Red Kite surveillance
This Red Kite clearly knows I’m here. Its threat-awareness and predator-avoidance systems are working overtime. I suspect I’m a distraction from hunting …
Warble, warble
I never realised that the inside of a Sedge Warbler’s mouth is so intensely red. What a glorious punch of colour in …
260,000 territories
There are 260,000 territories of Sedge Warblers in the UK. They manage to fly non-stop from sub-Saharan Africa to the exact spot …
Water droplets on a Great Crested Grebe
I love how waterproof all this Grebe’s preening has made its plumage. It has a headdress of raindrops.
Hobby talons
Hobby look like giant Swifts or tiny Kestrels as they cruise above Otmoor. There are five high on the thermals. A dragonfly …
Subbuteo
This Hobby, Falco subbuteo, has just arrived after migrating from Africa. It has caught a tiny fly in its talons and is …
Incoming Whimbrel
At first I think there’s a Curlew flying into view. As I watch it approaching it looks smaller, more delicate, somehow. When …
Talons bared
The smaller male Marsh Harrier is chasing the larger female, which is calling loudly. The female turns upside-down in the air and …
Marsh Harrier courtship dance
The church of St Mary the Virgin in Charlton-on-Otmoor, features a tall tower that acts as a beacon in the landscape. In …
Eye contact with a Marsh Harrier
This looks like an adult female Marsh Harrier. With Marsh Harriers, however, you can never be quite sure. Some adult males have …
Marsh Harrier overhead
I love a close Marsh Harrier. Here at RSPB Otmoor they are busy, but distant, and a pleasant hour or so in …
Huge Heron chicks
I’ve enjoyed going to RSPB Otmoor to see the Grey Herons in the past few years.
The beauty of a Whimbrel
This light at RSPB Otmoor is wonderful. It’s improved by a beautiful Whimbrel flying past.
Ground-nesting Herons
One of the things I thought I knew was that Grey Herons are colonial nesters in large heronries in trees. I’ve seen …
Greylag
Greylag Geese pair for life most of the time. They’re a species where the male is generally larger. I wonder if these …
Grey Heron ballet
The Grey Herons are busy at RSPB Otmoor. I’ve only seen Grey Heron nests in trees before in colonial Heronries. This pair …
When Chiffchaffs arrive
When Chiffchaffs arrive, it’s a joyous day. I celebrate their cheerful attempt at a call and delight in the arrival of spring. …
Hare today
I’m scanning the fields at RSPB Otmoor for a Crane. There’s been one reported here and I’d love to see it. Scattered …
Viviparous Lizards
I’ve been in a hide in RSPB Otmoor when someone asks me, “Have you seen the lizards?” She points to a log …
Red Kite in the morning
As a teenager, I went on a biology field trip to Borth on the west Wales coast. We had a minibus trip …
An early morning
I’m not usually out early in the morning. You might have noticed that my blog contains many, many sunset photographs but precious …
Stumbling upon Short-Eared Owls
I volunteer for a children’s charity and we’re having a meeting of our trustees in Oxfordshire. I check a map and see …
A Turtle Dove purring like a cat
The information board at RSPB Otmoor says there’s a Turtle Dove in the trees at the Reserve. Frustratingly I can’t see it …
An amphibious craft – Mute Swans in and out of the water
It’s difficult to lead two different lives. Being good at two very different things always leads to compromise and there’s always someone …