Farmoor Trip
12th December 2009
On Saturday me and my friend Steve Shurey (www.ssphotographywildlifeandmotorsport.moonfruit.co.uk) and his Dad went to Farmoor reservoir near Oxford.
The reservoir is completely open to the elements and has no shelter around the edge for birds to fly into so only the most hardy water birds reside there. However just past the reservoir there is a marshy area and the river thames which are home to a large variety wetland, farmland and woodland birds.
The reservoir is split in two by a causeway. I walked along this to get to the marshy area which is on the other side and on the way photographed several interesting birds including Cormorants, Water Pipits, Pied and Grey Wagtails, Little Grebes and Herons. I also took some video which I will upload to youtube (I'll link it soon).
I met up with Steve in the hide which looks out over the marshy area. It was barren with hardly any life except for a couple of Moorhens, Blackbirds and a Wren which came really close but still managed to escape having it's photo taken!
After leaving the hide we were greeted by a brave little Robin who posed for several photos before flying off, nearly bashing into Steve!
We then tried to get some shots of the Fieldfare and stalked them for quite some time but they were very skittish and flew off as soon as we got within 20m or so. I got one half-decent shot but I am aiming to get something better by the time winter ends and they leave.
On the way back to the carpark I walked all the way round one side of the reservoir (which is quite a long way!) and photographed a couple of new species for me: A Common Sandpiper and Goldeneye. A Cormorant flew quite close as well and the sun lit his face up nicely.
I was rewarded with a nice sunset at the end which finished the day off nicely.
The reservoir is completely open to the elements and has no shelter around the edge for birds to fly into so only the most hardy water birds reside there. However just past the reservoir there is a marshy area and the river thames which are home to a large variety wetland, farmland and woodland birds.
The reservoir is split in two by a causeway. I walked along this to get to the marshy area which is on the other side and on the way photographed several interesting birds including Cormorants, Water Pipits, Pied and Grey Wagtails, Little Grebes and Herons. I also took some video which I will upload to youtube (I'll link it soon).
I met up with Steve in the hide which looks out over the marshy area. It was barren with hardly any life except for a couple of Moorhens, Blackbirds and a Wren which came really close but still managed to escape having it's photo taken!
After leaving the hide we were greeted by a brave little Robin who posed for several photos before flying off, nearly bashing into Steve!
We then tried to get some shots of the Fieldfare and stalked them for quite some time but they were very skittish and flew off as soon as we got within 20m or so. I got one half-decent shot but I am aiming to get something better by the time winter ends and they leave.
On the way back to the carpark I walked all the way round one side of the reservoir (which is quite a long way!) and photographed a couple of new species for me: A Common Sandpiper and Goldeneye. A Cormorant flew quite close as well and the sun lit his face up nicely.
I was rewarded with a nice sunset at the end which finished the day off nicely.
