Kites and Harriers at Otmoor

20th December 2022

On our last visit on the 28th October the numbers of wildfowl, apart from the resident Canadas and Grelags, were still very low and today we were expecting the numbers to have gone up several-fold. Sadly this was not the case and it was disappointing to see this huge superb wetland reserve virtually devoid of birds, so we made our way straight to the 1st screen.

There were more ducks here than on the rest of the reserve together, but even then just a handful of Teal and a small group of Shoveler.

But there is normally plenty going on here and today it was some Reed Buntings enjoying the seeds on the Phragmites heads.

Also one or two Lapwings with the sun making the most of their kaleidoscope plumage.

Even Mute Swans can't always agree!!!

But then the first part of the cabaret arrived when a Red Kite circled lazily over the reed bed. How great it is to have these magnificent bids back as a common breeding species in England.

I can never tire of photographing these magnificent birds.

And now for the Marsh Harriers. During the summer months there were two pairs present on site, but today only one pair visited the reed bed. This is  the male bird. 

It appears to be quite young with a dark head and considerable amount of barring on the primaries. 

The female appears to be in near-adult plumage.

Well, we leave Otmoor today with mixed feelings. The main worry is the lack of wildfowl and the concern is that the huge impact of Avian Flu is not confined to seabird colonies where the effect is more visble. On the other hand we had a superb couple of hours with these amazing birds of prey and will probably return in the summer.