Otmoor Meet
22nd November 2009
Me and my Dad got up at 6:30am on Sunday to catch the sunrise over Otmoor - a marshland reserve 10 minutes or so from Oxford.
I'd never been to this place before and after an hour-long drive, which should have been just 20 minutes(!), we finally found the reserve. The sun swiftly rose and bathed the landscape in a beautiful golden light which is fantastic for photos.
There are two hides at Otmoor and on the walk to the first we saw many different species of birds including large flocks of Fieldfare, Robins, Great Tits and Herons.
The first hide, which was more like a screen, looked out across a clearing in the reeds where some Mallards, Teal and Shovelers dabbled. None of them came particularly close though and I didn't manage to get any decent shots.
We walked to the next hide and along the way we saw small groups of Bullfinch, Stonechat, a Peregrine Falcon and lots more Fieldfare!
The second hide looked out across a largish body of water. The only sign of life was a Cormorant (which flew off as soon as we got there!) and a pair of Swans.
It was quite disappointing but I didn't really expect to see much...I haven't had much luck with nature reserves in Oxfordshire!
Dark clouds then started to accumilate and the cold wind picked up speed so we decided to get back to the car before we got soaked.
The original plan was to stay all day and meet up with a couple of photographers later on but the weather got so bad that we had no choice but to go home.
However, after being at home for a few hours, the weather improved and the sun came out so I went back to the reserve where I met up with Steve Shurey and his Dad. We photographed Kestrels, Marsh Harriers and more Fieldfare before heading back to the carpark to meet up with another young photographer called Jonah.
When he arrived the light was very poor and the sky was overcast but we still decided to head out to the first hide again and we were very glad we did!
We were rewarded with an incredible display of flocking Starlings which had been startled by a hungry Kestrel.
We watched them for ages and got some great photos and video.
Then, of course, the British weather took a turn for the worst and we were driven back to our cars by rain.
It was a really good day though and I'll definitely try and get back to Otmoor on a nicer day to see what I can find...
I'd never been to this place before and after an hour-long drive, which should have been just 20 minutes(!), we finally found the reserve. The sun swiftly rose and bathed the landscape in a beautiful golden light which is fantastic for photos.
There are two hides at Otmoor and on the walk to the first we saw many different species of birds including large flocks of Fieldfare, Robins, Great Tits and Herons.
The first hide, which was more like a screen, looked out across a clearing in the reeds where some Mallards, Teal and Shovelers dabbled. None of them came particularly close though and I didn't manage to get any decent shots.
We walked to the next hide and along the way we saw small groups of Bullfinch, Stonechat, a Peregrine Falcon and lots more Fieldfare!
The second hide looked out across a largish body of water. The only sign of life was a Cormorant (which flew off as soon as we got there!) and a pair of Swans.
It was quite disappointing but I didn't really expect to see much...I haven't had much luck with nature reserves in Oxfordshire!
Dark clouds then started to accumilate and the cold wind picked up speed so we decided to get back to the car before we got soaked.
The original plan was to stay all day and meet up with a couple of photographers later on but the weather got so bad that we had no choice but to go home.
However, after being at home for a few hours, the weather improved and the sun came out so I went back to the reserve where I met up with Steve Shurey and his Dad. We photographed Kestrels, Marsh Harriers and more Fieldfare before heading back to the carpark to meet up with another young photographer called Jonah.
When he arrived the light was very poor and the sky was overcast but we still decided to head out to the first hide again and we were very glad we did!
We were rewarded with an incredible display of flocking Starlings which had been startled by a hungry Kestrel.
We watched them for ages and got some great photos and video.
Then, of course, the British weather took a turn for the worst and we were driven back to our cars by rain.
It was a really good day though and I'll definitely try and get back to Otmoor on a nicer day to see what I can find...
