Pitsford Water & Balscote Quarry :: 21 May 2022

Another busy working week, but still an early rise on Saturday morning - two black-necked grebes had relocated from Stanwick Lakes to Pitsford Water the previous day and had been reported as still being present at dusk. With fishermen on the water there was easily the chance of disturbance and so there was no luxury of a stop for breakfast enroute.

We arrived and parked in the layby at the top of the track - there were already two cars parked there and so we were likely to find someone already on the bird or someone coming the opposite way with bad news. We reached the water and noted that there was no sight or sound of the tree sparrows in their usual spot - I'd only seen a single bird when I was here previously. Common terns fished over the water and the usual ducks and wildfowl adorned the water and water's edge. When we reached the Bird Club Hide it was so far so good - no one coming the other way ...

From the hide we scanned the water and couldn't see anything but great-crested grebes. However, we could see a birder was standing to the side of the James Fisher Hide and had his scope and bins on something in the pool obscured from us by trees and bushes. We didn't stop long as the target birds may be just around the corner. It is further than it looks but as we were getting closer to the next hide we looked back into the pool, and spotted one of the black-necked grebes - that wasn't so hard. In just a few minutes it was joined by a second and all was well - until they moved out of view and seemed to be heading left to the next hide. We decided to up-sticks and continue on to the hide on the off-chance they gave closer views.

Kev and I sat in the hide enjoying the birds but they never came any closer having actually gone right and further out into the bay. Eventually we decided to move on, stopping only to watch them again in the original pool where they'd returned to. On the journey back we came across Dylan Parry-Davies and stopped for a chat - we asked what they planned to do but decided for ourselves on returning to the Banbury area and seeing if we could spot any lesser whitethroats at the Banbury Ornithological Society's Balscote Quarry.

We were there in an hour and found Dave Fuller and Iain Brown in residence - Iain had only dropped in on his way past and after a short chat he was gone. We scanned the water and bowl finding only the usual fare and while I chatted to Da Fu as he packed up, Kev went in search of lesser whitethroat along the roadside hedge - he was sure he'd hear calls from that direction. As I finished up, I had a call from Kev to say he'd found one and I went along to join him - the bird was quite vocal but didn't want to show for a photo, giving up only short glimpses.

Kev and I packed up and discussed meeting later to see if I could add spotted flycatcher for the year - I'd dipped a couple of days previously as the sun was close to setting. After lunch we got in touch and met, along with Dave South, at the designated spot. I was there first and had my tick before they arrived - they'd seen it earlier in the week. The bird was high in the trees and out of range for a photo. We eventually split up with Dave down to the gated road, Kev back where we'd parked the car and I stayed put.

It was about 10 minutes before a short call caught my attention and I saw a spotted flycatcher in the tree between me and the buildings - it quickly dropped down, deep into the tree and out of shot. Three birds departed and over the roofs - just my luck, it may have departed. I scanned the interior and eventually located the bird and took a shot - then I alerted the others. Dave soon arrived but before Kev could, it left into the trees behind and out of view. About 10 minutes later a spotted fly dropped onto the TV ariel allowing photos but silhouetted against the sky. The bird would leave but on each occasion would only be gone minutes and return to the ariel. After three repeats we decided it wasn't showing at eye level and went for a walk along the gated road. Kev had been practicing with an old camera and lens that Dave had lent him as he would like to have a record of the bird he sees when on a fast-approaching birding holiday break - a crash course from Dave.

Woolhampton GP & Wyre Forest :: 13-14 May 2022

My daughter was working in London and so needed an early drop-off at the train station - I was at my desk by 6.20am as I had a bunch of stuff I wanted to get done before I delivered a course session later that morning. Just before I started, I had a message from Kevin Heath to say that the red-footed falcon at Woolhampton GP had been reported again and that he planned to go down after lunch - there was a thought. I delivered my lecture, finishing at 1.30pm with questions to follow - it didn't take too long and I decided to finish for the day and head for Woolhampton; Kev said he was going to get on the road with his wife by 2.00pm and would meet me there.

I reached Woolhampton with only a slight delay due to heavy traffic only to find that I was in a queue to get across the railway level crossing - after a few minutes the gates opened and I joined another queue to pass over the Woolhampton Swingbridge – across the Kennet and Avon canal. This is an improved river navigation rather than a true canal and consists of sections of the natural riverbed of the River Kennet alternating with artificially created lock cuts and locks. Woolhampton Lock is at the downstream end of an artificial lock cut, and the river and lock cut re-join at the foot of the lock.

Just over the swingbridge I pulled into The Rowbarge pub car park and popped in to use their facilities - it appeared to be a really nice pub/restaurant and looked to be very popular. As I returned to my car, Kevin and Karen arrived and followed suit but also booked a table for dinner. It wasn't long before we were booted and off - Kev said that Adrian Sparrowhawk was already here, and we followed his instructions on where to go - he had been here for a while and had seen the bird.

It was not far to the water’s edge and soon we could see a small group of people peering through scopes or taking photos - we decided we were probably in the right place. It took only seconds to spot the bird perched high in a dead tree out on a point. I took a few record shots just to be sure I had something and then looked through Kev's scope at the bird perched once again.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent watching the falcon drop from its perch and fly a short circuit over the water and back into the tree; each circuit could only have lasted about 20s but very occasionally a little longer. These sorties were almost always distant, and photography wasn't likely to result in anything spectacular, although once in a while the bird would get just that little bit closer.

Overhead we had numbers of swifts, two hobby and a flyby oystercatcher that dropped into the field behind - joining a herd of snorting cows. Terns could also be seen in the distance, but none that looked to be anything other than common.

At one point the red-footed falcon swooped forwards and twisted, all while I was snapping - I quite like the photo that resulted as it looks as if the bird is praying - I used a caption of "'Preying' before dinner". Ok not very clever but I liked it.

Eventually it approached time for Kev and Karen's dinner and as we got back to the pub Adrian decided to join them - I had planned to get home and pick my daughter up from the train and so left them to it.

Saturday morning arrived, and I met with Kev to try and add wood warbler to the year list - we'd dipped on the wood warbler when we visited the Wyre Forest a few weeks ago. We stopped on the way for breakfast at a McDonalds and were arriving at the forest car park by 6.40am - not 200m along we could see a bird moving around and doing a very good impression of a tree pipit. I took a photo and it became obvious that it was not an impression – it was indeed a tree pipit.

We stopped along the main path and scanned around the tree cover finding a pair of pied flycatchers - the female disappeared into a box leaving the male to do what it says on the tin - the male occasionally popping into the box with its catch and presumably provisioning the female as it is likely still a little early for chicks.

I turned around and found another Oxfordshire birder following behind - it was Moth Clark. He joined us and we chatted as we walked along, occasionally pausing and listening for interesting songs and calls. He had also been for the red-footed falcon the day before but mid- to late-morning; he had some great photos. Kev alerted us to a wood warbler above our head and we stopped to listen and watch. We could see the bird, but it was almost impossible to get a photo as it worked through the trees, rapidly. We could follow it in our bins and could clearly identify it as our target bird. All too soon it departed and couldn't be relocated. Numbers of nuthatches fed in the treetops in a slightly different method to those usually encountered.

We reluctantly moved on and spotted some more pied flycatchers, almost all male and predominantly in the usual hollow. Here Moth made a retreat to see if he could catch up with the showy pair back up the track and then return back to this hollow - he did want a decent photo of a pied fly.

We on the other hand went in search of more wood warblers - hopefully one that might show a bit. We reached Dowles Brook and found a dipper just as it decided to exit, stage right. Rather than follow it down we turned left and back up the brook in the direction of calling jays. Kev picked out a warbler and as we watched it, it transformed into a female common redstart. We walked on a little further but couldn't find anything else of note. Another birder came the other way and asked if we'd seen any redstart and we all returned to the spot - it turned out to be Terry Nicklin, someone I've seen on Twitter posting local updates. This time both the male and female redstarts showed, although the female showed better before entering its nest hole while the male stayed tantalising out of reach.

We chatted for a short while and found out that the tree that we were watching was the same one used the year before - possibly/likely the same pair? We then made our way along the brook and came across grey wagtail feeding beside a juvenile dipper. We watched the dipper feed and then relocate under a tree trunk to preen - such a great watch.

We stopped for a coffee from our flasks at the Outdoor Centre where Kev had a flyover kingfisher. Of course, I was taking photos of grey wagtails under the trees and missed it - typical. We climbed back up from the brook and past Coopers Mill finding a rather vocal male flying around the trees, at eye level. Beautiful views.

We reached the hollow again and came across Moth who had been watching various pied flycatchers working the area - one in particular had shown well and perched atop a stick – I can't wait to see the photos. As we stood, we could hear wood warblers calling and were sure we could see two in the treetops; we climbed back up to the main path and located the birds. Kev gave a running commentary as Moth and I tried to keep one of the birds in our viewfinder - this helped tremendously as the bird was moving at speed. It was difficult but fortunately I was on the bird when it paused for a short preen before moving on again - an opportunity to rattle off a few photos, almost all in the same spot or one hop away. Yes.

Moth said his goodbyes as he had just realised the time and it wasn't long before we did the same.

We heard and then saw a garden warbler as it shrunk back into the scrub - it did the decent thing and popped out briefly before dropping back out of view. Willow warbler and chiffchaff called, and more wood warblers could be heard but not seen.

This place is special. It won't be too long before we come back.

Farmoor Reservoir & RSPB Otmoor :: 07 - 08 May 2022

On Friday teatime I'd returned from a business trip to Italy but still decided to arrange birding early on Saturday morning to see if we could catch anything interesting on the Farmoor Reservoir causeway, before the crowds arrived. Kevin Heath's mate, Dave South joined us. My main target for the morning was to see a cuckoo, having heard a few but not seen any this year.

We managed to get caught in the last of the overnight rain but at least found a couple of common sandpipers, a ringed plover and a dunlin on the causeway. As is usually the case, the common sandpipers were skittish, but the dunlin and ringed plover seemed relatively relaxed about our presence, eventually though departing together across F1.

We decided to drop down from the reservoir to the river thinking we might make for the Pinkhill Hide. However, the drizzle abated and we opted to make a pass along the river. Cetti's and reed warbler hopped around the reeds on the opposite bank and then a cuckoo called to the left of them. Relocating we saw the cuckoo just as it took to the wing and flew back and right. We followed the bird, but it didn't settle and moved on before we got close. I managed a couple of photos, but they were either blurred or of the rear of the bird. From the field beside us a roe deer watched and then decided to exit our view, stage right.

Between the river and the Pinkhill lock we could hear a grasshopper warbler reeling but despite search and scanning for a good half hour we didn't catch sight of it. There were common whitethroat, reed bunting and sedge warbler showing and these kept us entertained until a cuckoo landed in a distant tree - I started attempting some long-range photos but it soon flew towards and across us into the trees behind the Pinkhill lock. We managed a few shots but were challenged by the bird against a light sky - that silhouette effect again! A little egret followed behind. A woman on one of the longboats opened a hatch and seemed to be keen to talk about the birds – she would reappear later (now not in her dressing gown) but Kev’s suggestion about making us a brew fell on deaf ears.

We were joined by Ewan Urquhart who relayed that he'd seen an osprey and a whimbrel on/over the water on his way in - he had to be joking. Looks like we may need to make a special trip to add osprey this year - it doesn't seem to be happening naturally.

We worked our way back up onto the edge of the water and headed back to the causeway - here we met Nick and Anne Truby. We sat on the wall and chatted, occasionally scanning and hoping for an "uncommon" tern. Nick raised the alert that he thought that the juvenile great-northern diver had just dived beyond two fishermen beside the pontoon; he was proved correct when it reappeared about a minute later having successfully caught a signal crayfish. I took a couple of photos for the record, but they were never going to be as good as those I'd taken earlier in the year.

The Visitor Centre Cafe called and Kev, Dave and I stopped for a caffeine hit. After this we set off around F1 hoping to catch up with yellow wagtail but failed. A grey heron, although nice to see, was not an adequate replacement - another couple of common sandpipers cushioned the blow.

We made our way round F1, passed the causeway and down to the angler's car park. We stopped there to look in the hedge and down across Shrike Meadow as there are often warblers - it turned out to be a fruitless search, but we did have rather good views of a broad-bodied chaser hunting in the scrub - what a stunning specimen.

We decided to complete the circuit of F2 and as we approached the southern end, we re-found the great northern diver. It was fishing but we didn't see it catching anything, unlike the great crested grebe just a few tens of meters away. As we watched a single barnacle goose drifted by. My wife called to ask when I might get home as she was waiting for lunch and so I pulled stumps and headed for home.

Having had a busy week and an early rise on Saturday I decided not to rush about on Sunday morning. I heard from Kev that he'd been down to Grimsbury Reservoir but not connected with anything of substance - two shelduck were nice. I read that a visiting spoonbill that was showing on Big Otmoor - soon I couldn't help myself and I set out to try and get a county and year tick. On the way in, on Otmoor Lane, I came bumper to bumper with Dan and Trish Miller - I reversed back up to a gate and they pulled alongside. They confirmed that the spoonbill was still in view - well mostly as it was in the far back corner and often down in a ditch. We chatted until another car appeared behind and we had to part.

On the bridleway I listened to the various calling warblers and soon reached the bench, finding Nick and Anne Truby there, waiting for passing hobby. On cue two flew over - a year tick. A rather showy sedge warbler sang its heart out on a prominent stalk.

After a short chat I made for the crossroads and looked across Big Otmoor, easily picking out the spoonbill. It was sleeping at serious distance and photographs were destroyed by the late morning heat haze. I talked with a passing couple who confirmed that the spoonbill could be seen from the corner near !st screen. As I made my way there, I stopped to chat to a birder/photographer obviously waiting for a grasshopper warbler - it was Michael Enticott who can be found posting some great images from around Oxford. I pushed on and soon reached the corner and looked back at the sleeping spoonbill. Sure enough the heat haze was reduced but the bird was fast asleep - fortunately it stretched briefly, preened and then went back to sleep - I least I got a record shot where you can see the bird species!

I was only planning on a short stop as I was again due back for lunch - I stopped to talk with Michael on the return and he confirmed he'd managed to get a workable photo of the grasshopper warbler. I had some more views of hobby over the car park and departed leaving my space to an arriving group. Home James and don't spare the horses.