RSPB Otmoor is a wetland reserve a couple of miles from Oxford. The area, originally marshland, was drained and used for arable farming until the 1990s. Since 1997 the RSPB have been returning the farmland to reedbeds and wet meadows. This has involved the planting of over 150,000 reed seedlings by hand!
Otmoor reserve is in a remote area (for Oxfordshire) and has limited visitor facilities. Despite this, I’d still recommend a visit to families, as it has some amazing bird watching opportunities.
We visited at the weekend, and for once it wasn’t raining. There are several rights of way around the area but as most of the surrounding fields were flooded we quickly decided on the 1.5 mile visitor trail. This takes in the main bird hide and a couple of screened viewing areas.
The aptly named bird restaurant at the start of the walk was very busy with goldfinch, chaffinch, blue tits, reed buntings and a great spotted woodpecker.
Otmoor has always flooded but during this particularly wet winter it was difficult to know which parts were flooded and which were supposed to be under water!
Bird life abounds, and we saw huge numbers of birds. Whilst I can identify many species I’m not an expert by any means. Fortunately there were other birders around and on several occasions specific birds were pointed out to us. The kids were also lucky and got to see some little egrets through another birdwatcher’s telescope.
Particular highlights were a hen harrier hunting over the reed beds, huge flocks of lapwing and golden plover, a peregrine, several kestrels and a barn owl. There was also loads of water fowl on the reed beds which I’m not very good at identifying!
Otmoor is probably most famous for the flocks of starlings that congregate just before dusk throughout the winter months. This was a spectacle I’ve wanted to see at Otmoor for a long time but with the slightly longer evenings we were there way too early. The kids went back to the covered hide for a while to warm up and came back full of excitement about a kingfisher they’d seen up close.
The reserve became much busier nearer dusk, with groups of people arriving at the viewing spot solely to see the starlings. The others around us were better prepared, with flasks of soup and hot chocolate, whilst we were already cold from an afternoon spent on the reserve.
Our toes were like ice blocks by the time the starlings finally arrived. Despite this, it really was an amazing sight. You see the starlings low on the horizon heading towards the reserve like a giant plague of locusts. As they approach they swoop and swirl in formation (known as a murmuration). I didn’t take photos because of the low light but it was great just to stand and watch. A perfect end to an enjoyable afternoon.
More info:
- Further details can be found on the RSPB website.
- Be aware there are no toilet facilities at the reserve!
- Take binoculars and some refreshments.
- The visitor walk is flat and if the ground is dry it’s fine for wheelchairs and pushchairs. However, it was incredibly muddy and the track was covered with big puddles on our winter visit.
Lovely pictures! I would love love love to see a starling murmuration!
Thanks Charlotte. They’re very impressive and probably more common than you think, we have a (smaller) group of starlings in our town who treat us to a display.
Sounds like a lovely afternoon and place for birdwatching.
Thanks for sharing with #LetKidsBeKids
Thanks Karen, yes a fab afternoon (although would have been better if a litle warmer!)
Sounds like a beautiful place, and I bet the Starlings were impressive! #LetKidsBeKids
Thanks Sara, it was lovely although next time I’m going to be better prepared!
It looks a beautiful place! Fab photos!
Thanks Kim, I’d have loved to get some photos of the starlings as they were amazing, but my camera wasn’t really up to it.
This sounds like a great place to visit! I was never interested in bird watching until we moved last year to the US and found our garden daily filled with wild birds. My kids now can probably name more of them than me. So this will be a place I’ll take them when back in UK. #pocolo
Thanks Kriss. My other half is the bird watcher, he definitely knows more than I do!
This looks like a beautiful place – very serene and perfect for bird watching. Thank you for linking to PoCoLo x
Thanks Vicky. It’s hard to believe it’s so close to Oxford.
That sounds lovely, and I your pictures are great! 🙂
Thanks Emma, it made for a lovely afternoon out. Add in a cafe (with toilet!) and it would be perfect!
Looks like a lovely afternoon. We set enjoying getting out each weekend but can’t wait off wArmer weather
Thanks Karen, I’m so looking forward to spring. I hope it stops raining one day soon!
Beautiful shots. This looks like such a peaceful place. Mel #LetKidsBeKids
Thanks Mel. Yes it was peaceful, although the Canada geese were very noisy!
What very very wet wetland!! Looks like you had a lovely afternoon. We have signed up to the RSPB and want to visit some reserves this year, we will have to try to get down from South Brum to this one.
Thanks Zoe,yes everything is very wet down here at the moment. Definitely no hosepipe ban this year!
Wow you managed to see so many different bird species,and I can appreciate the sight of all the starlings as we are lucky to witness them swooping behind the hedgerows in vast numbers here in Cornwall. A great day out and perfect in the warmer weather with a picnic, thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
Thanks Fiona. Oxfordshire isn’t really a birding ‘hotspot’ so it was great to see so many.
Sounds as though the discomfort was worth it to see the spectacle of the starlings. Sounds like a wonderful day out, despite the cold! #PoCoLo
Thank you – yes they were definitely worth the wait!