Back for seconds at RSPB Otmoor - the short-eared owls had been performing beautifully through the week and so I packed up work early on Friday and made for the bridleway. As I approached the best area you could see birders already stretched out along the fence line, and it hadn't yet broken 4.00pm. As I reached the bench, I found Anne Truby @dottydotterel and Adrian Sparrrowhawk sitting and chatting - Nick Truby @old_caley was a bit further along. After a short chat I moved along to talk with Nick who relayed that a bittern had flown past and dropped into the reeds in front - everyone was now waiting to see if would depart and give an opportunity for some photos - after all, most of the birders there were armed to the teeth ...
While I was waiting I saw Michael Enticott ahead and strolled on to chat with him - I hadn't seen him since Sunday! While I was chatting, I could see Kevin Heath @kev07713 arrive with Karen @karenheath62 - they stopped to talk with Nick. Louise Donovan @louisedo113 arrived and set up ready in the peg next to us - she had a couple of setups and was ready for all situations. We chatted and then without warning the bittern arose from the reeds and made a circuit of the reed bed, dropping back in. Kev and Karen came along and said that Nick had some good shots, and it was a shame it hadn't come down closer to us. I had photos and hoped that something would be possible - I'd had decent views but just a little more distant than the group to our right.
It wasn't more than a few minutes and up the bittern went again this time flying straight for the group to our right, making a circuit of the reeds again, and then straight past us. There was a rattling of automatic fire as the bittern did us all proud and gave as good views as anyone could ever hope for, and in decent light. The bird reached the far side of the next major reedbed and dropped from sight.
Once the gun smoke had cleared, we all congratulated each other on our photos and discussed about how lucky we had been to have shared the encounter. It took a little while longer but eventually the short-eared owl made an appearance along the left hedge line and over into Big Otmoor - well that wasn't long and a complete contrast to the views we'd just had. In five minutes time though, we had another sighting and this time over to our right - the same bird? For long periods it hunted far out in front to our right but gradually made circuits getting closer and closer.
Soon enough the bird made a pass along the closest reed line to our right giving tremendous views. A video posted on Twitter by Rob Cadd showed the pass beautifully. For me I rattled off a few photos and was pleased to have upgraded the photos (better light) from Sunday.
On the next pass the owl dropped into the grass and sat as it had done just a few days before, scanning the line of birders and listening to the sound of shutters firing.
We continued to be treated to good views and an occasional sighting on both owls together, rising a bit higher as they were joined by a crow. The bird dropped occasionally near the track across Greenaways and sat viewing the birding collective.
In front a kestrel dropped and caught a vole, taking it to a muddy area out in front of us and proceeded to feed on it. All very gruesome through Kev's scope - I took some photos but couldn't capture the scene or the prey.
The light started to fade, and we found ourselves one of the last groups hanging on in there. A barn owl hunted on the far hedge line but never closed for good views. We made our way back to the car glowing with the success of the visit and the views afforded by the bittern and shorties.
Year List: 220
BirdTrack Record: https://app.bto.org/birdtrack/pubcon/shared?subId=SUB46083921
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