RSPB Otmoor

RSPB Otmoor is a nature reserve, run by the RSPB, within the wider area of Otmoor, in Oxfordshire, England.

Otmoor is primarily wetland and in winter provides a home to thousands of waterfowl. It is increasingly becoming a vital wintering ground for thousands of wildfowl and waders. Over a thousand Wigeon and Teal have been recorded, whilst birds of prey such as Merlin and Peregrine are regularly seen. Large areas of Otmoor have benefited from extensive agriculture using traditional methods, resulting in good numbers of songbirds which are otherwise declining in the UK. These include: Bullfinch, Skylark, Reed Bunting, Grasshopper Warbler and Turtle Dove.

Spring and autumn both produces good numbers of passage migrants, including waders in the spring and Redstart and Whinchat in the autumn. The best time for Marsh Harrier is late April to mid May. There are good numbers of breeding waders and recent RSPB work has increased the number of pairs of Lapwing and Redshank.

External links

* [http://www.rspb.org/reserves/guide/o/otmoor/index.asp RSPB web page]
* [http://www.rspb.org.uk/england/central/cons_action/podcast.asp RSPB Podast from Otmoor]
* [http://www.otmoor.co.uk/ The wider Otmoor area]
* [http://www.oos.org.uk/Sites/Otmoor/ Oxford Ornithological Society Otmoor Page]