All through January and into February

Common Snipe second screen. (c) Bark

This is often the darkest, coldest and least attractive month. This year it has been dryer, sunnier and slightly warmer than usual.

Wren beside the second screen (c) Bark

The dryness is of some concern to the reserve as during these wet winter months we store water in the reedbed and lagoons. It is then released slowly to keep the fields wetted up for the benefit of breeding waders during the spring and early summer. The reedbed has been cut as part of its annual management and the views from the first screen have been widened and more pools have been opened up to sight.

The numbers of both Lapwings and Golden Plovers have steadily built up during the month and once again flocks in their thousands are flushing up from the fields in response to threats both real and imagined.

Lapwing over the screens (c) Bark

The flocks are difficult to count and often the Golden Plovers fly much higher than the Lapwings and are barely visible to the naked eye. It may well be that the Dotterel that was found on the last day of 2021 is still attached to one or other of the Golden Plover flocks but to find and identify we need to see them on the ground, and they are very flighty and often a long way out on the fields.

Water Rail in the ditch beside the bridleway (c) Bark

The flocks are being flushed in response to the number of raptors that are currently  present across the moor. There have been three Peregrines, a ring-tailed Hen Harrier and our regular three Marsh Harriers.

Marsh Harrier (c) JR

There has also been Kestrels, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks and very irregular and unpredictable visits from a Merlin. Seen most recently yesterday (Sunday 6th Feb.) perched on a post near to the hide. I have also had a report of two Short-eared Owls, hunting across the MOD fields in the late afternoon.

Commuting wildfowl (c) Bark

Wildfowl are commuting between the reedbed Lagoons and water bodies on Ashgrave, Big Otmoor and The Flood. Wigeon are feeding out on grassy areas adjacent to pools into which they can retreat if they sense danger. At least one Shelduck is present as it has been since January 1^st. Occasional small parties of  Pintail are being seen with them spending most of their time on big Otmoor and The Flood.

Yellowhammer and Linnet (c) Bark

The feeding regime beside the hide is proving to be very beneficial to seed eating birds now that supplies of natural food in the wild is mostly exhausted. The essential small seeds that used to be abundant in field margins and stubble fields no longer exist, as a result of modern farming practices. Fresh seeds will not reappear until early summer once the weedy plants have flowered and set seed.

Brambling and Chaffinch (c) Bark

There is quite a large flock of Linnets, Chaffinches and Reed Buntings present and this weekend there were ten Yellowhammers amongst them, Goldfinches, two Bullfinches and one female Brambling. There had been a report of four Bramblings earlier in the week.

Redpoll beside the bridleway (c) Bark

The weather has remained warmer than usual and there are the first signs of spring beginning to appear it gives me a lift to see the Snowdrops in flower in the car park field.

The days are just beginning to get longer and the very first of our breeding waders are starting to appear. Last week a Redshank was seen out on Big Otmoor, and we heard one calling on Saturday morning. Two Curlew were on the MOD ground on Friday perhaps a week or so earlier than we would normally expect them, although one did appear last year at the beginning of January.

Common Snipe at the first screen (c) Bark

On Saturday we counted over fifty Common Snipe from the northern and southern lagoon margins. On both days this weekend and last weekend  at the second screen, there was one particular bird hunkered down in a tiny inlet just in front of us at the water’s edge.

Super-close Snipe (c) Bark

It was very close indeed and yet somehow seemed to be able to appear and disappear at will!

Super-close closeup. (c) Darrell Woods

We are looking out now for the return of the Cranes from Somerset where they have been over-wintering. It will be fascinating to see if they bring their youngster with them, as we expect them to do. They will then probably try to push it away as they set about nesting again. In spring last year, we had five Cranes on and around the moor. Although only one pair attempted to breed, we understand from the experts that there should be enough space to accommodate at least three breeding territories in the Otmoor basin.

Close encounter of the vulpine kind (c) Bark