Otmoor, Oxfordshire

Naturetrek Tour Report April – May – June 2021

Lapwing Female Broad-bodied Chaser

Otmoor in spring Brown Hare

Report & images by Jessica Turner

Mingledown Wolf’s Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ England Barn T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire

The progress of spring is always a joy to observe, and this season in the wonderful wetland habitat of Otmoor was no exception. In April Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap were very vocal, soon followed by Sedge Warbler and then Reed Warbler, sometimes showing themselves but sometimes more elusive. Cetti’s Warblers with their explosively loud calls were often sighted, while Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and then good numbers of Lesser Whitethroat added to the chorus. Lapwings’ display flights gave way to mobbing attacks of potential predators, joined by Common Redshanks, while a few pairs of Curlew and Oystercatchers were often seen. Passage waders included Ruff, Common Greenshank and a fine male Spotted Redshank which showed well on the 29th May.

The wintering duck flocks were dispersing, although good numbers of Gadwall remained into mid May. At least one pair of Garganey were occasionally seen, and a fine drake Pintail was a regular feature. Feral Snow and Barnacle Geese joined the Greylags and Canada Geese, and the many goslings from the latter were enjoyed, along with ducklings and young Coots and Moorhens. We particularly enjoyed the views of Lapwing and Redshank chicks in the grass. A long-staying Glossy Ibis sometimes showed well, favouring one area of the reserve, and some lucky clients had exceptional views of Bittern hunting, feeding, and on the 13th, two in flight for about five minutes.

Marsh Harrier was seen on most occasions, sometimes extremely well, while a surprise on April 22nd was a ring- tail Hen Harrier. The Hobbies appeared in late April, sometimes seen at rest on fenceposts and then increasingly active, giving great views. On the last day, in early June, we were able to watch them catching dragonflies overhead. The cool spring meant dragonflies were late to emerge, and initially the Hobbies were probably having to make do with St. Mark’s Flies and similar species. We recorded the first Odonata record for the county for the year with a newly emerged Large Red Damselfly on April 19th, and Azure Damselflies were fairly abundant by mid May, but June brought the best displays, with Hairy Dragonfly, Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chasers and Emperor all being seen. We were delighted to see three basking Grass Snakes on April 22nd, and a Common Lizard was enjoying the sun on June 7th. Large numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins were feeding over the water in April, joined and then replaced by House Martins and Swifts as May progressed, but most birds were probably still on migration, and none were seen on June 7th. The Cuckoos were vocal and seen on several occasions, but a sadness this year was the lack of Turtle Doves; only one pair was present last year.

In April the hedges were white with Blackthorn flowers, with Midland Hawthorn flowering slightly earlier than Common Hawthorn. On the occasion we had to walk down from Beckley, due to the closure of the access road, we enjoyed the Bluebells and other woodland flowers of Noke Wood. Fallow Deer, Roe Deer and Muntjac were regularly seen, as were Brown Hares.

Tour Report The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire

Species Checklists

Common name Scientific name April - May- June Birds 12 15 19 22 26 29 4 6 10 13 17 24 7 Our tour checklist follows the names and taxonomy (including species order) of the International Ornithological Congress list of the birds of the world (version 11.1, Jan 2021) which seems destined to become the global standard in future. The species included are based on those thought most likely to be recorded together with what has been seen on previous tours. H = Heard only, LO = Leader Only S = Signs Canada Goose Branta canadensis X X X X X X X X X X X X X Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis X X X X X X X X X X X Snow Goose Anser caerulescens X X X X X X X Greylag Goose Anser anser X X X X X X X X X X X X X Greater White-fronted Anser albifrons Goose X Mute Swan Cygnus olor X X X X X X X X X X X X X Garganey Saptula querquedula X LO X Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata X X X X X X X X X X X X X Gadwall Mareca strepera X X X X X X X X X X X X Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope X Mallard Anas platyrhynchos X X X X X X X X X X X X X Northern Pintail Anas acuta X X X X X X X X X X Eurasian Teal Anas crecca X X X X X X X Common Pochard Aythya ferina X X X X X X X X X X X X Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula X X X X X X X X X X X X X Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus X X X X X X X X X X X X X Common Swift Apus apus X X X X X X X X Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus H H H H H H X H X X Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia 'feral' X X X X X X X X X X X X Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus X X X X X X X X X X X X X Water Rail Rallus aquaticus H H H H H H H?

The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire Tour Report

Common name Scientific name April - May- June Birds 12 15 19 22 26 29 4 6 10 13 17 24 7 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus X X X X X X X X X X X X X Eurasian Coot Fulica atra X X X X X X X X X X X X X Common Crane Grus grus X X X X X X X X X Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus X X X X X X X X X X X Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus X X X X X X X X X X X X X Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus X X X X X X X X X X X X X Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula X Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata X X H X X X X X X X H X Ruff Calidris pugnax X X Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago X X ? X H Common Redshank Tringa totanus X X X X X X X X X X X X X Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus X X Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia X X Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus X X X X X X X X X X X X X European Herring Gull Larus argentatus X X X X X X X X X X X X X Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus X X X X X X X X X Common Tern Sterna hirundo X X X X Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo X X X X X X X X Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus X X X X X X X X Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris H/X X X H H X Grey Heron Ardea cinerea X X X X X X X X X X X X X Great Egret Ardea alba X X Little Egret Egretta garzetta X X X X X X X X X X X X Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus X Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus X X X X X X X X X X X X Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus X

2 © Naturetrek June 2021

The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire Tour Report

Common name Scientific name April - May- June Birds 12 15 19 22 26 29 4 6 10 13 17 24 7 Red Kite Milvus milvus X X X X X X X X X X X X X Common Buzzard Buteo buteo X X X X X X X X X X Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major X X X X X H H European Green Picus viridis Woodpecker H H X H H H X H Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus X X Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo X X X X X X X X X X Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus X X Eurasian Magpie Pica pica X X X X X X X X X X X X X Western Jackdaw Corvus monedula X X X X X X X X X X Rook Corvus frugilegus X X X X X X X X X X X X X Carrion Crow Corvus corone X X X X X X X X X X X X X Northern Raven Corvus corax X H Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus X X X X X X X X X X X X Great Tit Parus major X X X X X X X X X X X X Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis H X X H X X X X X H X X X Sand Martin Riparia riparia X X X X Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica X X H X X X X X X X X Common House Martin Delichon urbicum X X X X X X X Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti X X X X X X X X H H H H.X X Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus X X X X X Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus X H X H H X H X H H Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita X X X X X X H X H H H X X Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus H X X X X X X X X X X H Acrocephalus Eurasian Reed Warbler schoenobaenus H X X H H H X X X X X Common Grasshopper Locustella naevia Warbler H H

The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire Tour Report

Common name Scientific name April - May- June Birds 12 15 19 22 26 29 4 6 10 13 17 24 7 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla X H X X X X X X X X H H Garden Warbler Sylvia borin X H H Lesser Whitethroat Curruca curruca X H X X H H Common Whitethroat Curruca communis X X X X X X X H X X H Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes H X X X X H H X H H H H H Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris X X X Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris X X X X X X X X X X X X Common Blackbird Turdus merula X X X X X X X X X X X X X Fieldfare Turdus pilaris X Song Thrush Turdus philomelos H H H H European Robin Erithacus rubecula X X X X X X X X X X X X X Whinchat Saxicola rubetra X Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe X House Sparrow Passer domesticus X Dunnock Prunella modularis X X X X X X X X X X X Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava LO X Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii X Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis X Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs X X X X X X X X X X X X X Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula X H X X X European Greenfinch Chloris chloris H Common Linnet Linaria cannabina X X X X X X X X X X X European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis X X X X X X X X X X X X X Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella X X X X X ? X Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus X X X X X X X X X X X X X

4 © Naturetrek June 2021

The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire Tour Report

Common name Scientific name April - May- June Birds 12 15 19 22 26 29 4 6 10 13 17 24 7 Mammals Common Mole Talpa europaea S S S S S S S S S S S S S Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus X X Fallow Deer Dama dama X X X X Reeves’ Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi X X X X X Brown Hare Lepus europaeus X X X X X X X X X X X X Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis X X X X X X X X X X X X X Stoat Mustela erminea X Weasel Mustela nivalis X

Amphibians & Reptiles Common Frog Rana temporaria H H H Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara X Grass Snake Natrix natrix X

Butterflies Green-veined White Pieris napi ? Small White Pieris rapae X X X X X X X X Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines X X LO X X X X Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni X X X X X X X Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus X Peacock Butterfly Aglais io X X X X X X X X X Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae X X Comma Butterfly Polygonia c-album X Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria X X

The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire Tour Report

Common name Scientific name April - May- June Birds 12 15 19 22 26 29 4 6 10 13 17 24 7 Dragonflies Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula X X Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense X X Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens X Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella X X X Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum X Emperor Anax imperator X Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa X Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata X

Other Invertebrates Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris X X X X X X X X X X Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius X X X Early Bumblebee Bombus pratorum X Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum X X Honey Bee Apis mellifera X Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum X X X X Common Mini-miner Bee Andrena minutula X X X 7-spot Ladybird Coccinella 7-punctata X X X Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axirydis X X Black-and-red Leafhopper Cercopis vulnerata X Cranefly Tipula oleracea X X Non-biting Chironomid Chironomus plumosus Midge X X X X X X X X X X X X Scorpionfly Panorpa sp. X X Beefly Bombylius major X X

6 © Naturetrek June 2021

The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire Tour Report

Common name Scientific name April - May- June Birds 12 15 19 22 26 29 4 6 10 13 17 24 7 Alderfly Sialis cf lutaria X X St Mark's Fly Bibio marci X X X Common Whirligig Beetle Gyrinus substriatus X X X A red & green Leaf Beetle Chrysolina polita X A bronzy Ground Beetle cf Agonum muelleri X X Robin's Pincushion Gall (wasp) Diplolepis rosae X X Knopper Galls on Oak (wasp) Andricus quercuscalicis X

Scientific name Common name April - May - June Plants 12 15 19 22 26 29 4 6 10 13 17 24 7 Dicots Dicotyledons Adoxaceae Moschatel Family

Sambucus nigra Elder X X Apiaceae Carrot Family

Angelica sylvestris Wild Angelica X X X Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley X X X X X X X X X X X Conium maculatum Hemlock X X X X X X X X X Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed X X X X X X X X Aralaceae Ivy Family

Hedera helix Ivy X X X Asteraceae Daisy Family Arctium minus Lesser Burdock X X X X X X X X Bellis perennis Daisy X X X X X X X X X Taraxacum spp. Dandelion X X X X X X X X X X

The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire Tour Report

Scientific name Common name April - May - June Plants 12 15 19 22 26 29 4 6 10 13 17 24 7 Brassicaceae Cabbage Family Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard X X X Cardamine flexuosa Wavy Bittercress X Cardamine pratensis Cuckooflower X X X X X Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family Dipsacus fullonum Teasel X X X X X X X X X X X Caryophyllaceae Pink Family Silene dioica Red Campion X Stellaria holostea Greater Stitchwort X Celastaceae Spindle-tree Family Euonymus europaeus Spindle-tree X X X Fabaceae Pea Family Lotus corniculatus Bird's-foot Trefoil X Trifolium pratense Red Clover X X X X Trifolium repens White Clover X Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch X Vicia sativa Common Vetch X X X Fagaceae Beech Family Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak X X X X X X X X X Lamiaceae Dead-nettle Family Glechoma hederacea Ground-ivy X X X X X X X X X Lamiastrum galeobdolon Yellow Archangel X Lamium album White Dead-nettle X X X X X X X X X X X Oleaceae Olive Family Fraxinus excelsior Ash X X X X Onagraceae Evening Primrose Family

The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire Tour Report

Scientific name Common name April - May - June Plants 12 15 19 22 26 29 4 6 10 13 17 24 7 Epilobium hirsutum Greater Willowherb X X X X Plantaginaceae Plantain Family Plantago major Greater Plantain X X Primulaceae Prinrose Family Hottonia palustris Water-violet X Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup X X X Ranunculus aquatilis Common Water-crowfoot X Rosaceae Rose Family Crataegus laevigata Midland Hawthorn X X X X X X X Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn X X X X X X X X X X Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet X X X X Potentilla anserina Silverweed X X Prunus spinosa Blackthorn X X X X X X X X X X X Rosa canina agg Dog Rose X X X X X X X X X X X Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble X X X X X X X X X X X Salicaceae Willow Family Salix caprea Goat Willow X X Salix cinerea Grey Willow X Salix fragilis Crack Willow X X X X X X X X X X X Urticaceae Nettle Family Urtica dioica Stinging Nettle X X X X X X X X X X Veronicaceae Speedwell Family Veronica persica Common Field-speedwell X Monocots Monocotyledons Areaceae Arum Family

The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire Tour Report

Scientific name Common name April - May - June Plants 12 15 19 22 26 29 4 6 10 13 17 24 7 Arum maculatum Lords-and-Ladies X X X Asparagaceae Bluebell Family Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell X Cyperaceae Sedge Family Carex riparia Greater Pond Sedge X X X X Iridaceae Iris Family Iris pseudacorus Yellow Flag X X Orchidaceae Orchid Family Orchis mascula Early-purple Orchid X Poaceae Grass Family Phragmites australis Common Reed X X X X X X X X X X X Typhaceae Reedmace Family Typha latifolia Reedmace or Bulrush X X X X X X

The Wildlife of Otmoor, Oxfordshire Tour Report

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