Bowled over by a cricket (Otmoor update)

Another stunning day at Otmoor (Thursday 6th sept). Started well (early am), with lots of birds around the first corner after leaving the car park. Again a photo shy Lesser Whitethroat, two Whitethroats, Willow Warbler, a Chiffchaff that was following a blue tit everywhere it went, two Bullfinches, Reed Warbler, Robin, Dunnock, Great Tit and several small groups of Blue Tits. A juvenile Great black Backed Gull lumbered across the sky heading for Ashgrave. A great spotted Woodpecker could be heard calling somewhere in the large willow trees.

Blue Tit with chiffchaff in attendance.

The area Around the feeders, both sides of the track were equally vibrant. With lots of Blue and Great Tits on the feeders, along with several Chaffinches. In the bushes on the opposite side of the track were. Two more Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler A female Blackcap, at least two chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a lovely male Bullfinch who unlike the Whitethroats flatly refused to pose for the camera and three female Chaffinches.

Obliging Whitethroats



Yellow Wagtails were in and around the cattle on Greenaways. I counted five, but there may have been more and my first Whinchat of the day was perched on a fence post along the diagonal track.

5o m or so past the R.S.P.B hut (On the right hand side of the track) i discovered a swarm of a dozen or so Hornets stripping the bark off a sapling. In attendance were a variety of flies. Ignoring the mortal danger they were in, they seemed to be taking advantage of the wounds in the tree the Hornets were creating. (Feeding on the sweet sap perhaps) One of my companions (Derek Woodard) saw a Hornet grab one of the flies.

Hornet stripping bark

Interesting fly species taking advantage

I am not sure of the fly species (Sorry) but the closest i can get in my book is the fly with blue markings could be pharyngomyia picta that lays its eggs in the nostrils of deer (charming) I am not 100% on this. Because as usual nothing in the book quite matches up.

A great spotted woodpecker was in the large Oak tree along path to 1st screen. From the screen there were four Green Sandpipers. A Greenshank also flew in from big Otmoor and made to land on the island. Unfortunately it didn't and flew up the channel and disappeared from view. A flock of 20 or so Snipe were again flying around the reed bed.

Green Sandpiper

Heading back towards the hide there seemed to be an awful lot of this going on.

among the Common Darters.

Also along the path from the 1st screen was this lovely Small Copper Butterfly.

Still on the Butterfly page. While walking back along the path to the car park i managed to photograph this superb Brimstone.

At the paths end. Looking onto Greenaways i found three Whinchat perched on the fence posts. These enigmatic little birds are always a pleasure to see. They were just about on the limit for my bridge camera's magnification. I have used one of my pics, showing Two Whinchats on the posts. Derek Woodard very kindly sent me three of his pics to use for my blog. "Cheers Derek".

My picture of two Whinchats.

Followed by three of Dereks superb shots.

On the path leading to the hide this curious little chap was walking around in circles. I think it is a member of the caddis fly family but again nothing in my book exactly matches. (Thanks Collins guide to the insects of Britain and western Europe) I am sure there is an expert out there who can give me a definite i.d (Please)

On reaching our respective cars in the car park. Derek shouted

"Hey Pete you still got your camera handy look at this"

I was completely bowled over. On his car was this fantastic little creature. It posed for ages. Showing all of its skills at walking on glass as well as highly polished car paint. Even holding on to the boot flap as Derek opened it to get his macro lens out. As far as i can tell it is a Roesel's Bush Cricket.

I think after all that the animals of Otmoor deserve a fly past and they got one.

Hornets, Hawkers and Hobbys

A fantastic morning at Otmoor (tuesday 4th sept). It will be remembered as much for the other critters that inhabit the moor as much as the birds. Although the hedgerows seem pretty quiet. There is plenty to see especially around the screens. There were at least four Little Egrets feeding in front of the first screen. Six Green Sandpipers, a Greenshank, Several small parties of snipe, Little and Great crested Grebes, Gargany, Wigeon, Gadwall, Tufted ducks and Kingfishers all seen here.

Three of the six Green Sandpipers

Birds of prey were abundant, with a juvenile Marsh Harrier seen from the second Screen. Four Hobbys, Sparrowhawk, three Buzzards, at least four Red Kites and a Kestrel all seen today.

Warblers were fairly sparse with just the odd one or two making an appearance. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Reed and sedge all seen around the corner after 1st screen.

Three Cormorants were on the Tern raft (2nd screen)

While standing on the bridge by the hide i was treated to a flypast of a dozen or so

Long tailed Tits.

Also keep your eyes open for Wheatear, Whinchat, Redstarts and Yellow Wagtails. All of which were seen today.
Hornets were on the wing today. With three individuals seen in different areas. I am slightly confused by the behaviour of two of them. The first Hornet encounter was just past the R.S.P.B hut. It flew past me and into a nearby bush. It appeared to fly straight into a spiders web. Grab the spider,take it out of its web to a nearby twig and eat it. I witnessed exactly the same behaviour from another Hornet by the second screen. However when i got home and downloaded the photos to my computer. The prey they are eating do not seem to be spiders. Although not easy to make out. One of them appears to be a beetle of some kind. You can clearly see wings and legs and it doesn't look like a fly. The second one also appears black and shiny like a beetle. Were they stealing prey already caught in a spiders web ? Or were the spiders webs nothing to do with it at all, just coincidence ?

1st Hornet near hut.

Hornet two near 2nd screen

Another life and death struggle was playing out at the first screen. A Common Darter was caught up in a spiders web. Although it only seemed to be caught by a leg it couldn't get away. Several times the spider had a go at subduing the dragonfly. But each time the dragonfly fought back. Eventually it got away.

Spider v Dragonfly.

Another interesting observation on the insect front was a Wasp, chewing the wooden fence by the first screen. It was chewing grooves in the wood. the lighter colour lines can clearly be seen in the photo. I assume they chew the wood into pulp and use the material for their nests.

Migrant Hawker Dragonflies seem to have replaced the Brown Hawkers. Only one Brown Hawker seen today. But the Migrant Hawkers appear to be everywhere. I noticed a lot of variation in colour, in some of them. From a greeny yellow to an almost electric blue. 

 An Angle Shades moth was next to the path (Car park field).

A Muntjac dear was on the bridleway near the hide.

Two Grass snakes were again in the same place. The low cut hedge on the path to the 1st screen. And Just like last week, I spooked the first one. But the second one gave fantastic views. The yellow and black collar showing particularly well.

And finally, a first for me. Whoever thought of putting the stones, pipes and logs by the first screen to attract the Common Lizards,deserves a huge pat on the back. I had my first ever sighting of one of these fantastic animals today.

All in all, what a great day.