Otmoor: 11 June

Its been sometime since I last visited Otmoor, so this visit was overdue but unfortunately not favoured by the weather. Although warm, there was light cloud and some rain without any sun.

I did however manage to see most of the birds that make this place so special in spring and summer. Despite it being early June, drumming Snipe were much in evidence, and coming reasonably close to the bridleway at the cattle pens and further along towards the hide. Photography was hampered by the light which wasn't good at all for dark objects against the sky!

Drumming Snipe

One Turtle Dove was purring away from hidden locations along the bridleway near the pumping station, but did come out one briefly onto the wires and post on the corner. There was along a Marsh Harrier and Cuckoo about.

Odonata weren't much in evidence due to the conditions, but the Roman Road and the bridleway between there and the main track had large numbers of Azure Damselflies (c. 100) and about 3 Large Red Damselflies. I also caught a glimpse of a probable early immature Common Darter. A Hairy Dragonfly was also reported.

Large red Damselfly