Today myself and good chum Alex C went to RSPB Otmoor, to meet our fellow ex-BBOWT chum, Jamie, for a walk around and hopefully catch an amamzing starling murmeration.
I havent been to Otmoor since 2011, and that was my first time, but remember it fondly as a good walk around a vast expanse of reedbed and flooded fields and lagoons.
Bitterly cold today, we arrived at 2:30, successfully beating the rush to find a parking space. Otmoor is so popular for the murmurations that the RSPB actually says 'please dont visit on the weekend' on their website!
Otmoor is basically a long 'out and back' walk along a raised bank, with a nice hide halfway along, and a raised viewing area over the reeedbeds, for the murmurations.
We were greated with our first Marsh Harriers of the years, and large numbers of Reed Bunting, Linnet and a few Yellowhammer. Squealing Water Rail filled the ditches and then the real highlight, stonking views of a Bittern.
Sadly, despite seeing a massive flock of a couple of thousand starling in the distance, they kept flying West and dropped down somewhere else. Every now and then a group flew around the reedbeds and teased us that the others might return, but I think we peaked at a couple of dozen birds today. Almost one bird per person watching. Gadwall, Wigeon and a Pintail also flew over, as the Marsh Harrier continued to circle in the distance.
A Fieldfare entertained us briefly as we watch the sky, and the Bittern was still present on the walk back. And once again, the sky and sunset at Otmoor was as good as it was on my last visit 11 years ago.
Thanks guys. A top afternoon.
(click on pics to enlarge).
