Continuing on the catch-up theme, my birding during early August, generally considered the end of the summer period and frequently known as the doldrums, that time when breeding birds have stopped singing and are busy surreptitiously feeding young, birds such as Cuckoos have already moved out and the wintering species are yet to return, was spent locally on Otmoor with the odd sortie to Farmoor and Bicester Wetlands.
Saturday 31st July; Otmoor
Yes, I know, this August review starts in July. In the want for nothing to twitch anywhere close enough in the country we opted for a walk out onto Otmoor. This would turn into an unremarkable visit, when nothing really happened and most birds were stationary under a heavy grey sky, and yet the reserve was hosting the heady number of five species of wading bird! The star of these was a fine Wood Sandpiper that could be seen with patience from the first screen.
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| Wood Sandpiper |
The water levels have been lowered in readiness for tackling intrusive reed growth into the lagoon. The exposed reed stubble and mud have attracted waders and other species, lured by the easily available feeding spots. In addition to the Wood Sandpiper, a pair of Black-tailed Godwits still sporting their summer breeding finery, six Oystercatchers including four young birds and probably raised on the reserve, and good numbers of Lapwings and Common Snipe could be watched.
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| Black-tailed Godwit |
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| Lapwing |
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| Oystercatcher |
Water Rails were also showing although as per their nature they remained loyal to the reedy edge and took some finding at times. A juvenile joined an adult bird at the edge of the main arena.
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| Water Rail |
Wednesday 4th August; Farmoor Reservoir
A Purple Sandpiper had been discovered on the concrete apron of the causeway at Farmoor Reservoir the day before. Unfortunately, as is often the case these days, news wasn't broadcast until it was too late in the day for me to go up and see it so I had to cross fingers in the hope that it stayed until the Wednesday. In the event the juvenile bird was settled and performed admirably for all comers throughout the day. It was typically confiding and afforded multiple photo opportunities. We were probably about the thirtieth and thirty-first people that it had ever seen.
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| juvenile Purple Sandpiper |
My only previous sighting of a Purple Sandpiper in Oxfordshire was of a bird flying rapidly away across the reservoir some ten years or so ago so it was good to finally underline that county tick and gain some credence and it was species number 222 for the Old Caley year.
Also at the reservoir that day was a first-summer Kittiwake, another bird that I'd only seen poorly in Oxon before. Sadly the Gull was very poorly itself and by the time we saw it was barely alive and was hunkered up virtually moribund on the edge of the smaller basin.
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| Kittiwake |
Common Terns were very active around the reservoir edges and several adults were feeding youngsters that stood restlessly, and noisily demanded their parents attention, on the buoys. They will all soon be heading south on their long journeys to the Southern Hemisphere.
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| Common Terns |
Saturday 7th August; Otmoor
A breezy day on our favourite reserve. Otmoor in the late summer is renowned amongst local birders as the time when Bitterns become more visible because they take their "feeding" flights to and from different areas on the reserve. The Bitterns were later than usual this year but we were lucky when one flew past as we sauntered along the bridleway. We'd carry that luck with us for the remainder of August as Bitterns became a regular sighting for us.
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| Bittern |
A bigger surprise, although nowhere near as photogenic, was encountered as we sat at the "Bittern Bench" a little further along the path when I spotted a male Whinchat perched up on a tall stem next to one of the favoured areas for the Bitterns.
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| Whinchat |
The recent colonisation of Oxfordshire by Cattle Egrets had spread to Otmoor when up to five of the birds were resting, in between their own feeding forays amongst the cattle, in front of the first screen. They were joined by a Little Egret as well as the more usual residents.
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| Little Egret (left), Cattle Egrets, Mallards & Lapwings |
The Cattle Egrets when feeding out on Greenaways were much more difficult to see in the tall grasses. Further out on the field were the resident Common Cranes which never seem to come any closer than a quarter of a mile away and I've now admitted defeat and no longer bother taking photos of them. The only year tick of the day was a Greenshank that flew over calling, it wouldn't be long before we'd get a better chance of good views of them either on Otmoor or at our local Bicester Wetlands where they are usually reliable during August.
Saturday 14th August; Otmoor
We started this visit by taking a walk into Long Meadow, a reliable spot for Common Redstarts, and where a few had been seen over the past week or so. The Redstarts are never easy to track down in the bushes and hedges but after some searching we finally found three, a male and a couple of juvenile types. As usual, none of them were very approachable.
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| Common Redstart |
It was another grey and drizzly day on the Moor and we huddled up against the chill wind as we made an uneventful, for once even the Bitterns were sheltering it seemed, brisk walk along the bridleway. At the first screen the Wood Sandpiper was still present and showing much more openly at the first screen viewpoint.
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| Wood Sandpiper |
The Wood Sandpiper had been joined by a Green Sandpiper, a bird that we are far more used to seeing at Bicester Wetlands than on Otmoor. Common Snipe were also feeding in the open and a juvenile Water Rail which hadn't yet learned that it was supposed to be an elusive species, was venturing out along the edge of the stubble covered island.
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| Green Sandpiper |
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| Common Snipe |
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| juvenile Water Rail |
The stars of the show on this morning, however, were the Cattle Egrets. Only four seen this time but a couple of them performed very theatrically in the stubble in front of the first screen.
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| Cattle Egret |
One of the Cattle Egrets was even seen carrying sticks into the bush on the island and arranging it into position. As far as I know a complete nest wasn't built but it augurs well for the following breeding season.
The Cattle Egrets further impressed the attendant birders and toggers by treating us all to a couple of close flypasts on their way to and from the lagoon. We've certainly been spoiled in Oxfordshire this summer by the Cattle Egrets.
The only Bittern seen was a distant bird over the reedbed but a surprise Garganey was found at the edge of the stubble. It's been a good year for Garganey on the Moor as well.
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| Garganey |
Sunday 15th August; Otmoor
We were back on the Moor again the following day. Halfway along the bridleway and a Bittern appeared flying strongly out towards the cross-ditch that bisects Greenaways. It's impossible to become bored with Bitterns and every sighting is greeted with the same excitement as if it was the first. They are so odd, almost prehistoric looking, but incredibly beautiful birds.
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| Bittern |
It was how you were at the first screen with the same species as the previous day still represented. The Green and Wood Sandpipers were there but somewhat more elusive in the stubble. The number of Cattle Egrets had swollen to nine and they showed well again.
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| Cattle Egrets |
The number of Garganey had risen to six with the family group they had presumably been hatched on the Moor all stood resting on the edge of the stubble island or swimming in the shallow water.
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| Garganey (back) |
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| Garganey (centre) |
The posse of Cattle Egrets, with a Little Egret cousin, all flew off together and allowed me to capture some group flight shots.
Later we would catch up with the Cattle Egrets again when we found them nestled in with some cattle on Greenaways. I always think that Cattle Egrets look more at home and happier when feeding amongst cattle, maybe because that is what it says, "On the Cattle Egret tin". I most wanted a photo opportunity of one of the birds stood on a cows back but that will have to wait for another day.
A Hobby appeared and hunted dragonflies above our heads. Too high up for my lens but I tried anyway to capture some interesting shots.
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| Hobby |
Probably the best moment of the month so far came when a Bittern appeared flying close to the bridleway. My camera was raised automatically at the sight of it and as it drew level I started firing off shots. The big surprise was that the Bittern decided to offload as it passed and I obtained some very arty photos of the swirling discharge!
Fully expecting a Photo of the Week accolade from Birdguides for my Banksy Bittern, I was of course thrown into more despondency when I failed to win yet again but I guess I should be grateful for the notable photo award. As somebody commented, it was a crap shot after all. I do despair though that I will never ever win a second weekly title until I can upgrade to real top notch camera equipment which seems to be a prerequisite or somehow wheedle my way into the top toggers clique which will never happen because I really can't stand that type of thing, being the anti-establishment and anti-privileges chap (loner) that I am.
Wednesday 18th August; Bicester Wetlands
A report from Alan the warden at our local reserve stating that a Greenshank was showing nicely in the pool closest to the carpark hide gave me an excuse to get up from my normal post-work sofa slumber. In glorious sunshine, which would usually be warmly received except that at BWR by late afternoon it shines directly at you if viewing from the hide, the Greenshank along with up to ten Green Sandpipers fed dutifully in the shallows just as Alan had said.
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| Greenshank & Green Sandpiper |
A flock of twenty-four Lapwing were also present on the grassy bund but all flew along with the other waders when a Sparrowhawk scattered them. We really should visit our local spot more often but always seem to want to go to somewhere else.
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