Considering we're only a few days away from May, the weather this week has been pretty bonkers, with very cold temperatures & frequent and sometimes heavy, snow showers! Yesterday (Tuesday 26/04) was particularly unseasonal and my visit to Grimsbury Res was dominated by a pretty monsterous snow storm! Nevertheless, I persevered! The sight of hirundines bombing around the reservoir in the snow was pretty bizarre to say the least, as was a male Yellow Wagtail forgaging in snow-tinted grass! Other than these though, the weather had failed to drop in anything else of note. A sunny gap between the showers persuaded me to have a short wander down the canal for a look over at the Borrow pit, the other side of the M40.
Here too was quiet...just more hirundines, however I still walked all the way round. With another threatening cloud looming, it was time to head back. However, just before I did, I noticed in the corner of my eye something land on the water that looked pretty small compared to a nearby Coot. Wow a drake Garganey! Wasn't expecting that! I put the word out and watched it for a bit before more light snow / sleet began again and I was getting really cold too. So off home I went, clocking a female LRP on the res, on my way through. My good run of birds here continues :)
A fair bit of birding done in Northants over the weekend (23/04 & 24/04), giving me the chance to catch up with some great birds. It was also good to find a couple of nice bits too! I didn't get out until Saturday afternoon, however after collecting my new car from a mate of mine in Little Irchester, I had a good look around nearby Summer Leys which is THE place to be at the moment. I began at the Pioneer Hide and was soon onto the outrageously stunning breeding plumaged Spotted Redshank that had been present a couple of days. It was distant, on the Brayshaw's bund area of the main lake, but a treat to see this plumage in the county for the first time (spot the black blob below!).
Also in the same general area were 2 Greenshank in wader bay, 2 LRP and 2 Whimbrel on the grazed grass behind. There's something about Whimbrel I really like. They've got real character and I'm always keen to catch up with them in spring. All too distant for photos.
I next walked round to the Paul Britten hide to have a look for the Wood Sandpiper in an area of the scrape out of view from the Pioneer Hide. Sure enough, together with approximately 8 Snipe, it was to be seen skulking around some vegetation, rarely out in full view, but decent scope views were had. Further on towards the feeding station end of the reserve, it was pleasing to find my first Arctic Terns of the year (poor photos below), a group of at least 5, together with a few Commons, providing some specularly close views at times. A singing Reed Warbler also began tuned up closeby, another first for the year.
A third Greenshank was on Gull Island, as well as a third LRP too. Soon after, I found a male Yellow Wagtail in the 2nd field on the right down Mary's Lane. Here, a 1st-summer male Marsh Harrier then unexpectedly cruised in from over the pylons, over the lane & towards the scrape, topping off an exceptionally good visit! The next day (Sunday 24/04) started super early as Gareth and I completed the first of several breeding birds surveys in the Upper Cherwell Valley, Banbury. The purpose is to establish what's there on behalf of the council, for a proposed country park project. After an initial burst of rain first thing, we eventually got it done. Warbler numbers were pretty good and in my particular area I recorded 10 singing Sedge Warbler, 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat & 3 singing Whitethroat among other things. Also seen were a female Wheatear by the Borrow Pit as well as 2-3 Yellow Wags & a Common Sand on nearby Grimsbury Res.
Thereafter, I had much of the morning and afternoon to myself. I decided to get over to Northampton. With the sun out, I felt it was worth having a look for the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers at Lings Wood in Northampton. I had an initial fruitless wander around, however after only 20 minutes or so, there began the distinctive drumming of a Lesser Spot! I carefully walked close to the tree, together with a couple of other birders who were there for a look too. It took us ages to see it, but I eventually got to the right angle to see it, tucked into the bend in a branch, all be it, looking into the sun. Here he sat drumming away for a good few minutes, before flying off further in the woods.
Over the next hour, I had a couple more views and also managed to get onto a second bird which began calling closeby, at the same time the male was drumming elsewhere. I'm pretty certain it was a female, however it was neck-breakingly high up and moving around quickly and so couldn't quite nail it before it scarpered as a dog-walker approached. What a worthwhile visit though!
I had a little bit of time left so I drove over to Summer Leys for a walk along the old railway line, in the hope of getting some closer views of the 2 Whimbrel from the previous day. I was in luck and both birds happily foraged on the grazed grass in front, seemingly oblivious to me. Fantastic!
Also along here were 3 Greenshank, a couple of displaying LRP and an impressive 7 Little Egret in wader bay.
I was up early Thursday (21/04) so decided to do a circuit of Grimsbury Res before work. It was pretty quiet, but still I persevered and checked out all the usual spots. One such spot was the path along the SW edge of the wood, from which to check the fence through the cattle field for chats. From behind me I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing, the latter two-thirds of the song of a Wood Warbler!!! I had to hear it again to check I wasn't hearing things. After a bit of stuttering the bird again eventually let out a full burst of song around a minute later. Oh my! I got straight on the phone to call Gareth and text a few people. While doing this it sang several more times and after finishing with my phone, I was able to get a few brief views of it in the top of a silver birch. It then flitted to the right, out of sight and that was it...never sang or appeared again, despite plenty of searching by me and several others. Now yes I can't deny I'm super-chuffed to find what appears to be a 1st for the site and a local mega full stop. However there is quite a bit of me that is pretty damn disappointed other patch regulars, particularly Gareth, weren't able to see it too. But that is birding, doesn't always work out as you hope! Others birds noted during the day were an additional two Grimsbury year ticks with our first couple of Swifts of the year and yes unbelievably a Coot, a genuinely difficult bird to get on the res!! Both WIllow Tits were also foraging in the wood and several Yellow Wags were about too.
Today (Friday 22/04) promised much, with cloudy skies and evening rain, however Grimsbury failed to produce yet another big patch bird. Can't be greedy though!
Was nice to see an Oystercatcher on my lunchtime walk, (my second of the year here) while other decent birds included a couple of grounded Lesser Redpoll, a Lesser Whitethroat, a couple of Common Sand and several Yellow Wags.
Well...spring continues to be smiling pretty generously on me! This week my luck has been well & truly in, with a succession of fabulous birds (& mammals). Monday (18/04) really did start with a BANG! I decided to do my routine lunch break visit to Grimsbury Res on a relatively calm, cool & cloudy day. Early that morning, a Kittiwake had been seen briefly before heading off high NE. Despite not seeing it, it was a good sign that good birds were on the move. On arrival, I was taken by surprise in discovering it or another (?) adult Kittiwake strongly circling the reservoir...cerching! I phoned Gareth to let him know and then continued to watch.
It didn't look terribly settled, however continued to fly round and round. In the meantime, I caught sight of a large bird slowing cruising in from the SE from over the pylons. As soon as I got it in the bins I knew what it was...a flipping Osprey! What an earth was happening here??!
I quickly called Gareth AGAIN and then stood there enjoying the spectacle of both birds over the res. The Osprey was very slowly circling the reservoir and I was praying it would do some fishing. Unfortunately, after a few minutes of lingering, it obviously realised the surroundings weren't quite up to scratch! It circled higher, actually joined by the Kittiwake, before both birds drifted away to the NW.
To top it all off, my short walk back to the car produced a brief, but stunning male Redstart in the western perimeter bushes! Without a shadow of a doubt, my most exciting visit to the res yet! A brief visit in the evening, on my way home also produced my second summer plumaged Dunlin of the year, along with a couple of Common Sand, concluding a brilliant bird-filled day at Grimbo! Wednesday (20/04) was a day I'd been looking forward to for a while, joining Dave James & Matt Whitelocke for a trip to the Forest of Dean, to be kindly shown around by Ben Locke. Number one target was the charismatic Wild Boar, in particular the piglets! With a stunning, sunny day ahead and of course a midweek day off work, there was lots to look forward to! The day began with a mid-late morning look for Adders and we did well, seeing around 5-6. We were probably a little too late however, as they were already pretty active and didn't stick around. Very nice to see all the same! The rest of the day was spent searching for Wild Boar families. We did pretty well too, particularly in the morning. One track gave us some great views, with a good number of super cute Piglets.
One particular sow also came over to inspect us and sniff us out! SO cool!
The afternoon produced more piggies, but always brief. We couldn't complain though after the late morning spectacle. We didn't see too many birds of note although we did have some great views of a few Ravens and a handful of Mandarins at Cannop Ponds. A few Fallow Deer near here late in the day were nice too.
We went home very happy indeed! A BIG thanks to Ben for taking us around for the day and to Dave and Matt for getting me along!
A little round up of various sightings from last week, that produced a lovely range of birds. Most of which from the beloved 'Soap Dish' (aka Grimsbury Reservoir, Banbury) which is absolutely on fire at the moment! Monday 11/04 was a gloomy, cloudy old day with a lovely east / south east wind. Perfect weather for some good passage birds. During late morning, it became clear there was a pretty hefty Little Gull passage through the country and so on my lunchbreak I headed to Grimbo with much anticipation. I was super chuffed to be rewarded with 2 cracking adult Little Gulls busily feeding over the water. Two Common Terns, a Common Sand & a female LRP made a very decent visit indeed!
The next day (Tuesday 12/04), I took a detour on my way home from work through farmland NE of Brackley. I was rewarded with a single Lapwing on territory, a pair of Grey Partridges (a very scarce bird in this area) and at least 10 Tree Sparrows at a favoured site close to Brackley.
During the week, Grimsbury produced further decent bits and bobs with a flyover Curlew on 12/04, the two Willow Tits on 14/04, as well as my first Lesser Whitethroat & Sedge Warblers (both on 13/04).
Friday 15/04 was particularly good, being a pretty minging wet and very cloudy day. Gareth & I gave Grimsbury a go early on, before work, producing our first Dunlin and Wheatear (a female) for the year here.
A circuit after work was even better with a male Redstart appearing on the west side of the reservoir. Amazingly, I initially picked it up sat on railings with Swallows out by the pontoons!
Other birds that evening included at least 8 Yellow Wags (though probably more) a male Wheatear, 3 White Wags, the Dunlin again, Common Sand and around 200 hirundines comprising all 3 common species, however not the hoped for Red-Rump, despite plenty of thorough scanning!
I spent most of Sunday (17/04) out and about, however failed to find anything too spectacular. I headed over to Boddington first thing on a beautiful clear, still morning. Was very surprised to find a Wheatear feeding in the road between Culworth & Trafford Bridge on my way there! Boddington held a few migrants with a nice singing Lesser Whitethroat, a Yellow Wag, 5 Common Tern & a Sedge Warbler but now Arctic Terns as I'd hoped.
Following Bod, a extensive stomp around Grimsbury Res & the Upper Cherwell Valley with Gareth revealed nothing new. I did however hear my first Whitethroat of the year, as well as a Lesser Whitethroat, a Common Sand, several Yellow Wags & a fledged Robin! The visit was cut short by a rush down to nearby Spiceball park for a Wood Warbler found by Colin Wilkinson. The bird however, had vanished and we had to console ourselves with nothing more than a few Willow Warblers.
I finished my afternoon in some of the woods close to home to see how the Bluebells were coming on. They were already looking pretty spectacular, however they were probably a few days off their absolute peak.
Got to do a fair bit of birding over the weekend of the 09/04 & 10/04, producing a good mix of a few winter visitors clinging on & some spring/summer migrants thrown in for good measure too.
Saturday (09/04) didn't involve a great deal of birding, however Em & I went out for lunch in Stadhampton, SE of Oxford. This was only a short distance along the M40 from Aston Rowant & Linkey Down nature reserve. Here a handful of male Ring Ouzels had been present for the previous few days. So before lunch I went for a quick look. There were 3 birds on show pretty distantly on the far slopes, but very nice to see as they nervously scuttled around the ant hills.
The next day (10/04), Dan Watson and I spent the day hitting a few Northants & Oxon sites. We started early on at Borough Hill with the hope of conjuring some migrant passerines. It was ultimately a bit of a damp squib, with the weather probably 'too nice' and bright to bring down anything. Best bird here was a single female Wheatear.
Nearby Daventry Reservoir was super quiet, other than 5-6 male Blackcaps in the hedge by the dam. On then to Boddington Reservoir which actually was relatively productive with our first Common Tern of the year and good views of a single Jack Snipe, with around 10 Snipe.
There was little evidence that any migrants were on the move and so after a quick stop in Banbury for some food, we headed over to Farmoor Reservoir, Oxford to reward our efforts with a nice range of things to see. The weather had changed quite quickly from the bright sunshine of earlier, to a breezy NE wind and heavy cloud. The F1 basin appeared to be the place to be and so we decided to give it a circuit. We soon got onto a few Yellow Wagtail on the eastern side by the water treatment works, however couldn't locate the reported male Channel Wagtail. The walk round produced very little until we reached the far western shore. Here we picked up the lovely sum plum Red Necked Grebe fishing for sticklebacks.
A very short way along the path, we came across the reported Slavonian Grebe amongst a sizable group of Great Crested. The bird was sporting pretty advanced summer plumage, however was still looking a bit patchy. We gained some good views despite the increasing stiff breeze!
Walking round to the causeway, the Red Necked Grebe appeared again in the SW corner of the basin which coincided with a bit of sun. I simply sat on the causeway and enjoyed spectacular views of the bird as it continually fed super close-in for a good 15 minutes. Was flipping great to watch, coming up with a stickleback pretty much every time it came up to the surface!
One of the long-staying Great Northern Divers was also on show nearby.
We finished up having another look at the Yellow Wags by the water treatment works and hoping we might get a decent look at the Channel Wag. Low and behold it soon flew in to join another 4 Yellow Wags. Despite it being a hybrid, (between our own Flavissima and the continental flava), Channel Wags really are stunning looking birds and we enjoyed some pretty good views, despite the bird being very wary. That concluded a very decent day's birding!
