Boddington Reservoir :: 30 April 2017

After lunch @grimsbury_birds and @987jonty reported they were at Boddington Reservoir and had found two black terns. We decided to have an afternoon walk and head there to see if we could see them too. By the time we arrived we could see a large number of birds working around the small boats on the water. These turned out to be arctic tern [#123]. As we walked round we could then see the two black tern [#124] around the fringes. The terns all moved quickly and at distance making a good photo impossible.

Good views of multiple whitethroat and chiffchaff around the rest of the Reservoir. Bullfinch, pheasant and a single little egret added to the interest.

By teatime @987jonty was reporting another five black terns at Grimsbury Reservoir. With rain forecast overnight I wonder what we will find tomorrow.

Sighting (24) included: arctic tern, black tern, blue tit, bullfinch, buzzard, carrion crow, chiffchaff, coot, goldfinch, great black-backed gull, great crested grebe, grey heron, house martin, lesser black-backed gull, little egret, magpie, mallard, moorhen, pheasant, pied wagtail, reed bunting, robin, whitethroat and woodpigeon.

Borrow Pit, Banbury :: 30 April 2017

A heads up from @grimsbury_birds let me know that wheatear and whinchat had been found at the Borrow Pit. Also that black terns had visited Grimsbury Reservoir. Given the time I had available I opted for the Borrow Pit. Not immediately obvious but as I approached the rocky area there was some movement - the whinchat [#121]. With dog walkers close behind the bird took off and across the water. Fortunately the wheatear [#122] then showed for a few minutes before it too was flushed off and out of sight. Hoping for a better view of the whinchat I circled round and was fortunate to see the bird land onto some reeds.

Sedge warblers appeared to be on overtime, joined by whitethroat. A single common sandpiper fed along the waters edge. Overhead a red kite quartered looking for opportunities.

Back home for Sunday lunch.

Sightings (15) included: blackbird, carrion crow, common sandpiper, coot, mallard, mute swan, red kite, reed bunting, rook, sedge warbler, tufted duck, wheatear, whinchat, whitethroat and woodpigeon.

RSPB Otmoor :: 29 April 2017

An early rise and off to RSPB Otmoor. Onsite by 7.15am and immediately the noise from warblers was evident. Over the car park field grasshopper warbler could be heard over the local chiffchaff. Soon after leaving the car park a cuckoo [#115] could be heard and by the time I'd reached the feeders it could be seen in the far distance in the top of an oak tree. At least two grasshopper earners were calling but remained out of sight. Great spotted woodpecker exhibiting the same behaviour as we saw last time we were onsite - taking shards of peanuts and pushing them deep into a hole in a nearby tree.

Sedge warblers then took over as I walked along the bridle way, followed by reed warbler. Then spotted whitethroat [#116] in the top of a tree before seeing the cuckoo in the trees running parallel to the path. Turned to head down to the first screen and heard a grasshopper warbler in the bush beside me. As I tried to see it I was joined by two older gentlemen, one of whom was particularly hard of hearing. The managed to position themselves within 10 feet of the bird and discuss loudly what the could and couldn't see and hear. Amazingly the bird continued to sing and move around the bush, although not giving a photo opportunity.

From the second screen I had views of marsh harrier [#117] and then common crane [#118]. Watching for movement I could hear a cuckoo calling nearby - two then flew past not a shabby imitation of a sparrowhawk! Turning round I then saw a female sparrowhawk low over the reeds.

Lots more warbler action all the way back to the feeders where I stopped to see if I could locate the grasshopper warblers - a fleeting glance but a view nevertheless. The cuckoo then reappeared in the distance then moved to the telegraph wires above and away into the trees. Now lesser whitethroat [#119] sang to the left and hobby [#120] flew over.

What a visit!

Sightings (49) included: black-headed gull, blackbird, blue tit, bullfinch, buzzard, canada goose, carrion crow, chaffinch, chiffchaff, common tern, coot, cormorant, crane, cuckoo, dunnock, gadwall, goldfinch, grasshopper warbler, great spotted woodpecker, great tit, grey heron, greylag goose, hobby, house martin, kestrel, lesser black-backed gull, lesser whitethroat, linnet, long-tailed tit, mallard, marsh harrier, mute swan, oystercatcher, pheasant, pochard, raven, red kite, redshank, reed bunting, reed warbler, sedge warbler, shoveler, skylark, sparrowhawk, swift, tufted duck, whitethroat, willow warbler and wren.

Spiceball Park & Grimsbury Reservoir :: 26 April 2017

At lunchtime I noted on Twitter that Colin Wilkinson had found a wood warbler in Spiceball Park that morning, in the same location as last year. Despite not having binoculars or camera I thought I'd better have a look in case it moved on. I met @987jonty in the car park as I arrived and he confirmed it was still there and singing. Feeling positive I headed straight there; as I got to the footbridge I was joined my Mike Pollard, carrying scope and bins. Despite searching for 30mins we couldn't catch sight and only occasionally heard a brief call. Had to go back to work.

At dinner I looked on Twitter and it appeared that the bird was seen later in the afternoon and so I headed back. I met Mike coming the other way and he pointed me to the others, already in attendance (@987jonty, @grimsbury_birds, @dwatsonbirder). Sure enough the wood warbler #111 showed but mostly in dense bush or high in the trees. A life tick though!

Still short of a yellow wagtail I popped onto the reservoir as there were local reports. No luck though. Happy regardless.

Sightings (22) included: carrion crow, blackbird, blackcap, chiffchaff, common sandpiper, goldfinch, great tit, greenfinch, jackdaw, linnet, little ringed plover, long-tailed tit, magpie, mallard, pied wagtail, magpie, rook, song thrush, swallow, willow warbler, woodpigeon and wood warbler.

Farmoor Reservoir :: 22 April 2017

Another opportunity for a morning walk with her indoors. Chose to head down to Farmoor Reservoir this time to see if I could see the Bonaparte's gull that had been there for much of the week - would it be normal Saturday morning with the target bird scarpering the night before?

Got there in sunshine but a slight breeze - this would prove to be beneficial in keeping the flies at bay. Spotted the terns fishing at a little distance, a single swift overhead [#109] and rather a cute family of mallard. As advertised the Bonaparte's gull [#110] was found at the south end of F2. In the water predominantly it managed at one point to catch and eat a small fish with little or no effort - perhaps why it hasn't moved on. The fisherman also reported high success with the rainbow trout.

We popped down to the Pinkhill Reserve and spotted a few sedge warbler on the way, as well as both red kite and buzzed being mobbed by crows. Good views of reed bunting and a single little egret from the hide, as well as more sedge warbler.

We'd heard many chiffchaff as we walked but not seen any. We were afforded a view of one as we made our way back to the reservoir. Across the causeway there was a distinct increase in the number of flies, due to the very still conditions and the re-emergence of the sun - got quite warm too.

Sightings today (31) included: black-headed gull, blackbird, blue tit, Bonaparte's gull, buzzard, carrion crow, chaffinch, chiffchaff, common sandpiper, common tern, coot, cormorant, dunnock, gadwall, goldfinch, great great tit, grey heron, greylag goose, house martin, little egret, long-tailed tit, magpie, mallard, red kite, reed bunting, rook, sedge warbler, swift, woodpigeon and wren.

Grimsbury Reservoir :: 21 April 2017

Started early, catching the 05:59 train from Banbury to London Marylebone and then a visit to the US Embassy for a Visa. Only a quick circuit after work today.

Surprisingly quiet with little on the move, other than crows and rooks overhead. The first real sign of life was the flock of linnet along the fence edge on the west side of the reservoir. A look in the copse yielded nothing but at least I then found a couple of little ringed plover [#108] to add to the year list.

As I got round to the east side a couple of swallows and house martins flew over, but skimming the water only briefly before moving on.

Met @987jonty and @grimsbury_birds as I went back to car park. I'll await a report of the marvels they found after I left. Today sightings (24) included: black-headed gull, blackbird, blue tit, bullfinch, carrion crow, chaffinch, chiffchaff, dunnock, goldfinch, greenfinch, grey wagtail, jackdaw, linnet, little ringed plover, magpie, mallard, moorhen, pied wagtail, robin, rook, song thrush, starling, swallow and woodpigeon.

RSPB Otmoor :: 15 April 2017

Reports of cuckoo and redstart at RSPB Otmoor enticed us to take our morning walk there. On-site and booted by 9.15am we talked briefly with another visitor in an already full car park. Grasshopper warblers could be heard reeling In the field adjacent to the car park. With quite a lot of trees and shrubs it would be a challenge to get a sighting, unless luck was on our side.

Along the path we stopped at a break in the hedge and the fence to the seasonal path, closed at present due to 'weather'. The gropers could be heard to the left and passages of goldfinch and reed bunting adorned the tops of the trees. Soon a lone skylark ventured above the tree line in it's characteristic accent and decent. We continued on to the feeding station, again seeing large numbers of goldfinch. Although closer now, we couldn't catch a glimpse of the gropers (at least two reeling). At one point we thought our luck was in but it turned out to be a linnet and not the singing bird.

Now along the path on Greenaways we could hear numbers of sedge warbler (#104). They obligingly rose and dropped into the reeds; unfortunately my ability to follow and catch the bird in the act only resulted in out of focus blobs. Fleeting views of reed warbler (#105) were also enjoyed. Drumming snipe also passed overhead. A hare also made its way parallel to our path, fortunately not so fast that I couldn't get a couple of photos.

Nothing spectacular at the hide so we progressed down to the first screen. Got first views for the year of swallow (#106) and then house martin (#107). Unfortunately no sign of any of the harriers, nor bittern, either from the first or second screen. No sight or sound of the cuckoo either.

On the return from screen one to the gate, we saw the flock of lapwing take to the air. Wondering what had spooked them we turned to see a red kite swoop down, being mobbed as it did, to snatch something from the ground. Unfortunately we didn't see the target and the kite continued being mobbed as it flew off directly away from us.

As we passed the feeding station we came upon a great spotted woodpecker which made Charlotte's day. 3.2 miles walked but slightly disappointed how quiet the reserve was, bird-wise. Perhaps the breeze and temperature? Maybe a few weeks and I'll go back to see what else materialises - hopefully the turtle dove.

Today's sightings (36) included: blue tit, buzzard, canada goose, carrion crow, chaffinch, chiffchaff, dunnock, goldfinch, great spotted woodpecker, great tit, grey heron, house martin, kestrel, lapwing, linnet, long-tailed tit, mallard, moorhen, mute swan, pheasant, pochard, red kite, redshank, reed bunting, reed warbler, robin, rook, sedge warbler, shoveler, skylark, snipe, swallow, tufted duck, woodpigeon, wren and yellowhammer.