Farmoor 22 April morning

Glorious sunny visit to Farmoor this morning, with some reasonable birds around as well. On arrival there were 2 Yellow Wags on the grassy bank on the E side of F1. Although they were almost immediately flushed by a fisherman, I noticed there was one still there on my return, this time being harried by a couple of photographers.

Out along the causeway, Dave Lowe kindly put me onto some adult Little Gulls on F1 - but too distant for photos. On F2, there were c. 12 Common Terns but initially no sign of any Arctics or Black Terns.

Over the causeway and down to the meadows and river beyond, there was a vocal Cuckoo flying around from time to time.

Cuckoo

Further on at the pool with the footbridge at Buckthorn Meadow there was a Sedge Warbler that was coming up into the tops of the reeds from time to time.

Sedge Warbler

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Returning to the causeway, Geoff Wyatt helpfully showed me an Arctic Tern and a Black Tern in the middle of F2 that seemed to be associating with each other.

So a better than average visit!

Cleeve Common, Gloucs 18 Apr 19

With some helpful info from Jim Hutchins, it seemed worth giving Cleeve Common a try for Rouzels. This site is very different from Linkey Down in that there is unrestricted public access across the whole of the area. This provides more photo opportunities but at the expense of increased risk of disturbance.

There were at least 4 males and 1 female present today. Waiting for the birds to come to you is the only option here, but none of the other birders present seemed to understand this. At least twice all the birds were flushed by "birders" with cameras. Dog walkers are another hazard of course but in three hours I saw just one.

Only twice did my targets come within an interesting distance with the first being immediately on arrival when I wasn't set up properly, and they were flushed almost immediately by another birder in front of me. On the second occasion a couple of males briefly came reasonably close, and the shot below is probably my best to date of these difficult to photograph birds.

Somewhere to remember for the future though.

Ring Ouzel (c) Stephen Burch

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Oxon pics 11 - 13 April

Here are some images from my various Oxon destinations over the last few days. Moving to part time working has its advantages!

1. Farmoor Reservoir, 11 April 

Success at last on the causeway with a couple of Yellow Wags - early on before anyone else got there (although it was a close run thing)!

Yellow Wagtail

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Yellow Wagtail

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Injured Ringed Plover

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2. Otmoor - 12 April

A quiet visit, apart from a Gropper heard from Morleys - near the feeders. Only this Reed Bunting, from the hide, came close enough to have its photo taken.

Reed Bunting - almost too close!

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3. Linky Down - 13 April

I first returned to Farmoor and saw little, managing to miss the Little Bunting by a few minutes. So I thought I'd try Linky Down for the Ring Ouzels afterwards. Here my luck changed and there were at least 3 birds on show when I arrived - 2 males and a female. They are always distant here, but this time a little closer than usual. The long lens with the x2 converter helped with this one (and all of the above for that matter). 

Ring Ouzel

Farmoor - 5 April

A cold day at Farmoor, but there were some reasonable birds around. Masses of hirundines first thing, mainly Sand Martins but also a few Swallows and House Martins. There was a nice group of 6 White Wagtails on the causeway but they were very jumpy, making it difficult to get close.

White Wagtail

The SM hide was quiet apart from singing Blackcap to the side and a more distant Cetti's. Viewing F2 from the west side, I was then put on to the 2 Common Scoter that were very distant.

Finally returning along the causeway, I went in the hide and looked for the Little Gull which I eventually spotted some way out in the middle of F1.

Little Gull

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