AN AFTERNOON'S BIRDING AT OTMOOR RSPB-OXFORDSHIRE

After visiting a couple of weeks ago to see a long-staying American Golden Plover, I returned to Otmoor RSPB this afternoon after work, hoping to catch up with a Black-winged Stilt that had been present over the last few days.

American Golden Plover

Otmoor RSPB

I’d missed two birds on my old patch at Ashton’s Flash in Northwich, Cheshire, last week, with working away, so I was keen to connect this time, especially with the recent influx of Black-winged Stilts across Britain, with birds reported in multiple counties, including a group of seven on St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly.

On arrival, the stilt hadn’t been seen for a few hours, but I managed to refind it at the back of a small pool, quietly feeding, well worth the wait.

Black-winged Stilt

The Black-winged Stilt remains a scarce but increasingly regular visitor to the UK, occurring mainly as a passage migrant in spring and early summer. Most records fall between April and June, when birds overshoot from their core breeding range in southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Smaller numbers can also appear later in the summer and early autumn, sometimes involving post-breeding dispersal.

In recent years, however, the species has begun to establish a tentative foothold as a breeding bird in Britain. Occasional nesting attempts have been recorded, most notably at wetland reserves in southern and eastern England, with a handful of successful broods raising hopes of future colonisation. These breeding events are often linked to favourable conditions such as suitable shallow wetland habitat and warm spring weather, which mirror the species’ traditional breeding environments further south.

While still far from guaranteed, the sight of Black-winged Stilts in the UK is becoming less exceptional, reflecting broader patterns of range expansion seen in several wetland species across Europe.

Moving on, I enjoyed great views of three Glossy Ibis, but the real surprise came when I found myself completely captivated by nine Hobbies hawking over the reedbed. An incredible sight and one I hadn’t expected to see at all.

Glossy Ibis

The Glossy Ibis has become an increasingly regular visitor to the UK, with most records occurring on spring passage from April to June, and smaller numbers appearing later in summer. Once a rarity, it is now seen annually, often linked to expanding populations in southern Europe. In recent years, there have also been a handful of breeding attempts in southern England, including some successful broods. While still scarce, the species appears to be on the cusp of becoming a regular breeding bird in Britain.

Hobby

The Eurasian Hobby is a summer visitor to the UK, arriving mainly in April and May after wintering in Africa. 

It is now a well-established breeding bird across much of England and parts of Wales, favouring a mix of open feeding areas and nearby woodland for nesting. Numbers have increased in recent decades, and it is now a regular feature of the UK summer.

A brilliant afternoon with some top-quality birds on show.