The Oxford “Moors”

28 Mar - On a beautiful early spring morning, firstly, Otmoor...... early songsters including Reed Buntings and Cetti’s Warblers, with Blackcaps joining the Chiffchaffs in good numbers. Displaying Lapwings and Redshanks, a Curlew, and a group of 8 Ruff on Big Otmoor, also 2 flyby Snipe (but none heard drumming). A pair of Marsh Harriers carrying nesting material over the reedbed, Bitterns apparently present but not seen today. At Farmoor, Fairly quiet on the reservoir but a 1st-summer Med Gull feeding on the emerging insects amongst all the Black-headed Gulls, and a Little Ringed Plover on the causeway. At Pinkhill the most surprising sighting was a Barn Owl hunting in full sunlight mid-morning.