Magic Moments with Birds

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Magic Moments with Birds Helping you experience wonderful birdlife in memorable settings.

Here is a fun animated short video on identifying UK woodpeckers. With thanks to the BTO.
21/02/2025

Here is a fun animated short video on identifying UK woodpeckers. With thanks to the BTO.

Heard a lot of noisy pecking in the woods at this time of year? Want to learn more about Woodpeckers ? In this episode we will be looking at Green Woodpecker...

Bird identification: Why hearing birds is as important as seeing them (and the unfortunate reality of advancing age).
11/02/2025

Bird identification: Why hearing birds is as important as seeing them (and the unfortunate reality of advancing age).

It has occurred to our columnist that his hearing might not be what it used to be – and it's time to do something about it.

Last year I was asked to contribute to an online resource being produced by the Diocese of Oxford as part of a series on...
30/01/2025

Last year I was asked to contribute to an online resource being produced by the Diocese of Oxford as part of a series on creation named 'Called to Wonder.' Here is the finished video and also a link to the series. I hope you enjoy watching, and listening - as of course you do when birdwatching!
https://vimeo.com/oxforddiocese/review/1005420890/b8e7513d20
https://learn.oxford.anglican.org/course/info.php?id=530

Where do you see God in the small, everyday things? Where do you feel most connected with God in creation? What leaves you in awe or fascinates you?

Join us on Sunday as we explore some lesser-known parts of the Lower Windrush Valley where wintering birds can be found ...
30/01/2025

Join us on Sunday as we explore some lesser-known parts of the Lower Windrush Valley where wintering birds can be found on lakes, in fields and hedgerows.

Find Meetup events so you can do more of what matters to you. Or create your own group and meet people near you who share your interests.

We're back at Lee Abbey on Exmoor again this year for some more Magic Moments With Birds. See pages 32 & 34 of this year...
14/01/2025

We're back at Lee Abbey on Exmoor again this year for some more Magic Moments With Birds. See pages 32 & 34 of this year's programme, and join us if you can - there are still a few places left!

Join us this Saturday as we go in search of wintering wildfowl and other birds at Rushy Common, a hidden gem of a reserv...
11/11/2024

Join us this Saturday as we go in search of wintering wildfowl and other birds at Rushy Common, a hidden gem of a reserve. Sign up via Meetup.
https://www.meetup.com/magic-moments-with-birds/events/304509300/

**Rushy Common** is fast becoming one of Oxfordshire's leading birdwatching spots. Situated in the **Lower Windrush Valley** south of Witney, it takes in a number of former

Join us as we return to a favourite site this Saturday! Autumn Birdwatching at Blenheim Estate.Sign up via
06/11/2024

Join us as we return to a favourite site this Saturday! Autumn Birdwatching at Blenheim Estate.
Sign up via

**Join me on an autumn birdwatching visit to the stunning parkland of the Blenheim Palace Estate.** Our last visit to this side of the park was in February so this visit is

See the latest blog on the new Magic Moments With Birds blog site. How birding is good for your mental health: https://t...
11/10/2024

See the latest blog on the new Magic Moments With Birds blog site. How birding is good for your mental health: https://tinyurl.com/y59kw87u

The Westminster parliament inexplicably failed to legislate for the provision of Swift bricks in new builds. Help the We...
04/10/2024

The Westminster parliament inexplicably failed to legislate for the provision of Swift bricks in new builds. Help the Welsh Parliament to show the way by signing this petition now! https://tinyurl.com/592c28dx

Swifts are the fastest birds in level flight and can sleep, eat, drink and mate on the wing. Their cries define Welsh summers. Sadly, they are rapidly declining – down 72% in the last 30 yrs. Swifts nest in holes in buildings. Renovation makes them homeless, and new-builds currently offer no cavit...

This week saw a group from Magic Moments With Birds exploring the birdlife of Poole Harbour. Despite some rather incleme...
07/09/2024

This week saw a group from Magic Moments With Birds exploring the birdlife of Poole Harbour. Despite some rather inclement weather we visited some terrific hidden spots and recorded some good sightings, including Osprey fishing, Whimbrel passing through and an abundance of migrating Wheatears. Here is just a sample from our time together.

07/09/2024

Sitting on the southern edge of Colchester, the Middlewick Ranges is a former Ministry of Defence firing range that has become a much-loved wildlife space in an increasingly congested city. Locally known as ‘the Wick’, this 76ha mosaic of flowery acid grassland, sandy slopes, scrub, woodland and...

What's with all this fuss? I'd rather be birding anyway ...(with thanks to the RSPB)
27/08/2024

What's with all this fuss? I'd rather be birding anyway ...
(with thanks to the RSPB)

More information on the local 'white' Marsh Harriers.
13/08/2024

More information on the local 'white' Marsh Harriers.

Two strikingly plumaged juvenile Western Marsh Harriers have been seen in Oxfordshire in recent weeks. The birds have been observed regularly at Otmoor RSPB throughout July and stand out due to their wings, back, belly and tail feathers being heavily marked with white. According to observers, one of...

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Videos

Turtle Dove purring
Turtle Dove purring

The gentle purring sound of the Turtle Dove is incredibly rare now in the UK. I was pleased to capture it today at Wrabness in Essex, the first one I’ve encountered for several years. The birds were very elusive and mainly stayed hidden in the foliage.

Out this evening in Dunster Forest with some of the group from our week at Lee Abbey Devon. We were treated to incredible views of Nightjars flying around us and churring in trees very close to us. Here’s a clip of one just warming up its vocal chords with the accompaniment of a Tawny Owl in the background. Magical!

Today’s bird tally from walking in the woods on the Lee Abbey Devon estate, as well as in the Valley of Rocks. Unfortunately the wind direction put paid to our planned boat trip, but great views of acrobatic Peregrine falcons were a consolation. Here’s the group enjoying parts of the walk. Hopefully some bird pictures to come later in the week.

Reed warbler
Reed warbler

Reed warbler singing from a ditch yesterday. Wherever there are reeds they are taking up residence in May. They are also often chosen as host parents by cuckoos! Join one of our walks to learn your spring warbler songs.

Another great day out with the group from Sheldon Retreat at Seaton Wetlands. Another good tally of birds including an elusive Water Rail and an unexpected Bar headed Goose. #wildeastdevon boasts a gem of a reserve with easy access for all and lots to see. We hope to be back!

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Magic Moments with Birds

Our encounters with birds can often be very special and evoke magical memories for us. It may be seeing an owl hunting for the first time or hearing the song of a nightingale, or perhaps getting up close to seabirds that you may not have encountered before. It is my aim to help the visitor tap into something of this sense of wonder as collectively we explore special places in the countryside. At the end of our time together my desire is that people leave with memories of exceptional experiences and a desire to discover more about our beautiful bird and wildlife.

Andrew Mann is a lifelong birder who spent three years on Exmoor with the Lee Abbey Community. During this time he took guests at the Conference Centre on bird identification walks, presented illustrated talks and produced the handbook ’The Birds of Lee Abbey Devon’. Since his time on Community, he has been back there to lead groups out exploring Exmoor further and running other birding weeks in Devon and further afield. Now residing in Oxfordshire, Andrew is a Committee member of the Oxford Ornithological Society and runs a Wildlife Group called 'Wild About Oxford' which arranges walks and talks locally.

Andrew is available to lead groups of guests at your centre or hotel and is happy to discuss the practicalities of how this could work in your location. He is also available to act as a birdwatching guide tailored to your requirements.