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Pit 60 R.I.P





Pit 60 has been very very quiet recently. In fact, I believe there has not been a single wader there for the past couple of weeks. The reasons for the sad demise of what was one of oxfordshires best birding sites is well know to us regular patch workers, namely poor water and vegetation management. Looking at records from only 3 or 4 years ago it is very obvious how badly the site has deteriorated.

So, to avoid another morning staring at coots and tufted ducks from the hide window, I went to farmoor this morning to see what must surely be the most photographed bird in Oxfordshire – the famous Kingfisher at the shrike meadow hide. I was very lucky in that the bird had just landed on its favored post just prior to my arrival. My birding friend Ewan arrived after a little while and we spent a pleasant 2 hours or so chatting and waiting for the star performer but he/she did not return during my stay.







Thanks to all who have asked about my dog Dillon who is recovering from his op and going stir crazy from his enforced bed rest until his stiches come out next week. He only has two modes of existence, asleep and going bonkers. I’m sure that there is an on off switch somewhere but I haven’t found it yet!

Comments

  1. Sad about Pit 60.... Nice kf tho & good to hear Dillon's recovering - tho it sounds like it's probably a bit of a trial for all concerned!

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    1. PS - just realised you posted 2 pics the same - suspect you meant to post the same 3 as you've put on Facebook? x

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  2. I think Wader passage is pretty poor across the county this year, Farmoor hasn’t exactly been inundated with them either and, apart from the usual Green Sandpipers, we’ve had little at BWR. Oxon hasn’t even managed to attract many of the thousands of Wood Sandpipers. Maybe the birds see what’s happening to this county of ours and think “sod that” and go elsewhere! We all need to move to a small corner of Lincolnshire!

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