Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - Short-eared Owls
This weekend just gone I actually managed two birding outings. In the morning I took my son L out to Otmoor RSPB reserve which I'd not actually been to so far. Due to current road works the access road is normally shut except on a Sunday so I thought I'd better get down there. It was extremely muddy and I had to drag the pushchair through the mud patches which my wife was none too impressed with when I returned. It was worth it though as it's an amazing birding location. I didn't see any great rarities but saw some reed buntings and snipe for my year list. There was a peregrine about (which I missed) and also some water rails showing well (again I missed them). Still it was great to get down there and I will definitely go again.
Later that afternoon my younger daughter B had a birthday party to go to down in Abingdon so the rest of us were looking for something to do in the area whilst she partied. Eventually we decided on a visit to the Ridgeway at West Ilsely. It was perfect weather with great views. Also it was an opportunity for me to pick up some year ticks in farmland countryside and I was able to see a corn bunting, a yellow hammer and at least four short-eared owls. I'd known that it was a hot-spot for SEO's but hadn't realised how easy it was to see them! If you're there at the right time you see them in all directions almost! Anyway, I'd only ever seen SEO's once as a boy so it was a real treat to see them again.
The next day I had to pick up a spare part for my tripod so I stopped off at Tadpole Bridge which is a well-known hot-spot for tree sparrows. Sure enough I quickly managed to find several of these nice birds and got a pretty close look at them.
My year list has moved on nicely now (by my standards anyway).
080 Reed Bunting
081 Snipe
082 Corn Bunting
083 Short-eared Owl
084 Yellowhammer
085 Tree sparrow
|
|
Post A Comment!
|
|
About Me
I used to be a birder in my youth but rather lost interest in my teens as other things became more interesting. However recently I've rediscovered this interest and would like to share my sightings and thoughts in this blog.
Friends
|
