CUTTLE BROOK LOCAL NATURE RESERVE CURRENT SIGHTINGS
Heinzl,Fitter, Parslow © Harper Collins 1995 Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterstrom © Harper Collins 1999
A flock of some 50 or more Corn Buntings can be observed descending on the Nature Reserve sedge beds in late evening to roost for the night. The best time to see them is at dusk, when you may first hear them assembling in trees nearby by their distinctive ‘quitt, quitt-it-it’ call. A smaller number of Reed Buntings, also roost there, looking for a safe haven. The flocks fly in groups down from trees into the sedges at nightfall. Other recent visitors to the sedge beds have been three snipe, seen together on the cut area below the tip-site edge. These birds frequent our sedge beds because the soft, wet soil is ideal for them to probe for food with their long narrow beaks and they feel safe from intrusion there. To protect the birds and encourage them to stay, we ask dog walkers not to allow their pets to go into the sedge bed area at any time.
Cuttle Brook Local Nature Reserve is owned by Thame Town Council and managed by Cuttle Brook Conservation Volunteers