giving mating calls and it would be great if this site could be given a local wildlife site designation - it has much to offer.

Mike Pollard arrived and reminded me that I should stay in the car as lapwing are nesting close to the road and they are prone to leave the nest as people pass by. Although people do use this road as a thoroughfare, the least disturbance the better. We parked and watched the field for any sign of the wood sandpiper and as we waited we had lesser and common whitethroat in the scrub and a little ringed plover on the water. After about 15 mintes I had a call from Mike to say that the wood sandpiper had dropped into the pool beside his car and so I gently rolled the car forward until I could see the bird. It was in the closest pool and feeding in amongst the grasses and plants - great for watching through bins but difficult to get a photo. We had a great watch but by 7.30am it took to the wing and away - it would return regularly in the coming days.

I set off for RSPB Otmoor and arrived just after 8.00am and found that the car park was already full - I managed to squeeze in at the end of a row. I jumped out, put on by boots and made my way up the path towards the feeding station with a couple of Cetti's warbler calling and showing quite well. A cuckoo flew over and called from high in a tree on the Roman Road. At the feeders a lesser whitethroat called and showed briefly plus garden warbler sang from the corner to the bridleway.

Reed and sedge warbler called from every drection, blackcap fed in several trees with several lesser whitethroat joining in. Marsh harriers fed over Greenaways - it was difficult to know where to look there was so much going on.

By the wetland hide two common cranes fed out in Ashgave and as I got my bins on the spotted redshank it took off and out beyond the cranes - I am destined not to get anything but a record shot of this bird. A curlew appeared to fly in to a distant part of Ashgrave. Another Cetti's showed in the hedge but it was partly obscured and not possible to get a good photo.

One of the other birders mentioned that he'd seen a glossy ibis in The Closes from the path by the feeders and I decided to make my way back. Two hobby had started hunting over Greenaways and were my first of the year. I eventually found the glossy ibis but it was much more distant than had been described - still better than when I saw it last.

I was joined by Dan and Trish Miller and we eventually made for the car park, spotting and photographing a lesser whitethroat on the way.