Arncott MOD and Otmoor Birding

Jackie Newcombe, Dave Cleal and myself met at 5am or so for the drive to Arncott MOD site for the Bucks Bird Club meeting, led by Paul Watts.  The hope was to hear/see Nightingale, Turtle Dove and Grasshopper Warbler, plus a variety of other birds.  About fifteen members managed the early start.

Despite there being three singing Nightingales in 2016 on this site, none have appeared as yet, so we had to be content with Turtle Dove, Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Cuckoo.  Fortunately the Turtle Doves and Gropper showed well and everyone got good views of the reeling bird.

Click on images to enlarge.

Grasshopper Warbler - The star of the show at Arncott.
Not easy to see in my photo but it is there!!

Turtle Dove - Poor light early morning and rather distant birds did not help photograpy

At 9am the Arncott viist ended and the three of us left Arncott and took the fairly short drive to Otmoor to complete the mornings birding.  The highlights were the Common Cranes but also great to get great views of Cuckoos and Turtle Doves.  Slightly more distant than the latter were three Hobbies, three Black-tailed Godwits, a summer plumaged male Ruff, two Ringed Plovers, a Marsh Harrier, a drumming Snipe, lots of Redshank, Lapwings, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings.  A good mornings birding!

Hobby - Three were perched on posts on the reserve.
Perhaps too cold and dull for their prey to be available.

Common Cranes - Two seen to fly in on the far side of the reserve.
They were then feeding in the far ditches.

Cuckoo - Several we very active on the reserve and seen flying along the reed fringed water
where Reed Warblers were singing.  (If they only knew!)

Turtle Dove - Nice to see this now scarce bird back at Otmoor.

Black-tailed Godwits - Three were feeding in one of the pools.
It was difficult to get a photo without their heads being under water!

Sedge Warbler - Several were singing by the main bridleway.