Oxfordshire.

I've never seen a Dipper. Fact. So I thought the one showing periodically in Witney would be a good target. Alas, a couple of hours watching the weir produced nothing more than a Grey Wagtail.

In the gloom (which persisted all day) I moved onto Otmoor. Count from three and a bit hours trudging around the reserve is as follows:

Red Kite 2
Hobby 2
Kestrel 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Greylag Geese c.64
Canada Goose c.49
Black-headed Gull - loads!
Coot (loads and loads)
Mute Swans 9
Snipe (a probable 5 in flight together)
Lapwing 5
Shoveler 3
Grey Heron 2
Tufted Duck 2
Little Egret 2
Teal / Wigeon (small numbers of both)
Stonechat 1
Reed Bunting 1
Blue Tit / Great Tit / Greenfinch / Coal Tit on the feeders
Green Woodpecker (heard only)
Meadow Pipits (heard but not seen)
House Martins and Swallows moving in places.
...and loads of Mallard and Crows.

The highlight was a close view of a Hobby sat in a tree. I tried to take a photo, but the poor light rendered the equipment next to useless!



I stopped at Farmoor on the way home, and promptly saw nothing of interest (save a Great-crested Grebe in flight - a rare sight) as the conditions and light got even worse. So, I tried to photograph the Pied Wagtails. Messed around with them differently in Photoshop, but to little avail.





Finally, I completely forgot to check Filchampstead (right next to the reservoir) for Grey Partridge. Would've been a year tick. Bah.