Otmoor with Bourne End U3A

 This was a morning trip to Otmoor with a few members from Bourne End U3A. 

We recorded 48 species of birds of which 4 were only heard calling.  The top bird in terms of rarity and difficulty in finding was a Grasshopper Warbler which appeared fairly close to us near the entrance track.  We saw up to seven Cattle Egrets with five in one group feeding very close to some cattle and another two in the distance near some other cattle.  

Other good finds were a Greenshank, Hobby, Water Rail, Curlew and Garganey which was in eclipse plumage and asleep most of the time, making identification a little tricky.  

Curlew - Asleep in front of the first screen

Little Egrets - Also in front of the first screen.

Little Egrets - Three different birds on the Greenaway.

Greenshank and Little Egrets

Garganey - asleep most of the time.

Unfortunately no photos of the Cattle Egrets which were very distant most of the time.

Great Crested Grebes Family

Great Crested Grebe always seem to breed fairly late at Little Marlow, this year being no exception.  On 10th August I saw the family party below.  Interestingly there was another Great Crested Grebe on a nest just 25 metres away.

The family right next to the nest

Two youngsters being a little adventurous

One youngster taking a ride.

Marsh Warbler in Bucks!!

 In all my years of birding in the county I have never had the chance to see a Marsh Warbler.  Then while I was visiting family in Lancashire I heard that one had been found in the M Keynes area.  I thought it would probably leave before I could get there but then heard that a female was present and breeding was possibly taking place.  So the birds did not depart and I was able to visit reasonably early on 10th June.

I soon found the singing male managed to get a few photos as it continued to show between 7:45 and 9:30am.  It was fairly close and so it was fairly easy to separate it from Reed Warbler, which was nearby.  Of course as soon as it sang it was fairly obviously with a lot of mimicry.

For more on this significant birding event in the county visit https://bucksbirdclub.co.uk/marsh-warblers-breeding-attempt/ 

Marsh Warbler - Not easy to photograph as usually in fairly thick vegetation,
so these photos all taken in one place.

Marsh Warbler - This digiscoped image shows the pale edges to the primaries very well.

Note that the posting of this was delayed at the request of the county recorder in order to keep disturbance to a minimum and to allow the pair to breed.

Shelducks Breed at Little Marlow

 Shelducks have been present during the Spring months for several years but it was not until this year that we saw any young.  This is a first breeding record for this species at the site. It is not clear where the actual nest was.

Unfortunately several of the ducklings perished over the next few weeks but four were still present on 10th August.  Hopefully they will return next year.

Shelducks - The pair with seven ducklings on 30th June.