The Old Caley 2018 Year Review! Part 2

March  2018

As the Pogues sang in the immense "Boys from the County Hell" on the 1st day of March it was raining. Well actually it was still snowing up in Scotland and we were pretty much stymied! Driving would be impossible unless in a tank or a tractor so we opted to don the wellies and wade through the foot and half of fresh snow. The birds were lying low too and the only species of note that we found in a three hour slog were some Common Snipe feeding in a fast flowing stream. Couldn't find any Jacks though and defeated we retreated to the cottage and got drunk!

At least it stopped snowing overnight so on the 2nd at midday we braved it and tentatively made our way out of the cottage. It was still about -5 degrees but at least the roads had been snowploughed and were passable. We headed to Elgin to get a Waxwing fix where 12 had been hanging around for a week or so. I found them immediately on a TV aerial and we watched them at length both ruining the owners TV reception and feeding in a nearby berry bush in tandem with a Fieldfare and a fine male Bullfinch. Birds were doing crazy things in the harsh conditions and we found Curlew, Oystercatcher and Lapwing escaping the snow covered field by feeding on grass verges in the middle of Elgin!

Waxie's Dargle (another Pogues song!)

We were due to travel home on the 3rd but owing to the prolonged snow extended the holiday for another day. We checked out a local wood where we'd had success with Capercaillie in the past but as is becoming the norm these days found none. We did encounter Crossbills of some description, a Woodcock and a sweet little Red Squirrel sheltering from the snow. Later I spent an hour in the thankfully deserted Loch Garten car park in the company of Crested Tits and other woodland birds.

Crestie (peanut butter free too)

We didn't venture out again until Saturday the 17th when in snowy and very cold conditions we headed to Dix Pit to grab views of a pair of Black-necked Grebe's and an even rarer local sighting of a female Greater Scaup. Roll on the better weather!

Black-necked Grebes toughing it out

Rarely seen (by me anyway) female Greater Scaup

The sustained cold spell brought Redwing into our garden on the 18th, it takes the snow to get them into our back yard and the Barn Owls resident at a local job site were watched on the 19th and 21st (in much better conditions). See Barn Owl Studies for more photos.

The next day and for Mrs Caley's birthday treat we spent an action filled day firstly at a freezing cold Slimbridge WWT where Garganey and a supposedly dubious (but I'm counting it) Red-breasted Goose were added to the year list along with the regular birds. The afternoon was spent hanging around Ardington churchyard once more and getting another Hawfinch fix!

Garganey (front right) wondering why it bothered coming to the UK for the summer! 

Red-breasted Goose hanging out with wild White-fronted Geese

Water rail

Saturday the 24th was warmer but raining. However it became a special day when we visited a little known site in Northants to see a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. In fact there were two of these elusive little 'peckers on view and we enjoyed extended views of a male drumming away on the bough of a tree.

Lesser 'Pecker

On the Sunday the 25th we enjoyed fantastic views of the Barn Owls again in fine sunny weather before rushing out to our local Wetlands Reserve to catch a site first in the shape of a Knot.

More Barn Owl action

The 29th saw us leaving home at 03:30 in the morning and driving up to North Wales to get our annual dose of a Black Grouse lek. To my mind an active Black Grouse lek where the males coo at and threaten each other is the best wildlife spectacle that this country has to offer. It was simply brilliant! Read all about it here Black Grouse Lek

The all action Black Grouse lek

We ended the month on the 31st by taking in another trip to Ardington and more views of the enigmatic Hawfinch.

Can't resist them! Female Hawfinch

April 2018

The 2nd saw us at Farmoor where a lovely adult Little Gull was holding court on F1. Although never close in its mastery of agile flying was very much admired. A loafing Iceland Gull on F2 gave us a county tick too. The first Swallows and Sand Martins of the year were seen while wintering Goldeneye still lingered.

Adult Little Gull

Dozy 1st cy Iceland Gull

Spring was gathering apace but on the afternoon of Friday the 6th we drove out to Hawling in Gloucestershire to see a wintering Great Grey Shrike before it left for its breeding grounds. Also on view there were a couple of fine Short-eared Owls and a small flock of late Golden Plover.

Butcher Bird

Shortie on the hunt

The following day, the 7th, and we made our customary trip to Greenham Common to see Dartford Warblers but were left disappointed when we failed to find any, however some Woodlark helped to soften the blow. Thinking we were just unlucky we returned the following Saturday but again drew a blank with the Darties. The hard winter had obviously adversely affected their numbers and had probably eradicated them from the area. We did find a fine male Ring Ouzel in the fog and had marvellous views of Woodlark later in the sunshine. An over flying Oystercatcher looked incongruous in the heathland setting.

Male Linnet

Male Ring Ouzel in the fog

Woodlark

After lunch on the 14th we made another visit to Farmoor to add returning summer migrants to the year list. The first Common Tern and Yellow wagtails, including a "Channel" Wagtail (a hybrid between a blue-headed and nominate forms) were seen alongside a pair of Red-crested Pochards and other regular species.

"Channel" Wagtail 

Great Crested Grebe (aka Sarri) with Stickleback snack

Drake Red-crested Pochard, "I'm sleeping!"

Sunday the 15th and we strolled around Otmoor adding recently returned Warblers to the list and listened to an unseen Cuckoo. Two late drake Pintails were still around though, winter was definitely lingering on.

Chiffchaff

On Monday the 16th a supposed Iberian Chiffchaff had been found singing close to Oxford. We had good views of it but many didn't seem convinced as to its ancestry and a few days later it was downgraded to an atypical Common Chiffchaff. Having missed a true Iberian at Great Tew a few years ago I'll have to wait a bit longer to add that species to my Oxon list.

Nearly but not quite, "atypical" Common Chiffchaff

April can't pass without hearing the song of a Nightingale so on the 18th we made our annual trip to Paxton Pits near St Neots which has always been reliable for them. Ten years ago there were over 40 singing male Nightingales there, last year we heard just 2! And this time we failed to hear any. A sad sign of the times I fear, soon Nightingales will be absent from the UK unless the decline is halted. The day was saved though with belting views of 2 male Brambling which were almost in full summer plumage.

Otmoor was our destination again on evening of the 20th. We could hear another favourite of ours, the Grasshopper Warbler, but failed to see it. Lots more Warblers around though and we had our first look at Cuckoos and Hobbies of the year. Best though were a couple of Wheatears which showed beautifully in the sunshine.

We had been tipped off about some local breeding Firecrests in the county so on the 21st managed to add them to our Oxon lists. Initially difficult to find, once we had found them we had great views of at least 3 of the tiny little sprites as they displayed and collected nesting material.

We finally caught up with Nightingale at a new site for us near Newbury on the 26th. Elusive to begin with but singing beautifully, our patience was rewarded with decent views eventually. More here Nightingale

On the 28th and back at Farmoor the hirundine and Swift invasion had begun in earnest with thousands hawking insects over the reservoirs. I tested Mrs Caley's patience to the limit as I took shot after shot (mostly rubbish of course) of the aerial maestros. The weather was poor with fog and drizzle but we did hear, and see this time, the elusive Grasshopper Warbler. Then, no doubt because of the poor weather, there was a major surprise in store with 2 Great Skuas resting up on the reservoir before they departed once the conditions improved.

Gropper reeled in!

The Bonxies leaving

Back at Farmoor the next day for more Swift and hirundine action as well as the first Arctic Terns for the year and waders such as Dunlin and Common Sandpiper. Cuckoos were active around the river and a Kingfisher sped past. Full account here Farmoor Fun

Dunlin in breeding plumage

House Martin, awarded a notable photo accolade on Birdguides!