A ring ouzel has been reported at the Blakehill Nature reserve near Cricklade for the past few days so as today was my first opportunity, I got up in good time and was at the reserve by a quarter to eight in beautiful morning sunshine.
I knew roughly the area it had been seen so walked down the main track and then went through a gate in the fencing and followed a narrower path through some rough grassland. I saw a few whinchats perched up on some tall grasses and then a common whitethroat singing near some brambles, where it looked as if a female might be nest building.
Other birds seen included skylarks, stonechats, reed buntings and a barn owl.
However, I did not see any sign of the ring ouzel until I saw a dark bird flying ahead of me and over into a neighbouring field out of sight. I just about got a view of what looked like a white crescent across its breast. However, I needed a better sighting to be sure.
I took a different path through a wide gate and looked across to where I thought it may have gone. I couldn't see anything at first but then noticed a bird on a grassy area in front of some trees some way off A look through my binoculars confirmed its identity but then it moved behind some grassy tussocks. While waiting for the ring ouzel to reappear, I spotted a group of cattle being driven along the track which I thought may be directed into the field where I was. Not wanting to get mixed up with them I reluctantly left and returned to the main track further up. Thankfully the cows who had very young calves with them, were put in the next field so I was able to return to my to my original position. However, I never saw the ring ouzel again so had to be satisfied with having seen it just the once with no photograph to prove it.
After leaving Blakehill, I drove over to Cricklade to see if the snakes head fritillaries were in bloom in North Meadow Reserve. Some years ago the meadow was full of these purple flowers but today they were rather a disappointment. I'm unsure if they are not yet at their peak, but there did not seem to be that many flowers, and some looked wilted and had gone over. Most people I spoke to agreed. The weather probably affects them, in fact sometimes the field is so flooded that they hardly flower at all.
Whilst at Blakehill, someone told me of a pair of grey wagtails that were nesting near a bridge at Waterhay so as it was close by I decided to add this stop to my morning's itinerary. I soon saw them but only briefly so I then thought I may as well walk along the path from the car park itself as it is a good space to spot warblers at this time of year. The hedgerows seemed full of birdsong and I even heard a cuckoo in the distance. Birds seen and/or heard included chiffchaff, willow warbler, garden warbler, whitethroat, blackcap.
