Friday 2 November 2012

Farmoor Reservoir :: 01 November 2012

We dropped into The Trout on the Godstow Road, Wolvercote for lunch. It was still dull outside and there was a persistent drizzle. After a lovely lunch, served by a rather dippy waitress, we set off for Farmoor Reservoir. The outside temperature reading on car suggested 9°C but with wind-chill it felt much lower. We felt sorry for the youngsters having sailing lessons on Farmoor II - one was even seen coming off the water just wearing flip-flops on his feet - brrr.

The water looked quiet and so we decided not to punish ourselves; just walk across the causeway and back. Stopping halfway along in the new hide we enjoyed some respite from the chill. Talking to a photographer headin in the opposite direction we discovered there really wasn't anything unusual on the water - glad we didn't push on with a circular walk.

With the sun on our back the walk back started well but an increasing density of dark clouds began chasing us, eventually swallowing the sun. Time for a sharp exit before a rain shower. Farmoor Reservoir (I)Our sightings were limited (15), but included: pied wagtail, mallard, coot, cormorant, tufted duck, great created grebe, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, magpie, carrion crow, rook, woodpigeon, grey wagtail, goldfinch and meadow pipit.