Beautiful Otmoor

 Beautiful Otmoor

 Yellowhammer

Common Tern

 Turtle Dove

 Turtle Dove

 Turtle Dove

With the lads tied up with friends this enabled me to plan a few hours down at RSPB Otmoor for some quality birding. Setting off at 7.15am it took us just over an hour to land in the car park. Garden Warblers and Blackcaps greeted us whilst Skylarks were singing high above us as we walked up the path past the feeders. 

The main pasture had a nice selection of birds including Red Kites, Buzzard, Snipe, Lapwing, Tufted Duck and Little Egret. Many of the Lapwing took flight above their nests when any corvids were getting close to warn off the predators. 

On approaching the wildlife hide a Yellowhammer was feeding with a flock of Linnets on the gravel allowing some great views. From inside a Shoveller was on the pool and a Redshank was feeding on the waters edge.

Stepping outside we picked up a Cuckoo calling which I manage to find with my scope although it was a long way away. Further along the walk way we found pairs of Common Terns at different places.

As we walked back towards the car park we heard our first Turtle Dove of the day purring. Fantastic ! It wasn't long before we had located the bird sat up and being very comfortable with us and other passers by watching him go about his early summer routine.