Easter Weekend Overload Part 1, 19-20th April

Mrs Caley and I did so much birding over the Easter break that there is just too much to write up here so I'm going to recount the highs, and lows, from the four days in two parts. In fact this review starts back on the Wednesday before, when we made an evening visit to Otmoor in fine sunny weather primarily to see if any Spring migrants had turned up. In particular we were keen to get a look at one of the recently arrived Grasshopper Warblers but also to see if there were any other additions to the year list. 

We had good views of a Bittern that flew up from the ditch that runs alongside the bridleway and then landed next to one of the reedbeds on Greenaways. It stood in full view for maybe 15 seconds and then disappeared into the reeds. Speaking to Otmoor regulars it appears that this Bittern, plus another, has taken to spending a lot of time out on Greenaways where it can show well at length if a little distantly. Apart from the Bittern it was fairly quiet on the moor, we couldn't locate any reeling Groppers, but we'd actually come out this evening to see a specific bird, in fact two specific birds, that had been showing well in the evenings of late. We waited by the bench halfway along the bridleway looking for anything stirring. Nothing much was happening so I went for a wander to see if the Bittern had reappeared at the other end of the reedbed leaving Mrs Caley chatting to our friend Lee who was also hoping to see the same birds that we'd come for. As I neared the far end of the reeds, our quarry emerged from the grasses and began to hunt. The Short-eared Owl flew low along the back of the reedbed and I hollered at Mrs Caley that "the Owl was out!" but she couldn't hear me. I legged it back and suggested that she, and Lee, looked out over the field and they turned in time to see the Owl pass fairly close by. 

Short-eared Owl

The Shortie was then joined by another that flew up and started its own hunting. The two owls were markedly different in colour and tone, one being quite pale and beige coloured, the other much more warmly toned. They both continued hunting although the more richly individual flew further out on the moor. The original bird though continued to grace us by flying up and down just 50 yards or so away and even obliged by landing on a small branch right in front from where it surveyed the grass for prey. In the warm sunshine the Owls looked superb! Not a year tick but it's always nice to watch Short-eared Owls.

The Owls were joined by one of the resident male Marsh Harriers which actually, for a change, came close enough for a recognisable photo or two. Despite always being seen whenever we go out onto Otmoor it's difficult to get anything but scope views of any of the Marsh Harriers since they resolutely refuse to come close enough for a really good photo opportunity. This bird though teases us by flying just out of reach and always seems to fly directly over areas that you've just vacated and never when you're there! They do of course have excellent vision and know exactly where everything is at any time on the moor.

male Marsh Harrier

On Good Friday morning we were on the Moor by 7 o'clock, but had still been beaten by at least 10 other like minded souls. The weather was stunning with bright sunshine and we were once more hopeful that the Spring migrants had returned in numbers. We could hear a Cuckoo as soon as we left the car park and before we'd reached the cattle pens we had added Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Garden Warbler to our year list. The walk along the bridleway heralded very little except for the, thankfully, ubiquitous chorus of unseen Cetti's Warblers but the Bittern wasn't yet showing on Greenaways. For some reason the local herd of cattle took a liking to us and followed us all the way along the path. It's a good job the stream ran between us!

As we walked along the path to the 1st screen a Jay flew out of the single Oak giving me a chance to grab some flight shots of probably our most beautiful corvid species. Numbers of Jays are definitely increasing and sightings are becoming much more frequent of a bird that was never showy until the autumn in years past. 

Jay

Cuckoos continued to call but the Grasshopper Warblers were silent this morning. Our first Reed Warbler of the year sang from the reeds next to the path. There was little to see from the 1st screen save for the usual so we continued on to the 2nd screen which was also much quieter than I was expecting. The resident Cetti's next to the screen showed well enough but I failed to gain any decent images. A Buzzard drifted lazily over the lagoon but, as usual, just a Common Buzzard.

Common Buzzard

The birding picked up on our return walk, perhaps the birds were waiting for the day to warm up a bit. We watched a Chiffchaff sing heartily from the top of a small tree and the male Marsh Harrier put in another "just out of reach" appearance.

Chiffchaff

Standing at the 1st screen again somebody mentioned that a male Garganey had been seen a few minutes before we arrived and was very likely just tucked away in the reeds. It wasn't long before Mrs Caley spotted it swimming out although by the time I had reacted it was swimming back into cover once more. The chap stood next to me was keen to see the Garganey and by getting as far to the right as possible he was just able to see its head!

drake Garganey

The same chap, proving that I'm still not there in the higher echelons of the birding world, then shouted "Med Gulls"! He had recognised the calls of two birds flying over the screen, a sound that I didn't know but one which I've logged for future. It is so important to get familiar with the calls and songs of birds since it aids identification massively and on hearing a call you know what's coming. Luckily I react quickly so was soon locked onto the Mediterranean Gulls (#191 for year) and fired off a series of photos. I had been a bit annoyed last week when I managed to miss a pair at Farmoor, these two were probably the same birds, so adding these to the year list felt sweet indeed. Later on we saw them displaying on Big Otmoor so maybe they'll breed within the Black-headed Gull colony there.

Mediterranean Gulls

The Garganey then broke cover and emerged from its reedbed hideaway but immediately took to flight along with a trio of Teal and disappeared stage right.

drake Garganey with Teal

We stayed for a while longer and watched the drake Shoveler antagonise each other and then take to midair chases and squabbles. All part of the spring mating rituals that most bird species partake in. Watching battling Coots or Tufted Ducks as well as these Shovelers is just (well almost) as fascinating as viewing more celebrated combatants such as Black Grouse at their lek.

Shoveler

As we walked back to the car park the male Marsh Harrier teased me for the last time that day and we had the pleasant surprise of a Kingfisher whizzing past.

Marsh Harrier

Farmoor was our destination for Saturday morning since we know that at this time of year the reservoirs can act as a magnet for migrating birds. However, on another beautifully sunny day and with little wind the water contained barely a ripple and in my experience, when becalmed, Farmoor can be very hard going with little to offer. We saw Dai driving along the causeway and noticed that he stopped to look at a group of Gulls on F2 but he then drove off before we could catch up with him and ask what he'd seen. Hopefully he just hadn't seen us! I scanned the birds that he'd looked at and noticed one that appeared different, slightly smaller than the Black-headed Gulls and with a small white patch on the forehead. I set the scope up and was delighted to see the 1st summer (or 2nd calendar year if you prefer) Little Gull that had been on the reservoir for a couple of days and it wasn't too far out so maybe I could get a decent photograph or two. We got ourselves into position directly in line with the Little Gull and I fired off a few shots. Not great but better than most of my Little Gull images.

1st summer Little Gull

The Little Gull was drifting ever closer as it swam on the surface and fed on flies. All of the Gulls were feeding in this manner, I guess that with no movement to the water they were gorging on newly hatched flies which normally they wouldn't be able to on more unsettled waters. The Little Gull was beginning to sport its black hood for the summer but it was patchy and that small white front was very evident. I popped the converter onto the lens but looking into the sun as we were that didn't make a lot of difference to the results so I quickly took it off again.

And lucky that I did since just a few moments later a couple of fisherman in their boat passed close to the Gulls and they all took flight. The Little Gull was the last to take off but to my immense gratitude then flew almost directly overhead. The camera was put into overdrive and whirred continually as the Little Gull traversed the causeway and over onto F1. At last I had some decent photos of a Little Gull, next time hopefully I'll get an adult version to capture. When editing the photos later at least half weren't focussed but the action had been quick and I'm just pleased that I managed the ones that I got.

The Little Gull had flown right to the opposite side of F1 so we proceeded along the causeway, pausing briefly to watch some Coots fly around. Cormorants were flying between the two basins, the morning light making even them look handsome and a Great Crested Grebe floated idly past before diving under. The water was so clear that we could see the Grebe under the water but my efforts at photographing it failed completely!

Coot

Cormorant

Great Crested Grebe

A Yellow Wagtail careered quickly past calling constantly and a Red Kite flew right over the causeway and towards us. I get great views of Red Kites over my garden most days but this bird was only a few feet above us so the photo opportunity was unrivalled.

Red Kite

At the north-western end of F1 a single Arctic Tern, our 192nd species for the year, was patrolling with a few Common Terns. My efforts at capturing a decent shot came to nothing.

We headed down towards the river listening to the songs of several Warbler species but the one that we'd most like to hear, the Grasshopper Warbler, was silent. A Cuckoo was very audible in trees on the opposite side of the river and it took me a while to pin him down, eventually finding him perched proudly at the top of one of the trees. From the lofty perch he issued his song repetitively.

Cuckoo

There was no sign of any Groppers in the scrub by Pinkhill Lock but a Common Whitethroat became number 193 on the year list. We now began taking bets on what bird would be the 200th. Returning to the reservoir I noticed that there was an increase in the quantity of Terns on F1. A whole posse of Arctic Terns were flying up and down F1, I counted 16. The Little Gull was still present but now way over towards the village side of the basin.

Arctic Terns

After a few hours at home we headed out again for an evening visit to Otmoor, our intention being to try yet again for a Grasshopper Warbler. In the Car Park we met our friend Pete who told us that he'd seen a Ring Ouzel in Long Meadow, so we decided to look for that instead. Long Meadow is basically a rough grassy field that is interspersed with dense bushes and lined on all sides by scrubby hedges. It is where Common Redstarts are usually encountered and indeed we had seen a fine male on the Sunday before.

male Common Redstart

Pete joined us and it took us just a few seconds to relocate the Ring Ouzel, a fine male, close to the southern edge of the field. The problem would be approaching the bird since there's no cover except for the isolated bushes. Birds are notoriously skittish in Long Meadow and hold all the aces since they can see you coming from a mile away and can dive for cover in the hedges. We sneaked up as best as we could and managed to get within about 50 yards or so, close enough for great scope views but a bit too far for my lens.

male Ring Ouzel

We made it as far as the Bridleway where the Bittern was once again stood out on Greenaways, too far out for any photos this time. The Marsh Harrier wasn't teasing us this evening. but a Cuckoo landed in one of the oak trees that will, hopefully, soon be housing a Turtle Dove or two. In the dying embers of a glorious day the evocative song of the Cuckoo is a sound to be treasured.

Cuckoo