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.

Greenham Common & Balscote Quarry :: 01 - 02 May 2022

Charlotte wanted to visit her aunt in the Royal Berkshire hospital in Reading but once complete we decided to go for a walk around Greenham Common - sort of on the way home! - it wasn't the best day and there was intermittent drizzle. We parked up at the control tower car park and set out in an anti-clockwise rotation. We were surprised at how quiet it was (from a birding perspective) and really only had linnet, other finches, tits etc until we got to the far (west) end. There we started to see stonechat but from the path always distant.

Chiffchaff called, as did willow warbler. They didn't really show well enough for photos, but I took some anyway - nothing to stand out. We stopped to look at another rather splendid male stonechat when a pale - grey - meadow pipit dropped into the scrub in front of us. It immediately went to ground as dogs off the lead passed the edge of the scrub, soon followed by the owner. Off in the trees behind a garden warbler sang and sat enough in the open to snap - such an icon of of spring. A single wheatear showed on top of a gorse bush but again was flushed by passing dog walkers.

I had a moment of hope as a bird rose singing, with a different voice to skylark. Reviewing the distant photos with friends I'd found a woodlark! The drizzle got heavier and more persistent, and we rushed on picking up only a green woodpecker. It was a nice walk, cut short by the rain and I left a bit disappointed that I hadn't seen Dartford warblers or seen/heard nightingale - maybe too much activity on a bank holiday weekend, and with rain to boot.

I didn't rush to get up on the bank holiday Monday but by 8.00am I'd seen that a bar-tailed godwit had dropped into Grimsbury Reservoir. I thought that it would be unlikely to stay long due to disturbance from walkers, dog walkers and fishermen. Sure enough, by 8.27am it was flushed by a fisherman and left west. Photos by John-Friendship Taylor and Dave South did justice to a stunning bird - must say I was a little jealous and started wishing I'd tried - Nick Truby had and arrived a few minutes after the bird had departed - I think I would have been in the same position.

At 9.35am news broke that the barwit had appeared at Balscote Quarry and was feeding on the far shore. I was scheduled to be packing ready to head for Stansted Airport for a business trip early on Tuesday morning. Damn, I couldn't resist it and I quickly visited to add this to the species seen in the Banbury Ornithological Society survey square. I arrived to find Steve Holliday and Mike Prentice in position - I joined them and attempted to take some photos down in the base of the bowl and on the far side of the water. Edwin Barson turned up and tried to do the same. Watching the bowl we added two yellow wagtails, three LRPs before the lapwing decided to have a go at the barwit - it evaded easily and despite being given the opportunity it decided not to depart but just relocate.

Sandra and Adrian Bletchly arrived (having been just too late at Grimsbury Reservoir). We had a very pleasant chat, but I really did have to go and pack. While I was away Balscote Quarry enjoyed a few visitors with both whimbrel and wood sandpiper. This work thing really does get in the way.

Bicester Wetlands Reserve :: 30 April 2022

It had been a busy week at work and I'd not been able to pop out to see any of the arriving migrants. Saturday morning arrived and I decided to make for Bicester Wetlands (keyholder reserve) as there had been sightings of grasshopper warbler and whinchat. Although I'd seen a gropper at RSPB Otmoor, it had been difficult to photograph whereas the one at BWR one had been posing on a post.

I arrived just after sunrise with the temperature at 2°C and frost covering the grass. I made straight for the cattle bridge pool hoping to see the whinchat - despite a thorough search it could not be located. I went back to where the gropper had been showing and settled in - for about half an hour there were only the calls from sedge warblers, common whitethroat and assorted tits and finches. Then a brief reel and the gropper was to be found perched in the base of the brambles - sitting in the clear and possible to photograph. I hoped it would perch on a post as it had done for others but when it took to the wing it flew off across the meadow and into the bushes along the railway line. I thought about following but decided that it would be back soon - I was right and when it returned it landed not in any scrub but directly on a post. It paused there for at least a minute before popping onto one a little closer (!) and started to reel - heaven. I rattled off a few photos and then raised my bins to get a really close look. All too soon the bird dropped out of view and into the ditch behind. Instead of returning to the bushes and posts I saw it relocate to the trees behind. I wouldn't see or hear the bird again - later I was informed that there had actually been three individuals reported.

I went in search of the whinchat again but could never locate it - perhaps it had decided to move on ...

There were more sedge warblers and whitethroats plus numbers of linnet. Several swallows flew through. After several hours of enjoying the birds on view I started back to the car. In the distance I noticed some hirundines in the sky over the water treatment works - there was a single swift, my first of the year. When I reached the car park I could see numbers growing and there were two sand martins, two house martins, two swifts and numbers of swallows. Two of the regulars arrived, one the reserve warden Allan Peters - I stopped to chat but soon was on my way home for breakfast.

I got home to find an update on the Banbury Birders WhatsApp saying that Mike Pollard had seen a whinchat at Top Dawkins, Wardington at 9.00am. I turned round and left again without breakfast, hoping the bird would still be there. I arrived by around 10.00am and drove slowly along the lane. As I reached the barn I saw the male whinchat on top of the hedge - I stopped at a safe distance, hopped out the car and walked back to see if I could get a photo. My luck was in again and I got several with one a keeper. A great morning - the remainder of the day would prove to be great too as it was Kev's wife's birthday and we had an invite to her bash.