Blenheim and Otmoor 21/09/09
Bored of the local patch I thought I'd have a crack at the gull and Egret.
At Blenheim pretty early and Sabines nice and easy to find of the main lake. It flew around for a bit and then to the very south arm of the lake and difficult to view. c200 hirrundines dropped in and though I didn't go through every one all I looked at were Sand martin.
On Queen lake there was c20 Wigeon, a few Pochard, c30 Shoveller, a female Pintail and a Shellduck. I saw the Whitefronts it will be interesting to what LGRE makes of these as they could be wild Paciffic Whitefronted Geese. I just assumed they were plastic along with the 10 Snow geese, 8 Egyptian and a hybrid.
Over at Otmoor the 2 Marsh harriers were seen on the closes with plenty of Meadow pipits and a Golden plover heard overhead. As usual Cetti's were singing strongly along the bridal path and a Water rail calling from the ditch. A hobby was hawking over the reedbed but pushed away by a female Sparrowhawk. A single Snipe was roosting left of the second screen a a Reed warbler feeding in front of the screen. On the way back a male Stonechat was feeding along the hedgerow before the corner. A Little egret flew across the reedbed at the first screen. At this point I picked up a pale juvenile Buzzard that may get confused with Rough legged - it almost caught me out. There was now 2 Hobbies hawking over Greenways but unfortunately no sign of the big white egret.
Cheers
Gareth
