Otmoor trip

A trip to Otmoor.

Today we visited Oxfordshire at the RSPB Reserve of Otmoor.

Weather conditions today a little gloomy but still a good selection of birds to see.

A walk to the first hide produced Treecrepper, Nuthatch, Marsh tit, Coal tit, Great spotted woodpecker and a Green woodpecker flew from the tree tops ahead of us.

At the hide around 300 small birds were feeding on the grain that is being put out for the birds over the winter months these included 100 Reed buntings, 80 Linnets, 40 Goldfich, 40 Chaffinch, 10 Yellowhammer along with 4 Bullfinch 2 Greenfinch and a single Brambling. With the arrival of a Sparrowhawk all the birds took flight and disappeared returning after about ten minutes.

Moving off to the first screen we had close views of Teal, Wigeon and Tufted duck out on the water along with around 6 Snipe hiding at the edge of the reeds.

Here we had our first view of Marsh harrier along with a single Kestrel and a fly past Bittern always a good bird to see.

We returned at the end of the day to the first screen to watch the Starlings coming into roost around 100,000 birds what a noise when you are so close to them, we saw a couple more Marsh harriers on the look out for an easy meal as the starlings moved over the top of the reedbed.

Another good day out in the field with some wonderful birds seen. DT