In the run up the exciting Big Garden Birdwatch 2014, https://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/ we are running a family event on Otmoor on 18th January. Suitable for children aged 5-12, there will be lots of fun, interactive activities to get involved with between 11am and 2pm. See some of the fantastic wildlife that lives on Otmoor, get some tasty tips for attracting more birds to your garden and learn how to identify our feathered friends.
Booking is essential; Otmoor.admin@rspb.org.uk or 01865 351163, and the cost is £3 per child with a 20% discount for RSPB or Wildlife Explorers members.
Talking of attracting more birds, the high water levels on Otmoor at the moment have lured in large numbers of ducks and other water loving birds. Insects and seeds floating up from the recently flooded grass are providing tasty treats for birds such as lapwings, dunlins, wigeons and pintails.
The three whooper swans are still feeding and roosting on the moor and a flock of 1500 golden plover were seen this morning. I saw my first Otmoor grey wagtail at the start of the week and a small flock of ruff are around.
Photo below showing lapwings, golden plovers and a ruff taken by Badger.
Some of the fields on Otmoor have turned into huge lakes, with the photo below taken from the Stop Butt on the MOD firing range that adjoins the RSPB reserve. All the main paths are still accessible on the reserve, but wellies would be useful for getting through the puddles. Just don’t stray off the path as I had a bit of a soggy incident involving slipping into a deep ditch earlier in the week!