Oxfordshire Golf Club

After watching the Pectoral Sandpiper we spent another hour or so wandering the paths around the course, plenty to see with two lakes and plenty of rough grass.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Buzzard

 

Never seen so many Little Grebes together, counted 24

Lapwings flew over then doubled back again

Ravens

At least 20 Meadow Pipits

1 of 3 Stonechats

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Another Sunday and we find ourselves back at the Oxfordshire Golf Club, the excuse this time is that a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper is here for a 3rd day. On arrival it was maybe about 30m away, but not for long as it flew towards us, settling on small muddy strip directly below our view point, c5m distance.

 

  

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

Garden Birds

A few photos from the last week in the garden.

Chiffchaff coming down to the pond to bath.

 This juvenile Goldfinch is feeding on Knapweed seeds.

Dunnock on the roof.

Song Thrush.

Female Blackcap.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

Hobby 

I had an amazing time watching a family of Hobbies, with the juveniles flying to and fro between two groups of trees as the parents hawked dragonflies over the reeds and open water, witnessed several mid-air food passes, as the youngsters called to be fed, all at super speed it was a job to keep the camera trained on them as they twisted and turned.

Images : Copyright Don Stone.

Phalarope & Shrike (Double Delight) 

Having had word that a Red - necked Phalarope had turned up on one of the lakes at the Oxfordshire Golf Club, a site I'd never visited before as I thought there was no public access, it seemed a good excuse to take a peek, so myself and Stewart headed over, with a couple of lakes and plenty of rough grass I shall definitely be returning. 

There's not much parking, but luckily Mike pulled forward and I parked in front blocking him in, a short 5 minute walk up the tarmac path, the Red- necked Phalarope was in the first lake though always distant, had a quick fly around, before mingling with a few Black - headed Gulls. A scarry few minutes occurred as a Lesser Black - backed Gull arrived on the scene, as we thought it maybe eyeing it up for an early lunch, it moved on from whence it came with the Phalarope unharmed.

Red - necked Phalarope accompanied by a Black - headed Gull. 

Thinking we were nearly half way to Eastleach Downs in the Cotswolds where the vagrant Long - tailed Shrike had taken up residence for the last eight weeks or so, as it went through it's annual moult, we quickly held an executive meeting and decided to give it a visit. Just over an hour later we pulled into the car park field, put our fiver in the charity collection box, had a chat with some one who said it was showing well, had a bit to eat.

A short 10 minute walk to the Shrike field.

The Shrike was hunting along the right hand field boundary, we watched it as it moved back and forth for about 40 minutes, sitting on various vantage points from which it would dive down onto it's insect prey, take it back to a perch and eat it. Amazing bird and so close, probably anywhere between 10 & 15m distance. 

Scanning for prey.

Caught a tasty morsel.

Coughing up a pellet. 

Time for a spot of preening.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.