Sunday 15th March (60 species - 93 for year)
The cold weather continued into Sunday with a visit to RSPB Otmoor - one of my favourite local birding spots. There's always some nice birds to be seen here.
As I left the car park, a pair of bullfinch flew across in front of me. In the first field, lapwings were already displaying and nest building.
As I made my way down to Greenaways, several reed bunting were feeding by gate. Careful scanning revealed several redshank and a single curlew. As I headed along the bridle path, I caught a tantalising glimpse of a large raptor before it dipped back into the reedbed. A few minutes later, it revealed itself as a stunning female marsh harrier, always a lovely bird to see.
The RSPB have spread seed on the track by the hide attracting large numbers of finches, buntings and a few stick dove. Among them were a few linnets. From the hide, a buzzard gave close views, whilst a large flock of geese in the distance held feral bar headed goose and ross goose.
The marsh harrier was soon back and scattering the waders, including a small flock of golden plover with a single dunlin. Careful scanning of the same field revealed a number of pintail swimming on a pool at the back.
Not a lot to see on the walk to the two screens, though a calling water rail was my first for the year. Two birders also showed me a photo they'd taken of a mink, which are never welcome.
The walk back to the car was quiet bar a hunting kestrel.
My last year tick was on my drive home when a red legged partridge decided at the last second not to commit suicide by running in front of my car.
No comments:
Post a Comment