May Days

Spent yesterday morning at Otmoor and this morning at Farmoor. Here's a few pics, sounds and notes:

Farmoor

The second-calender year Bonaparte's Gull was present again this morning

Turnstone 

Common Sandpiper- one of three

Only one Black Tern left from the 17 that were present yesterday 

Juvenile Pied Wagtail- so far this year I've also seen Song Thrush, Blackbird, Mallard, Greylag and Canada Geese chicks with Starlings young squawking at the Old Vic. Seems the cool dry April hasn't slowed things down for the breeding birds?

Bonaparte's Gull 'finder's views'

This distinctive structure should set off alarm bells from hundreds of yards in poor light- the 'dwarf' structure, comparatively paddle-ish wings and translucency in the remiges should get the heart going on views like this 

The black edging to the primaries and translucency to the remiges is obvious even in poor light. The compact structure is distinctive.

Size comparison with Black-headed

Otmoor

Three Hobby on greenaways. 

At least two Cuckoos about. Also the Temminck's was still present. 

Fallow Deer on way to Otmoor 

A couple of sound recordings at Otmoor: How many species can you hear? There's at least Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Wren, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cuckoo and Willow Warbler in these two recordings.