A total of 102 species were recorded during 2013 at
Grimsbury Woodland Nature Reserve, the reservoir and immediately surrounding
fields.
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| Great Crested Grebes displaying late winter |
Due to the woods’ small size and location it doesn't get too
many outstanding species but it does have an interesting assemblage of common
species. It often gets good numbers of Siskin and several Lesser Redpoll in the
winter periods. The early winter period of 2013 was particularly good for these
species. A wide variety of common warbler species breed in the wood. The first to arrive is Chiffchaff (10th
March) followed by several others including Garden Warbler. Sadly one of the
star species (particularly for Oxfordshire), Willow Tit, seems to no longer be
present in the wood with the last record in September 2012. A dead Barn Owl, which
probably perished in the poor weather, was found in the wood in January but is
an encouraging sign they are still hanging on in the general area. Tit flocks
congregating together in the autumn attract passing warblers and often Spotted
Flycatchers, which were recorded here in August.
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| Spotted Flycatcher |
The most obvious breeding species here is Rook
with 43 nests counted in the rookery. Evidence of other species breeding was a
bit under recorded but a Long-tailed Tit nest was found in early spring. There
are now 12 nest boxes in the woodland as nine new boxes were installed to join
the three put up by Thames Water. Hopefully these boxes will increase the
woodlands breeding population.
The reservoir attracts a range of species particularly on
passage but doesn't hold the duck species that it once did. Apart from
Mallards, all other duck species are scarce at best, so a drake Red-crested
Pochard in January and pair of Common Scoter in March were a couple of the star
species for the year.
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| Red-crested Pochard |
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| Common Scoters |
The most regular wader species recorded here is Common Sandpiper
and any other species are always a nice surprise. This year Oystercatcher,
Dunlin, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, and Green Sandpiper were seen, but in
my opinion the best species of the year was a flock of eight Whimbrel recorded
in April.
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| Little Ringed Plover |
Passage migrant passerines included White Wagtails, Rock Pipit and
Redstarts. Other passing species included Merlin, Arctic Tern, Osprey and
Little Egret.
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| White Wagtail |
The surrounding fields offer varying interest through the
year. This year a pair of Little Owls took up residence and stayed through to
May – indicating they may have bred but this was not confirmed. Snipe gather in
the wetter fields in winter and in January were accompanied by at least one
Jack Snipe. Grasshopper Warbler is often heard reeling in the spring time but
breeding is not in evidence.
Of interest, two BTO ringed Mute Swans were recorded in the
area in 2013. Both had orange rings on the right leg with black letters – one
BAP and one BBG. BAP was ringed in Stratford-upon-Avon and BBG has not yet been
confirmed.
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| Mute Swan |
Other species of note include regular signs of Otter along
the River Cherwell and Oxford Canal and a Clouded Yellow butterfly seen at the
reservoir in August.
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| Otter footprint |
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| Otter spraint |
