Trip reports
Otmoor RSPB - by Frank Clark
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Although down on the schedule as a full day trip, I always expected this to be more of a slightly leisurely extended half day walk and had advised the group of this at the previous indoor meeting. Despite this, 15 members assembled in the car park on a very hot sunny Sunday morning. The group were treated immediately to the sights and sounds of Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Turtle Dove, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer and many other birds whilst just standing in the car park. Finally moving off down the entrance pathway, birds were flying in all directions. Many of these would be juvenile finches and tits but as they never sat still quite long enough to get a good look at them, it was never easy to pin down an exact species. A male Bullfinch whizzed past us and was one species that was easily identified with its bright pink underside, as was a pair of Little Egrets that flew lazily across the field.
Several elegant Red Kite floated by, looking for an early morning snack. While Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting and Chiffchaff could be heard singing everywhere. A number of Hobby were taking advantage of the warm morning and were seen hawking for the numerous dragonfly that speed around the ditches and waterways. A snipe shot up out of the reeds and performed its display flight for a short while, before quickly disappearing back into the long grass in the centre of the reserve. Visiting the first screen numerous Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe and Coot could be seen busy feeding their young, whilst a single female Shoveler and a solitary Male Ruddy Duck made up the waterfowl species in this area.
As we continued on towards the second screen and an early lunch, the group now proceeded up on to a well trodden and flattened bank. A number of male Reed Warbler were singing and then almost immediately, a more unfamiliar song started up. Not only was the song quite close but the bird began climbing up the reeds, until it was sitting in full view less than 20 feet away from us. This was a male Marsh Warbler. This bird had arrived at the reserve on the evening of Tuesday the 23rd of June and had been visited by several hundred local birders.
The Marsh Warbler looks very very similar to the Reed Warbler but depending on the light, generally looks paler than the Reed Warbler, particularly around the chest, throat and back. The bill and the legs are also generally lighter in colour but what clinches the identification is the song. The Marsh Warbler has its own scratchy song but it is also the wonderful mimic and we heard calls of Blackbird, Linnet and several other species scattered among its song. This was a life bird for many in the group and for the majority of the others, who had seen this species before; it was a first for the UK. We then continued on to the second screen where we decided to have a leisurely lunch in the sunshine. After lunch, several of the group even dozed off.
Stopping again on the bank, to have another look and listen to the Marsh Warbler we finally began the slow walk back to the cars. We reached the cars just after 13.00 with a list of 50 species seen - not bad for a 4 hour walk. Thank you to everyone who made the journey to Oxford.
Frank Clark