Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th November

Wickster,Two Eyes, Badger and Bark looking a bit smug. (c) David Wilding

and again.

A rather briefer posting this week as on Saturday we were defending our Birdrace title at College Lake Reserve in Bucks, against powerful local opposition, and on Sunday it rained solidly for the whole of my visit.
The Birdrace is held to raise money for Otmoor and for College Lake. Having entered for the first time last year when it held on Otmoor it seemed important to defend our title away from home on unfamiliar ground. We successfully held on to our title and look forward to the home match next year. College Lake is a delightful BBOWT reserve, which has excellent facilities and a range of different habitats. Most unusual sighting for us was a very late Swallow battling through the chill wind sweeping along the edge of the Chiltern escarpment.
Back on Otmoor Paul Greenaway found a Water Pipit out on the MOD land which is our one hundred and fiftieth species to be recorded on the moor this year. The Bearded Tits are still present being seen beside the path to the second screen. Hen Harrier is also still present, being seen on both days this weekend. Otter too has been seen from the first screen, often swimming along the main channel.
On Sunday morning I saw nothing but Canada Geese, Greylags and lots of rain. I will not be on the moor next weekend but hope that the weather will have improved by the time I get back down on the 17th.