Birds
A big thank you to everyone who turned out for the annual College Lake and
Otmoor Bird Race. This was the first year the race has been held at Otmoor, 8
teams battled it out for the prestigious trophy.
Due to the dry conditions on the reserve, bird watchers had to work especially
hard to find as many species as possible. In total 70 species were found by all
the teams which is a fantastic effort. The winning team Peter's Pals found an
impressive 59 species, although the tricky Canada goose eluded them!
The bird race record is 60 species, which was at College Lake, so Otmoor will
have to try again in 2013 to beat that impressive total.
All the sponsorship money that will be raised from the event will go towards
BBOWT and the RSPB. I would also like to thank Barry Oxley and the Otmoor and
College Lake volunteers for all their hard work organising the event.
Next year the Race will return to College Lake, where Peter's Pals will be
defending their trophy form the reigning College Lake champions the Double D's.
David Wilding
-
A kingfisher seen at the fountain in the main quad of Christ Church College, Oxford, at 12:00 today. The bird flew back over the college towards the river. (per Tommaso Pizzari)...
- Dry Sandford Pit: 2nd December
Dry Sandford Pit Hawfinch: Found by Colin Williams on the BBOWT bird race. Jarrod Hadfield...
- Balscote: 29th April
Balscote Dotterel: Still this afternoon in the usual place. 2 Whimbrel Whinchat Little Ringed Plover 4 Wheatear: 2 of which looked really good for Greenland 'leucorhoa' race birds (big, upright and very bright buff wash undersides). 2 Yellow...
- Otmoor Raptor Display
2.30 Left car park to immediate views of ring-tailed Hen Harrier playing like a cat with a vole(?) for at least 5 minutes in The Closes; giving very close views for those in the hide. BBWOT bird race team arrived and left with two new species under belt;...
- Oriental Turtle Dove In Chipping Norton In December!!!!
Last night I received the following photos from Richard Thewlis of the BTO of a bird taken in a Chipping Norton garden during the snowy period before Christmas, by BTO GardenBirdwatch participant, John Dunleavy. They clearly show a 1st winter Oriental...
Birds
Otmoor Bird Race
A big thank you to everyone who turned out for the annual College Lake and
Otmoor Bird Race. This was the first year the race has been held at Otmoor, 8
teams battled it out for the prestigious trophy.
Due to the dry conditions on the reserve, bird watchers had to work especially
hard to find as many species as possible. In total 70 species were found by all
the teams which is a fantastic effort. The winning team Peter's Pals found an
impressive 59 species, although the tricky Canada goose eluded them!
The bird race record is 60 species, which was at College Lake, so Otmoor will
have to try again in 2013 to beat that impressive total.
All the sponsorship money that will be raised from the event will go towards
BBOWT and the RSPB. I would also like to thank Barry Oxley and the Otmoor and
College Lake volunteers for all their hard work organising the event.
Next year the Race will return to College Lake, where Peter's Pals will be
defending their trophy form the reigning College Lake champions the Double D's.
David Wilding
-
A kingfisher seen at the fountain in the main quad of Christ Church College, Oxford, at 12:00 today. The bird flew back over the college towards the river. (per Tommaso Pizzari)...
- Dry Sandford Pit: 2nd December
Dry Sandford Pit Hawfinch: Found by Colin Williams on the BBOWT bird race. Jarrod Hadfield...
- Balscote: 29th April
Balscote Dotterel: Still this afternoon in the usual place. 2 Whimbrel Whinchat Little Ringed Plover 4 Wheatear: 2 of which looked really good for Greenland 'leucorhoa' race birds (big, upright and very bright buff wash undersides). 2 Yellow...
- Otmoor Raptor Display
2.30 Left car park to immediate views of ring-tailed Hen Harrier playing like a cat with a vole(?) for at least 5 minutes in The Closes; giving very close views for those in the hide. BBWOT bird race team arrived and left with two new species under belt;...
- Oriental Turtle Dove In Chipping Norton In December!!!!
Last night I received the following photos from Richard Thewlis of the BTO of a bird taken in a Chipping Norton garden during the snowy period before Christmas, by BTO GardenBirdwatch participant, John Dunleavy. They clearly show a 1st winter Oriental...