April 2026

The best bird for me this month was the Long-tailed Duck that spent a day at Blenheim on the 19th. Although I'd seen it twice at Rushy Common earlier in the year, a Blenheim record was very welcome and the first since February 1973. I didn't intend on visiting that day so have Simon M to thank for having a run round the park and spotting it. I had some nice views of it in the evening light as it spent time with a few Tufted Ducks on the main lake. It was also great to hear it calling frequently, and not a sound I've heard before. Sadly it departed overnight, presumably now leaving the county to realise it isn't a Tufted Duck after all. It is interesting to compare the plumage changes since I last saw it on 22nd February. The bill also looking more adult-like.

22nd February at Rushy Common

The next best bird this month at Blenheim was one I didn't see, a Ring Ouzel. Photos of it emerged on Facebook and surprisingly it was within the formal gardens near the cascades, not exactly where I'd have expected one and not an area of the park I visit very often. I hoped it might remain overnight but clear skies inevitably meant it moved on. However, a great record for the site and only the second ever. My excursion into the formal gardens did deliver a nice consolation prize in the shape of a Firecrest, only my second here after one earlier in the spring. I saw it again later in the month and it seems to be holding territory and affords some great views. It is behind a pay wall though so you'd need to buy your way in to see it!

The other surprising discovery when I was in the formal gardens was there are in fact two drake Wood Ducks present at the moment. I had seen one a couple of times in the preceding weeks on the Queen Pool and in flight, but hadn't realised there were two! Although no doubt escapes, they are stunning birds. Perhaps some Wood x Mandarin hybrids might result?!

The other duck species of note at Blenheim is the continued presence of a pair of Red-crested Pochards. They were joined on a couple of days by a second drake, and by the end of the month the male of the pair was mostly alone on the main lake with the female perhaps now likely on incubating duties. That would be a nice breeding record. Whether they've got used to the regular sight of people now I'm not sure, but they can be very approachable. 

Crossbills and Brambling continued into April with it seeming likely some Crossbills have probably bred. Most sightings are in flight and a party of seven one morning could possibly have been parents with young. It would be nice to try and get some decent views to confirm if any juveniles are present. Fieldfares also lingered into the middle of the month with flocks of up to 200 in North Park, feeding before heading off to their breeding grounds.

I've done well for Wheatears this month, seeing them nicely at Blenheim, Ardley and the area north of Woodstock. Last year was quite a disappointing spring for them so safe to say this year made up for it for me. One of those I saw at Blenheim was particularly confiding as it fed in one of the sheep fields mere feet away. Similarly, a male at Ardley was not fussed by my presence. 

My other spring favourite are Yellow Wagtails, and a fair few passed through Blenheim during the month, each subtly different.

I had an interesting female at Ardley at the end of the month which was strikingly blue/grey headed. There seems a fair chance it has some nominate flava in it, but ultimately with the amount of variation and intergrades, it's impossible to say with a bird like this. 

Otmoor delivered me another county tick with the American Golden Plover in the middle of the month. The new scrapes on Ashgrave look great and are clearly pulling in some good birds as the rest of the month showed with Whimbrel, Wood Sandpipers and the Black-winged Stilt. Hopefully the good run continues into May. 

Some more shots from the month...