Farmoor Reservoir :: 04 August 2021

I was heading to bed when I looked at my phone and discovered that a juvenile purple sandpiper had been spotted at Farmoor Reservoir. It fed in the southeast corner of Farmoor II and appeared to roost on the concrete apron from dusk. Ewan Urquhart described how it had originally found in the early afternoon by Phil Hester (a non-birder and member of Friends of Farmoor). It was a shame that the news didn't come out before the light was already drawing in.

I arose early and made my way down to the reservoir and entered the site through gates from public footpaths. Unfortunately, the bird wasn't in the advertised spot, and I began to worry that it had already moved on. If it was anywhere, I thought it would be on the causeway so headed there. It wasn't along the apron as I walked on but as I made my way across the causeway, I eventually spotted a small dark wader. I got close enough to see it was likely the target bird and carefully made my way close enough for some photos - I needn't have worried as the bird gave exceptional views. I was glad I'd managed to fit in the visit to see this very rare passage through Farmoor Reservoir.

I headed back to the car as I still had to get home for breakfast before heading for work - at the car Dan and Trish Miller arrived and I was able to pass on where the sandpiper had relocated to. I was home before 7am.

RSPB Otmoor :: 01 August 2021

I'd seen that there had been views of water rail at the RSPB Otmoor 1st screen and so late in the evening I planned to visit early on Sunday morning. The weather was forecast to be unsettled again but it was still dry as I set off. I arrived on site only stopping by the bench on the bridleway to see if there were any bittern flights. A water railed called from the reeds but didn't show.

Arriving at 1st screen I joined a couple of others watching a garganey in eclipse plumage; a single cattle egret had been there just 15 minutes before but had moved on. The water level has dropped revealing an island to the left of the screen and it was here that a water rail was likely to show, and then it did - a juvenile. Not a great view but clear. Another ten minutes and it reappeared on the far edge of the reeds, a result as I've been chasing this species now for the last few weeks but until now had only heard them.

I waited, hoping for a closer view of water rail when the cattle egret returned but landed on the island in front of the screen with its back to us. Adrian Tysoe and Peter Barker arrived as we had more views of water rail, including another juvenile in the reeds close on the left of the hide. The cattle egret decided to make a move and began walking towards us, eventually stopping to look in our general direction. Dave Lowe also dropped in and picked out a black-tailed godwit over.

Another water rail flew into the bushes beyond the island in front of the screen and hopped around the base but never really showing fully - three separate birds were amazing considering I hadn't seen any this year until now ...

We enjoyed watching numbers of snipe and lapwing build and sheltered as drizzling rain passed through for ten minutes or so. I made to leave but a call went up that the cattle egret had taken to the wing. A few of us swung round as it passed us on the left, landing in the top of a tree - I'm pretty sure it wouldn't find any cattle up there. It didn't stay there very long and when it left, so did I.

Lower Heyford :: 31 July 2021

It had been a week since schools finished for the summer break and "her indoors" had gathered the energy to join me for a walk. I'd recently added a circular walk to the list, from Lower Heyford to Northbrook Lock and back along the canal - it was a bit overcast, but no heavy rain was forecast.

On the way and as my wife hadn't ever seen one, we made a detour to see the little owls I visited recently. Even as we approached their favoured perching spot, we could already see an individual - an adult bird. We paused just for ten minutes and added views of a single juvenile bird.

From Station Road at Lower Heyford we set off from the car and headed up the slope alongside a hedge where skylark, dunnock, yellowhammer and reed bunting all showed. I kept an eye out for any corn bunting that might appear as I've seen them around here previously - I believe they are reasonably regular down this stretch and towards Caulcott.

We didn't find any on the first stretch but followed another hedge, stopping to look at a singing skylark on top of the barley crop and a roe deer beyond. We started forward but soon stopped as we spotted a bird flying towards and passed us; from the size it could only be a corn bunting. We watched with fingers crossed in the hope that it landed in view - it did! I took a few photos from where I stood then shortened the distance a couple of times to as close as I dared so as not to disturb the bird.

Along this stretch we counted a total of four individuals and were pleased with the views they gave us, probably my best - another first for my wife too!

We made our way passed the barns adding red kite and then buzzard to our list. Watching the buzzard rise further above the hedge line it was joined by a hobby - I snapped a couple of photos just to check that it wasn't a peregrine - it wasn't. To our right various species popped in and around some trees; most were common, but we were able to add spotted flycatcher. A pair of song thrush also sang to us as we passed.

We dropped down onto Northbrook Lock and walked back along the towpath. For much of the time we didn't see or hear any warblers but halfway back we picked out a sedge in the foot of a bush on the far bank. We watched it pause with food for what is presumably a second brood, soon crossing the water and into a bush on our side of the canal.

Rain passed through as a heavy drizzle and we paused briefly under a bridge; it lasted only a few minutes and we were back on our way. There was an obvious reduction in flying insects since my last visit, but a male banded demoiselle landed close enough for a record shot.

Balscote Quarry :: 24 July 2021

It had been forecast to rain but none had arrived and so, by late breakfast, I decided to make my way to Balscote Quarry. There were only a few species showing but with numbers of linnet. As I waited movement to my far right caught my eye and turned out to be three roe deer emerging from the scrub. They stayed in the clear, crossing the bowl and then into the hedge beyond.

Shortly after, a pair of brown hares appeared in the bowl. They stayed well-hidden but on a couple of occasions came out into view. No leverets were visible, but the adults were always near scrub and stayed close, so who knows.

While still watching the hares a muntjac deer decided to make a break for it and bounded across the bowl, disappearing into the scrub on my side. Quite a mover!

A pair of whitethroat worked hard, regularly returning to what must have been their nest area and carrying food. Finally, one landed within range and gave me a great close view.

Eventually the rain arrived and appeared to be set in and so I jumped in the car to head home.

When driving along the Oxford Road it became apparent that the rain hadn't fallen here and so instead of turning for the house I continued on and made for a little owl site. I parked up and headed along the track to the usual spot - a single bird showed but just perched in the late morning grey overcast conditions - I wasn't going to get a good photo but took a couple of snaps in any case.

I went exploring down the track where we have previously spotted another little owl but couldn’t find anything of any consequence. When I got back to the usual spot, I had juvenile great spotted woodpecker and a juvenile yellow wagtail. As I turned to leave, I picked out another little owl at the base of the tree - it watched as I left for home and lunch.

Napton Reservoir :: 18 July 2021

It was the British Grand Prix weekend and so we changed our mind about going to Summer Leyes as it was bound to cause us trouble on the return journey. Instead, Kevin Heath and I headed for Napton Reservoir - I've been fortunate here with water rail sightings and this is still a species that has eluded us both this year. I've also had regular common redstart.

We arrived with a mist still over the water and a few fishermen in tented structures - presumably had done a night session. We set off and saw a family of ducks where mum looked as if she may have been of mixed parents. Over our left shoulders a sandpiper flew ahead, landing on a muddy edge of the water. Through our bins we could see it was a green sandpiper, but it stayed only long enough to establish that, and then it was off - it would only have been a record shot in any case. Where I have connected with redstart previously, a number of trees appeared to have been removed - needless to say, no redstarts today.

We watched a magpie riding on the back of a sheep and saw that the ewe was not enamoured with this idea. The magpie could care less and seemed quite content for the sheep to take the strain.

We rounded the end of the reservoir and started down the back side of the reedbed. We stopped to watch a family of wrens working their way along the hedge when a bird in the bushes behind us flitted around but just out of sight. We could hear chiffchaff calling but the bird seemed larger than that. Soon it showed to be a female blackcap.

We walked along and saw two song thrush ahead, then bullfinch, willow warbler, chiffchaff, dunnock, reed and sedge warbler. A family of reed warblers showed really well, and we watched as the adults came in to feed the young.

This stretch was alive. We heard what we believed was a water rail to our left and at one point I got a bit excited when I saw it, although a fleeting glancee and not the full head - well I didn't as eventually the bird showed as a juvenile moorhen - damn.

Overhead we had a juvenile great spotted woodpecker - it moved ahead of us each time we caught up. As we headed back, we spotted a tree with an interesting hole which had all the signs of owl and some tell-tail signs - I must pop up one evening to check this out.

North Oxfordshire :: 15-17 July 2021

Over the past couple of weeks, one of the guys on the Banbury Birders WhatsApp group had occasionally been posting photos of a family of little owls that he'd encountered. While I'd seen a few in various locations, none had been particularly helpful in providing a good photo opportunity. So, I got in touch and asked if it might be possible to know where to go for views as good as he had posted. I was in luck, and he was actually watching them when my message got to him, and he replied immediately. With my wife out playing tennis I dropped any plans I'd had and made my way to join him.

On arrival I found he was just about to head home but indicated that he'd seen one relocate from the 'usual' tree into a much larger one on the opposite side of the path we were on. He wished me luck and left me to see what I could do about a decent photo. It took about 20 minutes but then a bird appeared in the hole of a branch and sat there watching me watch it. A few minutes later another flew across from the back of the tree to the other behind me but too low and much of the flight below the hedge, for a flight shot.

As the sun dropped it became obvious that getting great photos was going to be a challenge as the sun was relatively behind the tree and casting the owls into a partial silhouette. They were great to watch and were becoming more and more active as sunset approached. Just as the sun was dropping out of view the finder reappeared and joined in taking some photos. Once the harsh light was out of the picture it was a little easier to see features, although the ISO settings continued to increase. We watched them catching the May bugs flying around the treetops and set off home happy. A plan had formulated in my head as I now realised that the sun would rise behind the path and flood the tree with rays - early morning would provide a better opportunity and I now knew where to come.

I arrived in the morning with my now regular birding partner Kevin Heath. It was just a little after sunrise and we could see a little owl on the branches as we approached. Already happy. We watched and had good views although initially the birds were on more distant parts of the tree. The later the hour the more they stopped on the front of the tree and bathed in the morning sun. As we watched and looked up and down the field we saw another little owl on the further end of the field - we went to investigate and found another bird on the downslope and a further 100m away; perhaps there is another group as this individual never came back to the tree and we already had 2 adults. Something to investigate at some time - a previous year's young setting up an adjacent territory?

On the Saturday morning I met up with Dan and Trish Miller - they hadn't ever encountered a little owl and had spent many hours in the spring trying to connect with some in Oxford, without success. Again, just after sunrise we found the birds initially static as before but as the morning wore on, they started to perform. We were benefiting from the fact that the farmer had been hay baling and this proved to a reason for the owl to visit the ground and the bales on a frequent basis. We watched them as they fed and counted four individuals. I could still see another far down the field - someday I will investigate further.