FROSTY MORNING AT OTMOOR

It's been a while since I've written on this blog, but family matters have taken priority (new grandchild!). A cold but clear morning for my drive over to RSPB Otmoor where there was still frost in the patches not yet reached by the sun.

A fieldfare was in the hedge as I walked along the main track towards the bridleway. A glance at the feeders revealed goldfinch, chaffinch, blue tit and great tits. 

I made my way towards the wetland hide, where there were good views of linnet flocks, chaffinches, reed buntings and blue and great tits. Yellow hammers and bramblings are sometimes seen but I didn't see any today. 

reed bunting

linnet

 Next I walked the 500m to the first screen, on the way  I caught sight of a snipe flying, having been disturbed by a red kite. From the screen which overlooks an area of water, there were gadwalls, mallards, teals and shovelers. Also some snipe, a cormorant, moorhen, coot  and grey heron. 

female shoveler

male shoveler

snipe

 On my return to the carpark there were more red kites and a hovering kestrel. Stopping again at the feeders I saw male and female pheasants and a greater spotted woodpecker. 

Also an interestingly but effectively disguised birder!

With more sunshine forecast next week, hopefully I shall be able to get out and about again. 

A WALK AROUND FARMOOR RESERVOIR

Another lovely autumn day with sunshine, so I drove over to Farmoor Reservoir. It was very quiet, there was no sign of the female common scoter that has visited recently, but I did see a couple of dunlin feeding along the causeway, one of them seemed to have only one leg, and I began to wonder if it was injured as it was hopping along  on one leg at the edge of the water, but suddenly it put the other one down and continued to feed as normal! 

Plenty of coots, cormorants, tufted ducks and mallards, as well as a few little grebe. Also caught sight of a meadow pipit hiding on the other side of the railings. 

dunlin

this bird appeared to have only one leg but....

it suddenly recovered. see below!

meadow pipit