Week 30

23 – 29 July 2025

During my big year, I will update my blog most weeks. This is the thirtieth week’s recap. This week, we took some more time off to go to Oxford. The number next to the day indicates my year list at the end of that day. Birds written in italics indicate year ticks.

July 26 - Day 207: 192

After waking up at 6am this morning, my dad and I went to my local patch, when we're in Oxford: Otmoor RSPB. Over the past few weeks, a Glossy Ibis had been seen. We arrived at 25 past 6, being some of the first on-site. Before long, a couple of white birds flew over the wetlands; Cattle Egret. We kept walking, until we arrived at the first screen. Due to the drought in the region at the moment, there were a couple muddy banks, where a pair of Little Ringed Plovers were feeding. In the tree at the centre of the pond were countless Cattle Egrets and some Cormorants. Swimming in the deeper water was a Great Crested Grebe, with its chick on its back, a Pochard, Mallards, and a Gadwall. Suddenly, a flash of blue landed on an overhanging branch, Kingfisher! We said goodbye to the birders there and walked to the second screen, spotting a Gatekeeper butterfly on the way. Once we had arrived, we immediately noticed the Common Terns, that were nesting on a platform. While I was setting up my scope, I took interest in a dark bird, wading through the shallows. My dad asked if it was the ibis. I lifted my binoculars and, low and behold, the Glossy Ibis was there! I got some great digiscoped photos, as it waded near an area of reeds. Back at the first screen, we let the other birders know of the Ibis at the other screen, and sat down to see if any other birds had turned up. We saw some Snipe, Lapwing, and Marsh Harriers. Back near the car park, we met some other birders, watching a Cetti's Warbler.

July 27 - Day 208: 193

On our way to London Luton Airport, to pick up my grandpa, we stopped at Wilstone Reservoir, near Aylesbury, for a bit of birding. It was very hot when we arrived, and we had to put on a lot of sun cream, but it was worth it. I saw Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, a Pochard, Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gull, from my first scan. We walked along the bank, spotting Little Egrets, Little Ringed Plovers, a Lapwing, and some Common Terns. We walked around to the perpendicular bank, where we saw many of the same species, as well as a Grey Heron.

With still some time to kill, we went to BBOWT College Lake, where we saw the same kinds of bird, as well as a Hobby.

July 28 - Day 209: 194

The next day, while my dad went to work, my grandpa and I walked to Port Meadow, after a reasonable walk, we arrived. I was immediately surprised by the free-roaming cattle and horses, they didn't seem to bother much about the people, but they would not stop walking right in front of my scope! As I scanned some geese in the distance, I noticed a couple of Egyptian Geese and a Greylag x Barnacle Goose. Other than some more Egyptian Geese and their chicks, and many Pied wagtails, there wasn't much to be seen.

Day 207: https://ebird.org/checklist/S262757321

Day 208: https://ebird.org/checklist/S263203793 ; https://ebird.org/checklist/S263205239

Day 209: https://ebird.org/checklist/S263338615