Down to Oxon

After the excitement of yesterday, I had a bit more of a sedate day today with a morning trip down to Otmoor and then Balscote with Dan.  We hit Otmoor at about 10:00am this morning and wandered round the whole reserve.  We clocked 2-3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Red Kite, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Snipe but could not catch up with the long staying Glossy Ibis or 2 Dunlin which were reported.  In fact, the reserve was very quiet indeed today with barely any hirundines and no Hobbys whatsoever.

We then popped by Balscote which was also quiet and only held Stock Dove, Tree Sparrow, Linnet, Bullfinch and 37 Lapwing.  Butterflys included Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Peacock, Large White, Green Veined White, Meadow Brown and Small Skipper (I think!).

Overall, a bit disheartening but I am sure things will liven up over the next 6 weeks.

After the technical difficulties with the Pacific Golden Plover movie I shot yetserday, I finally managed to upload it today.

Pacific Golden Plover

After meeting some friends in Droitwich for lunch we decided to head up the M42 to see a Pacific Golden Plover at Middleton Lakes.  I left my birder's wife in the cafe and headed out in the sweltering heat for the mile walk to the Jubilee wetlands but was not to be disappointed as the bird was a cracker.  Unfortunately, I only had my old scope with me and a Canon Ixus, however I managed a few record shots and a short video of the bird (which unfortunately I had problems uploading here).

Pacific Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover

Long cycle ride and evening birding

I decided to take a flexi day off work today and spent the first part of the day doing chores and then mid afternoon I went for my longest cycle ride yet.  After 25 miles in the saddle , I needed a rest and chilled out for the remaining afternoon until arrangements were made with Dan to do some birding in South Warwickshire.

As we travelled down the A46, a Common Tern flew over the road, a new bird for both of us in that area which means more exploring at a later date to determine where it came from.  Other birds of note for the evening were about 15 Green Sandpiper, 2 Snipe and a Little Owl.

More prospecting of local sites

Corn Bunting

Another evening last night by myself and Dan prospecting local sites, specifically looking for wader scraps.  Our first port of call was a very promising small body of water with islands just outside Ettington.  Unfortunately, it became very apparent shortly after arriving with a big red sign saying "Private" that we would not be able to gain access.  As we were in the area, we decided to look at the Loxley area and the hill above.  This area looks really good for visible migration and a sheltered spot near the centre of the village looks great for possible over wintering warblers (Chiff Chaff) - So, I expect we will returning there again at some point.

We then decided to look at the scrape just off the A429 that has held waders in the past but alas, this time it was empty.

On the way back, our final visit was to a site that holds Corn Bunting and as dusk started to fall, we spent the time listening to them singing and counting the number of birds (we could find 5 in total).

No Birds - Just Le Tour

A day at Le Tour (my 4th time of seeing it).  Only birds of note were a Red Kite on the journey down and groups of Ring Necked Parakeet flying over Green Park.

Yorkshire Tea Advertising Float

Bic Biro Advertising Float

Cyclists in final sprint to the finish (1)

Cyclists in final sprint to the finish (2)

Cyclists in final sprint to the finish (3)

Green Sandpipers and Butterflys Galore

Hobby

Yesterday, myself, Daniel and Matt decided to take a birding trip out of the County.  We decided to head for Upton Warren and then make our way back home via other sites.

It was a pleasure to be back at Upton Warren, which really is a well managed site with some reedbeds as well as an extensive pool ideal for waders (something we would love to have in South Warwickshire).  Wader counts were high with 10-11 Green Sandpipers, 3 Common Sandpipers and 10 Curlews.  Also around were LRP's and Avocets.

However, the stars of the day were the many butterflies seen round Upton Warren.

Marbled White

Comma

Ringlet

Small Tortoiseshell

Gatekeeper

Back to local birding

This week saw me return to some local birding with a vengeance.  On Wednesday evening, I went with Mike to Kineton Steppe (as we affectionately call it) and we took a walk down the nearest footpath to see if we could find any farmland birds.  There were plenty of Yellowhammer, Goldfinches and Linnet around but not a lot else, so we decided to go to Balscote Quarry instead.  The waterlevels were still pretty good there despite the warm weather we have been having and the scraps held a pair of Little Ringed Plover and a Curlew (who had obviously just dropped in and then after 30 minutes flew off south).  The hedgerows held Tree Sparrow, Linnets and Reed Buntings and the bird boxes had Stock Dove.  We then took a walk and managed to find a female Peregrine, a pair of Kestrels and a family of Whitethroat.

On Thursday, I met up with Daniel ( who I have not seen for ages) and I also met Matt Bruce for the first time.  Our first destination was Lighthorne Pools where we were rewarded with several views of Kingfisher, a Hobby and a Green Sandpiper.  We then headed north to another site with the hope of finding other waders but alas, it was not to be so.

Hampton Wood revisited

After our Short Toed Eagle dip, I felt a bit guilty and decided I should really go and do some local birding for a change.  I opted for Hampton Wood as I have not been there for some time and went one evening the following week.

It is surprising how much a month or two makes to a place and the river meadow in the reserve was completely over grown, so much so that I could hardly walk round it. Unfortunately, despite the apparent wildness, there really were no birds of any interest whatsoever, a great disappointment, as I had heard that Sedge and Reed Warblers would be present but all I could find were a few Blackcaps and a Whitethroat.

My first ever "dip"

On the 22nd June, we decided to take a detour home from a weekend in Portsmouth to try and see the Short Toed Eagle that had moved into the Ashdown Forest.  After the 40 mile detour, we arrived at the packed car park and a lot of despondent birders as the bird had not been seen since early that morning.  We decided to stick around, have lunch, then an icecream, then wait for 1.5 hours but then my birder's wife got bored and went for a walk.  Just as she disappeared on her walk, there was great excitement when a light and largish bird appeared for a brief moment before going over the ridge, many claimed it was the Eagle.  I only got a brief glimpse of it but was never convinced especially as no one reported it on the bird news services for about 45 minutes.  After another 30 minutes wait, my birder's wife returned from her amble and we decided to go for a drive, taking in a few more of the local car parks and a Tree Pipit before trekking back home and almost spending the night on the nightmare known as the M25.

After checking the new services that night when we got back, the bird never reappeared and over the coming days many messages appeared on social media stating that the bird seen was a pale morph Buzzard, I agree.  Since then, the Eagle has reappeared at other locations but I have not been bothered to go and see it (yet).