Sparrowhawk at Maple Lodge

A late morning visit was timed perfectly when activity peaked at the resident Sparrowhawk nest. The female, present at the nest, became restless and flew away briefly before returning moments later with prey. I think the male bird had deposited the prey item close by for his mate to retrieve. She tore away flesh from the carcass rapidly before delicately feeding her four young. Towards the end of the feeding frenzy the young became boisterous and jostled for the last morsels of food.

 

RSPB Otmoor

A late morning visit provided the following species:-
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (2), Mute Swan (2 pairs with cygnets), Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Red Kite (5), Marsh Harrier (2), Common Buzzard (2), Common Kestrel (pair), Eurasian Hobby (2), Common Pheasant, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern (2), Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove (1), Common Cuckoo (1), Common Swift, Common Skylark, Barn Swallow, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Grasshopper Warbler (1), Cetti's Warbler (1), Sedge Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Common Bullfinch, Common Reed Bunting.

A lovely male Turtle Dove was heard calling and remained just long enough for me to acquire a record photo.

It began to get quite hot and humid which in turn became ideal weather for insects including several biting Horse Flies!

                                                          Blue-tailed Damselfly.

                                                           Large Red Damselfly.

                                                                Scorpion Fly.


 

Black Redstarts at Heathrow Airport

I have been fortunate to see Black Redstarts regularly at my place of work for the past 28 years. This year I managed to photograph a pair feeding young at the nest located in the aircraft hangar where I work. A total of five juveniles are present and I'm hopeful the young will have fledged in a few days. We also have a pair of Carrion Crow that have nested in the roof of the hangar with one of the young now roaming free throughout the night.