Marsh Harriers at Otmoor

28th October 2022

A distinct autumnal feel as we walked through the scrubby area with all the trees in their yellows, reds and golds, and the Hawthorn trees full of berries. Last year we were here in mid-November and this area was full of winter thrushes, but this time were were probably a bit too early. In fact today it was eerily quiet. Even as we walked up the track the only birds on show were a Chaffinch, Great Tit and a handful of Blue Tits on the feeders. In fact the whole site was fairly quiet, probably due to a combination of the time of year and the dry summer as, even after the recent heavy rains, there was no standing water anywhere.

However, it was different world at the first screen as there was a good combination of water and mud and a number of birds taking advantage of it. The ducks were mainly represented by Mallard and Teal with plenty of activity every time a Red Kite or Marsh Harrier flew over.

The Mallards obviously thought it was the mating season with these two males having a very long and fierce fight but luckily no duck got harmed, only dented pride.

The Lapwings were just chilling out.................

...................until one got spooked and they all went.

Still a lovely spectacle in the sun.

Apart from the Lapwings there were only two species of wader present, a lone Dunlin and a dozen Snipe. The Dunlin was quite mobile and never really came close.

Neither did the Snipe, but being a bigger bird did produce some better results. Here is one preening.

And then, like the Lapwings, down to the local spa for some chill-out time, a preen and a bath.

And then for no obvious reason they all flew to another scrape.

Only three species of birds of prey today including this female Kestrel that was never far from the screen, but just before we were leaving hovered nearby in the sun.

There were a few Red Kites drifting around, mostly distant, but this one did buzz the screen providing some decent shots. Don't you just love it when screens are positioned with the sun behind you?

But now on to the star(s) of the show today, the Marsh Harriers. There are two pairs on the reserve and we saw a distant male when we were walking in, but the only birds that performed in front of the screen was a female or perhaps there were two.

Whether one or two birds they performed very well and even went into a hover at one point.

Well what a super day at this beautifully managed reserve and have probably got my best ever shots of a Marsh Harrier from the 1st screen. I expect we will be back a bit later in the winter when numbers have increased.