Monday 11 January 2021

Otmoor- Brent Goose

Found a dark-bellied Brent Goose on Ashgrave this morning- an Oxfordshire lifer. Also 68 White-fronted Geese and 49 Barnacles amongst 1300+ geese (Canadas and Greylags and an eclectic mix of hybrids) on that single field. I've been keeping an eye on this goose flock and was hoping for Bean or Pink-foot, Brent wasn't on the radar but it should have been! Also Merlin, Hen Harrier, 3 Marsh Harrier and another Otmoor tick- a Nuthatch in the oak copse. Ebird list and some sound recordings HERE

Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Russian White-fronted Geese
Scene out on Ashgrave- got to  be another rare goose before the winter ends or lockdown tightens?
Comparison of White-fronted and Greylag Goose calls from Ashgrave today 

Spent the afternoon on a family walk at Oakley Airfield- the Black Redstart was still there but moved to the Marquee warehouse area and also seemed to be showing a relatively prominent white wing panel today in better light.  I stayed on at the end of the walk to try for owls for an hour or so after dark. No owls but Chinese Water Deer, several Brown Hares, Rabbits, a small mammal (Wood Mouse possibly) and Golden Plovers in the spotlight. 

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