Farmoor / Otmoor

18 April - A busy spring period while the weather lasts. Farmoor this afternoon held a large (20+) flock of Yellow Wagtails, and a smart Channel Wagtail was along the causeway. No sign of the Bonaparte's Gull, morning is the best time to see it. My main reason for the short drive was to go to Otmoor during the peak of spring activity, and it didn't disappoint...... amazing to be at a screen overlooking a large reedbed, with a Bittern booming and a Marsh Harrier displaying, and to be not in East Anglia but in Oxfordshire! Also Redshank, Curlew, Lapwings and 4 Snipe. One of the Grasshopper Warblers was reeling actively in the car park field, other Warblers included Reed, Sedge, Garden and at least 3 Cetti's. Very nice views also of a Brown Hare close to the bridleway. An atmospheric hour or so with the sun dropping over the wetland. a wild oasis in the crowded south of England. No Cuckoo or Hobby yet......