Black-throated Diver and more in Oxfordshire

Few weekends back headed over to Farmoor and Otmoor as a Black-throated Diver had been seen in summer plumage which is rare this far south though sadly seem to have had an injury but still a superb bird and was showing quite close to the causeway at Farmoor and seem to be fishing quite a bit.

Black-throated Diver having a splash

Over the causeway there were plenty of swifts overheads along with Martins and Swallows but it was a good waderfest on the causeway with 5 Turnstones and 1 Dunlin and Sanderling which are always good to see in summer plumage.

Waders all together

Turnstones

Sanderling and dunlin

Turnstones in flight

Then headed to Otmoor for a walk around where the first bird was a Cuckoo and then walking up the main path heard a Turtle Dove which was showing quite well calling from one of its two favoured spots. While watching the Turtle Dove the Cuckoo appeared very close before flying off with another Cuckoo. Also around lots of Reed and Sedge Warblers, Redshanks and Lapwings which even mobbed a Red Kite.

Turtle Dove in the tree

Cuckoo pausing briefly

Kestrel bonus at Stanborough Pits

With the weather a bit grey decided to have a walk around Stanborough Pits started off quite well with a Red-legged Partridge calling very close and a few Brown Hares in the fields. Further down the track the Skylarks were in full song and Linnets seem to be everywhere and a few Yellowhammers and Whitethroats were belting out their songs.

Then walked down to farm where a few Swallows and Swifts hunting overhead when out of the corner of my eye caught view of a Female Kestrel sitting on a post less than 10 meters away shielding herself out the wind.

Female Kestrel

After she sat their for a good 5 minutes a Hobby flew over at which point she flew off so headed down the track where Male Hobby was hunting when a Yellow Wagtail flow onto a Telephone Wire so sat down for a bit nearby and it and a Female flew on to a straw pile nearby every so often. While waiting watched a Stoat run across the path further up no doubt after the rabbits which were around.

Male Yellow Wagtail in the straw

Female Yellow Wagtail

Bank Hoilday at Lakenheath

On the Bank holiday saturday had a nice day trip to Lakenheath with the local RSPB group. The day started well with a Barn Owl seen hunting over the fields on a minor road near the reserve giving super views along the road. From the reserve a few of our group had a Dartford Warbler in the Popular trees.

We then walked down to first viewpoint where we had lot of Warblers singing with Cetti's, Sedge and Reed Warbler in full song though being hard to actually see. A few Whitethroats and Blackcaps were singing but showed well at times. From the viewpoint a few Reed Buntings were seen with Buzzard and Kestrels hunting overhead and the first Cuckoo of the day was heard.

One of many Whitethroats around

Male Reed Bunting in the Reeds

Then walked to the new hide which was fairly quiet but a few Swallows and Swifts were seen before we walked to the second viewpoint where we had nice views of Marsh Harriers and Good Numbers of Hobbies in the air. After a nice lunch listening to the warblers and Swallows and Martins overheard we around walked along the river where we had a few Little Egrets around which allowed us to find a pair of Cranes feeding in the reeds and better views of the Hobbies hunting. Then walked back along the river where a Roe Deer was seen feeding in the wood along with a Treecreeper feeding on the tree and a Bittern was seen flying overhead

Hunting Hobby

Feeding cranes

Roe Deer in the woods

Flying bittern into the sun

.At the main pool a pair of Common Tern were seen nesting along with a selection of Waterfowl with Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall and Great Crested Grebe seen out on the water along with a snipe in flight a few times on the water edge we ended with a pair of Curlews flying over the carpark.

Adders & signs of spring at Minsmere

Headed to minsmere where I was welcomed but a robin on the sign welcomed me to the reserve. Then walked up to the Adder area where I was in for a treat with at least 4 Adders present with 3 Males with top Adder often chasing the other away as the female was almost been guarded where she was resting in an old tree tube the highlight was the sight of two adders doing a snake dance.

Robin on the sign

Adder Snake dancing

Then walked around the rest of the reserve first through the woodland where I had a nice Munjac Deer and quite a few warblers singing mainly Chiff-chaffs and Blackcaps with the odd Whitethroat, a few Coals Tits in the fir tree and a Cuckoo was heard in the distance.

Munjac Deer feeding in the woods

Around on the scrape Avocets, Lapwings and the Black-headed Gulls were starting to show sign of breeding with the birds getting quite aggressive at times. Also around were some nice black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks in good numbers with a few Ringed Plovers, Golden Plovers and Little Egrets mixed in with the last of the winter ducks with a few Wigeon and Teal still hanging on.

Feeding Black-tailed Godwit

Little egret in flight

Walked through the scrub along the beach with quite a few swallows overhead include one almost albino individual. In the scrub quite a lot of Peacocks Butterflies and a single Common lizard and a nice Male Stonechat was seen but fairly distance. Then walked back to the centre along the way Cetti Warblers where heard and Curlew was seen along with Tit flocks feeding in the hawthorns and a Weasel was seen hunting near the visitor centre along with a good number of Sand and House Martins.

Blue Tit feeding in the Hawthorns

Then ended the day at the Island Mere where they where plenty of Booming Bitterns around and quite a few hunting Marsh Harrier over the reeds with Great- Crested Grebes performing their dance in the distance though the highlight from the hide was a nice feeding Snipe in the last of the evening light before the sun was seen setting over the reeds.

Hunting Marsh Harrier

Snipe in the evening light

Reeds in the evening lights