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| All Pics this week (c) Bark |
Grey and damp on Saturday but bright sunshine on Sunday. Whatever the
weather the major excitement on the moor is the huge numbers of birds that are
currently around. Lapwings predominate with an estimate of well over four
thousand and Golden Plover come a close second with around three thousand. There
are also large numbers of wildfowl present with a huge flock of Wigeon out on
the MOD floods and a large number of Teal on the reedbed. There are at least
fifty Shoveler and a few Gadwall and Pochard.
From time to time on both days great smudges of birds would rise up above
the hedgerows as a raptor passed over. The Golden Plover on Sunday sparkling
against the sky as the light caught their pale undersides as they wheeled and
turned in tight formations. It really is a wonderful spectacle, but will cause
the RSPB staff some problems when they come to do the regular WEBS count on
Monday morning.
The two Peregrines when not causing panic amongst the ducks and waders were
easy to find, sitting in their regular tree to the west of the visitor trail.
Hen Harrier passed through occasionally and there are regular reports now of a
Short Eared Owl.
The Black Tailed Godwits seen on Friday have moved on and a Grey Plover was
seen flying over at the Noke end. Interestingly we had thought that we had heard
one on Saturday but could not be sure.
I led a guided walk on Sunday for the Abingdon Natural History Society,
right on cue just as we reached the second screen a Bittern flew across giving
brief but excellent views. Sometimes we just get lucky.
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