This is quite old information now but the Wetland Bird Survey results from the start of January were:
Mute swan: 21European white-fronted goose: 3Greylag goose: 172Canada goose: 263Wigeon: 1260Gadwall: 16Teal: 1305Mallard: 246Pintail: 4Shoveler: 4Pochard: 1Tufted duck: 28Little egret: 6Grey heron: 5Coot: 54Golden plover: 450Lapwing: 973Snipe: 14
At the moment there is a lot of snow on the reserve, so everything is looking very scenic. Up to 3 hen harriers are being regularly seen, lots of tits and finches are moving along the hedgerows and the northern phase of the reedbed still has some unfrozen water so it’s holding most of the remaining ducks and possibly the 2 bittern seen earlier in the year
Now is a great time for looking for animal tracks in the snow. On Otmoor you’ll be able to find fox, badger, hare and muntjac. The tracks of various birds can clearly be seen too, with species such as mute swan and moorhen being easy to identify. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see otter or weasel tracks. Or maybe even the tracks of the elusive beast of Otmoor!
This snow will also bring more birds into peoples gardens, so make sure you keep putting food out for them. In front of the office window today we’ve already had two new additions to the office bird list; brambling and reed bunting, Zoe got good pictures of both (see below). Site manager David Wilding even found a woodcock in his garden yesterday so you never know what might turn up! Let us know if you have any unusual garden sightings.
If you love watching your garden birds why not get involved with the Big Garden Bird Watch on 26th-27th January http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/