29/11/10 Banbury Waxwings

10 Waxwings in Banbury on Manor road on the 29th in the morning.

No further sign in the afternoon or in the general area today (30th) late morning.

(from Banburybirds yahoo group)

Gareth

Farmoor Tuesday 30th Nov

Black-necked Grebe
Great northern Diver (juv)
Med Gull (adult)
(per R.B.A)

And the superb http://www.farmoor-birding.com/

Jack Snipe on Pinkhill

Otmoor Starling Roost

Good evening everyone,

The starling roost tonight numbered an estimated 15,000 birds. They did a small/short sky dance before seeking shelter in the reedbed.

There was also plenty of fieldfares and redwings moving around, a sparrowhawk, and lots of interesting prints in the snow.

Otmoor can be scenically spectacular in the winter, but do take care on the icy roads, and wear something that can withstand bitterly cold winds!

Cheers,

Gareth Luscombe
Assistant Warden
RSPB Otmoor

Smew at Dorchester

redhead at the north end of Drayton Road Pit this afternoon 13:00 (per Bird Guides)

Cholsey 30th Nov

116 Lapwing
23 Golden Plover
4 Teal
2 Peregrine (took a Grey Partridge)
Kestrel
14 (13) Grey Partridge
200+ each Fieldfare & Redwing
1 Cormorant (overhead)
4 Bullfinch
6 Yellowhammer
2 Jay
2-300 LBB Gulls
100+ BH Gulls
1 Reed Bunting
2 Skylark
1 Great-spot
4 Roe Deer
2 Treecreeper in garden.
Fewer small birds noted today on farmland.

30th November: Waxwings at Freeland

2 waxwings briefly in a garden in Freeland though they've since flown off (per Justin Taylor's dad)

Waxwing Photo...

Myself and the Gnome have counted our coppers jars, searched down the backs of the sofas for change, and are offering up a bounty of something alcoholic and fizzy for the first Oxfordshire Waxwing photo of this winter on the Log...

Rog... This one's on us ;-)

Dipper reported at Clanfield today
(per AAL from O.O.S)

Waxwing

2 Waxwings at Ascott-under-Wychwood by the village shop this morning, unfortunately they were flushed by a Sparrowhawk and hadn't returned by 1430 hrs.

Farmoor Nov 29th

7 Dunlin
3 Redshank

Farmoor 29th November

Black-necked Grebe F2 in S.E corner 09:30
(per Dai)

Waxwings Ascot-under-Wychwood 29th Nov

2 Waxwings Ascot-under-Wychwood feeding near the shop at 8a.m
(per Tony'wait on news' Miller)

Still there and showing well at c12:30p.m until flushed by Sparrowhawk...
(per Roger Wyatt)

No sign mid-afternoon (per Badger)

Churn 28th Nov

4 Short-eared Owls Churn Hill in scrub just off the Ridgeway
at 12:30p.m (per R.B.A)

Otmoor 28th Nov

1+ Bearded Tit still near Kissing Gate to the 1st screen this morning
+ Sprawk (f)
2 Buzzard
Red Kite
Belated report of a Brent Goose from Wednesday 24th
Complete weekend round up at the superb http://www.otmoorbirding.com

28th Nov, Henley Road GP

1w Med Gull

Balscote Quarry 28th November

Completely frozen with no open water

Tree Sparrow 12

Snipe 2

Lapwing 100+

Golden Plover c.60

Skylark 20

Fieldfare c.200

Redwing c.100

Linnet 1

Standlake 27th Nov

Red-breasted Merganser (f ) still pit 28
76 Red-crested Pochard pit 3
(per the Wickster)

Around Abingdon 27th November

Radley Lakes
All lakes mostly frozen, apart from most of Thrupp Lake.
c.4 Common Gull
c.390 Coot
c.100 Gadwall
c.50 Mute Swan
c.16 Pochard
c.10 Shoveler
c.54 Teal
c.13 Tufted duck
c.75 Wigeon

Wilsham Road Gravel Pits
Part of marina frozen, rest all un-iced.
c.300 Coot
c.8 Cormorant
c.30 Gadwall
8 Great Crested Grebe
6 Mute Swan
c.22 Pochard
c.15 Shoveler
1 Male Red-crested Pochard
1 Teal
c.55 Tufted Duck
c.60 Wigeon

Otmoor 27th Nov

7 Bearded Tits
1 Merlin
1 Peregrine
2 Raven
Redpoll

(per Pete Barker)

Indepth weekend round up at http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding

Short-eared Owl Hanney Road, Steventon
near Steventon storage dep 10:30a.m
(per John Hillsdon)


200 Tree Sparrow, Over Norton +
200 Yellowhammer,

(per Barry Hudson O.O.S)

Stanlake Common Friday 26th Nov

Pit 28 1 female Red Breasted Merganser.
1 Male Red Crested Pochard
1 Kingfisher


Pit 3 At least 62 Red Crested Pochards


Pit 10 At least 2500 Starlings in pre roost cirling over pit 10 and pit 9

Witney 26th Nov Dipper still

Dipper

Thanks to yesterday's tip off, I managed to see the dipper on my 3rd attempt. A new Oxfordshire species for me!

It was showing well at New Mill around 3pm this afternoon.

Cholsey 26th Nov

♀ Merlin
1 Kestrel
18 Golden Plover
1 Lapwing
1 Common Snipe
12 Yellowhammer
2 Bullfinch
several Siskin overhead
200+ each of Redwing & Fieldfare
10 Skylark
3 Reed Bunting
1 Great-spot
A few each of Song & Mistle Thrush.
c20 Blackbird
Good nos of Greenfinch, Chaffinch & Goldfinch.

1000+ Gulls in partially flooded field. Mainly LBB’s with 50+ BH Gulls, at least 2 Herring & 1 Common Gull, also 60+ Jackdaw & c120 Rook with them. Probably flushed from one of the pig farms on the downs. Some gulls that flew off headed in the direction of the Power Station.
Also 4 Roe Deer,
2 Treecreepers in garden yesterday.

Otmoor 25th Nov

Just returned from a visit to Otmoor to check out the starling roost. Approximately 20,000 birds displayed then went down to roost in the reeds in 3 separate flocks using both reservoirs. A female peregrine flew low over the reeds but did not get up amongst the starlings. The display was over by 4p.m. so if you want to see them, be there before dusk and allow yourself 20 minutes to get from the carpark.

As an added bonus, we got good views of a Short-eared Owl hunting along Otmoor Lane as we headed for home.

(per Lyn Ebbs Oxonbirds)

http://www.otmoorbirding.com

Witney Dipper 25th November

My sister (a non-birder) saw the Dipper this morning outside her office (about a 1km upstream from the weir). Apparently the maintenance man there sees it all the time. So worth a walk along the footpath up to the Mill (there is a footbridge over the river there) if you have yet to see it (myself included, despite five visits and counting). If I don’t see if soon, I think there might be a bit of gloating from her at Christmas!
Photo from her mobile phone here.

Port Meadow 25th November

Much of floods frozen though still some clear patches
1 yellow-legged gull
1 black-tailed godwit
1 redshank
8 snipe
c. 10 pintail
still plenty of wigeon, teal & shoveler



Photos (c) Adam Hartley

Port Meadow 24th November: Caspian gull again

1 adult Caspian gull in roost again
1 yellow-legged gull
1 black-tailed godwit
1 redshank
1 ruff
13-14 dunlin
c. 8 pintail

Videograb of the adult Caspian gull (c) Adam Hartley

More photos and video at Port Meadow Birding

Farmoor 24th November

Great Northern Diver
Redshank 4
Common Sandpiper 1
Dunlin 2
White-fronted Goose (Found by Phil Barnett)

Cholsey 24th Nov

200+ each Redwing & Fieldfare
16 Song Thrush
50+ Blackbird
5 Mistle Thrush
16 Yellowhammer
3 Lapwing
1 LBB Gull
100+ BH Gull
1 Red-leg
50+ Pheasant
2 Skylark
3 Reed Bunting
1 Green & 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker
c10 Siskin
2 Bullfinch
2 Jay
A few Buzzard & Red Kite
4 Roe Deer

Great Grey Shrike at Appleford

Although the bird was looked for all day yesterday with no joy, my brother photographed it on his neighbours aerial late afternoon before it flew back to the west side of the railway. So it's still around but probably ranging widely.

Great Grey Shrike still Appleford this morning (per R.B.A)
(Badger)

Farmoor 24th November: White-fronted Goose

juvenile albifrons white-fronted goose on F2 (per Bird Guides)

Also juv. GND still on F2 (per Bird Guides)

Port Meadow 23rd November: Caspian Gull

5 redshank,
13 dunlin,
10 pintail,
1 adult Caspian Gull,
1 adult yellow-legged gull

Videograb of the adult Caspian Gull on the floods tonight (c) Adam Hartley

Ian Lewington thinks that this may be the same bird that has been asleep down at Appleford for much of today. More photos & some video on the Port Meadow Birding web-site.

Appleford Today

No sign of the Shrike yet but the regular adult Caspian Gull was on Appleford Pit together with the 2nd winter bird that first appeared on 13th.

Aston Rowant 23rd Nov

This morning there were still at least 20 bramblings feeding on bushes along the footpath that leads up from the Ridgeway to the (unofficial)layby between Cowleaze Wood and the M40. Numbers have topped 200 recently, but some now seem to have moved on. There are approx. 12 bullfinches there also.

('neilhammatt' per Oxonbirds)

Great Grey Shrike at Appleford

My brother found this at the bottom of his garden this afternoon! It then moved to private land (a huge garden) on the west side of the railway. Much of this area can't be seen from anywhere but the bird is occasionally seen on top of some of the taller trees looking south from the road bridge next to Appleford station or from the railway platform.

Radley Lakes Monday 22nd November

2 Red-crested Pochard (pair)
c.380 Coot
35 Lapwing
c.60 Teal
c.95 Gadwall
c.20 Pochard
c.47 Mute Swan
c.70 Wigeon
c.15 Tufted Duck
c.40 Shoveler
1 Common Gull
c.40 Fieldfare

Brambling, Otmoor

A Brambling, photographed yesterday at Otmoor at the feeders (c) David Fearn

More info at http://www.otmoorbirding.com

Gareth

Waxwings...

Myself and the Gnome have counted our coppers jars, searched down the backs of the sofas for change, and are offering up a bounty of something alcoholic and fizzy for the first Oxfordshire Waxwing photo of this winter on the Log...


No sign of any Waxwings this morning at Adderbury...
(per Paul & Vic Wren)

Farmoor 21st Nov

Great northern Diver still this morning on F2
(per Dai)


Photo (c) Adam Hartley

Stonesfield Common 21st Nov

Fieldfare 81
Redwing 64
Marsh Tit 2
Red Kite 2
Goldfinch 11
Reed Bunting
Yellowhammer
Skylark 2
Goldcrest

Otmoor 20th November

brief otter view
7 bearded tits

(per Pete Barker)

Complete weekend wildlife round up and photo's from the Moor...
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding

Waxwing Adderbury 20th Nov

One of my friends had this morning c11:20 c.40 Waxwing fly east over his garden in Adderbury near the recreation ground. Whilst looking for them he found four in Lucy Plackett fields but they didn't stay also flying north.

He's had to stop searching as his parents are visiting but another friend is out and I will go and join them. I'll get the news out ASAP if there's any further sign. Lots of berries around the village and a few apple trees too, hopefully they stay and get found.

(per Gareth Oxonbirds)

Port Meadow 20th November

1 redshank,
1 ruff,
6+ dunlin,
2 pintail,
c. 200 golden plover,
loads of wigeon, teal & shoveler,


Three dunlin in a pool to the north of the main floods (c) Adam Hartley

Farmoor 20th Nov

Great northern Diver still, on F2 until 13:10 at least (per Steve Goddard) although increasingly elusive. No sign of the Black-necked Grebe today. (per the Wickster)

+Siskin
4 Snipe
1 common sandpiper (Steve Burch)
1 sanderling still (Steve Burch)

The great northern diver (c) Adam Hartley

The sanderling (c) Steve Burch

Farmoor F1 19th Nov

Farmoor 19th November

Dai John found some good birds on Farmoor this morning:
1 great northern diver
1 black-necked grebe (14:15 at least per Dave Lowe)
1 sanderling
2 Dunlin (per Dave Lowe)
1 barn owl
c. 25 goldeneye
3 common gulls

Black-necked Grebe F1 early afternoon. (c) Jason Coppock

Juvenile Great northern Diver on F1 (c) Jason Coppock
Barn owl at Pinkhill (c) Adam Hartley
Sanderling (c) Dai John

Otmoor 18 Nov

Sparrowhawk 2

Water Rail several

Cetti's Warbler 3

Green Sandpiper 3

No Otters

Cholsey 18th Nov

14 Golden Plover
1 Chiffchaff
c50 Redwing
20+ Fieldfare
10 Yellowhammer
10+ Skylark
2 Great spots
2 Bullfinch
1 Reed Bunting

Port Meadow 18th November

Late afternoon visit in the company of Ian Smith:
4 redshank,
17 dunlin,
a few snipe,
10 pintail,
500+ golden plover flying about though they didn't want to settle,
4 yellow-legged gulls in roost.

Videograb (c) Adam Hartley

Port Meadow 18th November

No sign of phalarope at midday
4 redshank
13+ dunlin

(per Richard Foster)

Port Meadow 17th November: Grey Phalarope

1 grey phalarope (ID confirmed by Lew)
3 redshank
9 dunlin (per Richard Foster)
4 pintail
2 yellow-legged gulls
several snipe



Filmed at at least x200 magnification, videograb record shot of the grey phalarope this evening. More detail on the Port Meadow Birding blog.

Phalarope sp Port Meadow 17th November

Phalarope sp (probably Grey) currently on Port Meadow
although distant (per Gnome at 15:45)

Aston Rowant NNR 14th Nov

Sunday November 14th - 10+ Brambling in the scrub on the north side of Bald
Hill. Phil Coles (per Oxonbirds)

Thou shalt always Bird

Something for a November Monday when it's too foggy to bird

Starlings off Appleford Road Sunday 14th November

Huge number of Starling coming into evening roost in the reed bed 500m west of Appleford Station. A more-or-less constant stream of flocks comprising 100+ individuals coming from the west (Sutton Courtenay direction). Best estimate of numbers- c.14,500.


There is also a substantial Pied Wag roost on the Frieze Way/A44 roundabout nr Peartree
(Badger)

South of Abingdon Sunday 14th November

Wilsham Road Gravel Pits
c.280 Coot
c.10 Pochard
c.52 Wigeon
c.11 Shoveler
c.40 Tufted Duck
c.14 Cormorant
c.7 Gadwall

1066
c.130 Teal
C.5 Gadwall
c.13 Wigeon
c.12 Shoveler

Radley Lakes Saturday 13th November

3 Water Rail
1 Cetti’s Warbler
1 Green Sandpiper
22 Lapwing
c.350 Coot
6 Little Grebe
1 Common Gull
10 Pochard
c.60 Shoveler
c.85 Wigeon
c.50 Gadwall
c.45 Mute Swan
c.40 Teal
c.20 Tufted Duck

Otmoor 14th Nov Bearded Tits still

Male showing well from reeds to right of path to first screen mid morning,
possibly others in reeds.
2 Otters reported from 2nd screen early morning.

Colin (per Oxonbirds)

Appleford 14th Nov

Caspian Gull nr adult again early afternoon.

Churn 14th Nov

25+ Grey Partridge
Sprawk
250+Fieldfare
100+Redwing
1000+Wood Pigeon
50+Corn Bunting
20+Yellowhammer
2 Reed Bunting
30+Chaffinch
20+Linnet

Otmoor November 14th (6.30 -10.20 a.m)

1 Sparrowhawk
2 Water Rail (calling)
2 Snipe
2 Green Sandpiper
1 Tawny Owl (calling)
1 Kingfisher
1 Water Pipit (1st screen)
2+ Raven
2 Cetti's Warbler
2 Coal Tits (feeders)
2 Linnet (over)

Still no otters!!!

Saturday 13th November - Waxwing

One Waxwing over the west end of Mably Way, Wantage at 3pm, calling. Also around Grove airfield:

9 Siskin
1 Chiffchaff
40+ Redwing
c200 Linnet
15 Skylark

Appleford tip/pit 13th Nov

This 2nd winter Caspian Gull wasn't the regular bird nor the newcomer that appeared on 7th Nov but a third individual that visited briefly in mid October. Other than the new adult cachinnans mentioned by Jason, there doesn't seem to have been much of a turnover since an influx of argentatus about three weeks ago.

Appleford 13th November

Caspian Gull near adult. Found & aged by one of the countys two resident

'Gull Whisperers' this afternoon. Last nights Farmoor bird?

2nd w Casser on the tip (per Lew)

There was a possible adult Caspian briefly on Port Meadow last night but it flew off towards Farmoor before I was able to give it a proper grilling. It might have been the same Farmoor bird (Gnome).

Tadpole Bridge 13th Nov

c6 Tree Sparrow
10+ House Sparrow
3 Chaffinch
2 Greenfinch
1 Goldfinch
1 Raven

Raven @ Cote
200+Fieldfare nr Aston

Port Meadow 13th November

1 redshank,
5 dunlin
c. 150 golden plover
1 red kite
50+ meadow pipits

Barn Owl.

1 Barn Owl.
Flew over the road near horton cum studley golf course this morning.

Otmoor 13th November (6.30 -10.40 a.m)

1 Red Kite
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Peregrine (Steve & Pete Roby,Jon Uren et al)
4+ Water Rail (calling)
300+ Lapwing
4 Snipe
3 Green Sandpiper
1 Kingfisher
1 Water Pipit (1st screen Pete Roby et al)
3000+ starling leaving reedbed.
2 Raven
4+ Cetti's Warbler
1 Brambling (over calling)
3 Siskin (over calling)
2 Redpoll (over calling)

Also possible heard-only beardies still (per Ewan)

Oxon Photographers Success

Congratulations should go to Roger Wyatt and Nigel Forrow who both got honourable mentions in this weeks Bird Guides PotW (Photo of the Week) competition. It's great that the county has such a high calibre of bird photography expertise.

Both Roger & Nigel also have photo's published in this months Birding World.
(Badger)

Port Meadow 11th November

2 ruff,
1 redshank,
10 dunlin,
2 yellow-legged gulls

Otmoor 10 November

2 Bearded Tit

2 Sparrowhawk

3 Green Sanpiper

0 Otter

Radley Gravel Pits 10th November

2 Buzzard
1 Green Sandpiper
2 Common Gull
2 Raven
1 Siskin

Port Meadow 10th November

No sign of yellowlegs again though a visiting birder reported a possible sighting
1 redshank
2 ruff
6 dunlin
2 drake pintail

Cholsey, 10th Nov

200+ Fieldfare
50+ Redwing
30+ Blackbird (usually only 5 or 6)
5 Song Thrush (normally 1)
1 Tufted Duck (unusual record for my patch)
4 Bullfinch
7 Stock Dove
3 Reed Bunting
6 Yellowhammer
100+ Goldfinch (in 2 hours) + a few Chaffinch & Greenfinch.
Tawny Owl in garden woke me just before dawn :)

Manchester Grebe

Manchester Pied-billed Grebe.
2 Spaces available tomorrow leaving Kidlington late morning on news.
07775817823

Port Meadow 9th November

No sign of the yellowlegs this afternoon
2 redshank
2 ruff
21 dunlin
1 pintail
3 common shelduck

Marsh Baldon 6th Nov

Belated report of a Lapland Bunting heard saturday evening over Marsh Baldon
(per Phil Barnet)

Port Meadow Monday 8th November

1 lesser yellowlegs,
2 ruff,
1+ dunlin,
6+ snipe,
wigeon,
teal,
shoveler,
golden plover,
5 gadwall



Some video footage of the lesser yellowlegs (c) Adam Hartley

Didcot Tip and Appleford Pit

The regular 2nd w Caspian Gull (top) was joined by a new 2nd w today.
About 12+ Yellow-legged Gulls remain in the area.

Cheers, Ian

Port Meadow Sunday 7th November

The lesser yellowlegs still on the floods today.

Sutton Courtenay Pits 7th November

1 Caspian Gull (2nd w)
3 Common Gull
10+Teal
1 Goldeneye
8+Red Kite
2 Buzzard
Sprawk
Siskin (over)

Appleford & Sutton C Millennium Common
Woodcock

Radley Lakes Sunday (pm)

1 Goldeneye (frequently diving on Thrupp Lake between islands)

c.350 Coot

c.35 Gadwall

1 Common Gullc.45 Mute Swan

c.8 Pochard

c.35 Shoveler

c.66 Teal

c.24 Tufted Duck

c.100 Wigeon

1 Chiffchaff

2 Red Kite

Otmoor 7th Nov 8 - 10:30am

3 Otters seen together from 1st hide
4 Bearded Tits in reeds
3 Green Sands
1 Peregrine having a go at the birds outside the hide
Sparrowhawk
Redkite
Kestrel
Buzzard
1 Stonechat along fence from hide
200 Lapwing

Port Meadow Saturday 6th November

1 lesser yellowlegs,
2 ruff,
1 redshank,
4 dunlin
c. 1000 golden plover
lots of ducks

Otmoor 6th Nov. 7 - 11am

4 Bearded tits over reedbed
7 Redpoll near feeders
Siskin in car park field with flock of Gold finches
Peregrine caught what looked like a Lapwing and ate it in front of the hide.
3 or 4 Water Rail calling in reeds
4 or 5 Cettis calling around reserve
150 Lapwing
26 Golden Plover

Port Meadow 5th November

1 lesser yellowlegs,
1 redshank,
2 ruff,
4 or 5 dunlin,
c. 12 snipe,
c. 1000 golden plover,

Photo (c) Adam Hartley

Cholsey, 5th Nov 2010

Raven (flew towards Cholsey hill)
2 Jay
2 Siskin
30+ Fieldfare
6 Redwing
Chiffchaff
Grey Wagtail
Kingfisher (on garden list)
3 Grey Partridge
3 Meadow Pipit
20+ Skylark
3 Yellowhammer
Great-spotted & Green Woodpecker
5 Mistle Thrush
(Peacock Butterfly)

Cholsey 4th Nov

2 Tawny Owl
20+ Skylark
6 Meadow Pipit
6 Fieldfare
2 Yellowhammer
1 Reed Bunting
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
several Red Kites & Buzzards
5 Roe Deer
(local patch rather quiet)

Waxwing in Witney 28th October

Waxwing last thursday in a Witney Garden at 2p.m (per R.B.A).

Apparently on a garden feeder (which sounds a little unlikely) (per Bird Guides)

As yet No other info...

Port Meadow 3rd November

1 lesser yellowlegs (for 21st day!),
1 redshank,
2 ruff,
5 dunlin,
lots of goldies,
2 yellow-legged gulls,
1 peregrine,

Photo (c) Steve Burch

Wed 3 Nov Chesterton

Male Black Redstart on drive in Chesterton at 7.30am this morning .
(Alan Peck on OxonBirds)

Port Meadow

Lesser Legs still on Port Meadow this p.m
(per R.B.A)

Gargany at 1066

Gargany amongst the Teal in flood fields between Drayton and Sutton Courtenay today.

Port Meadow 2nd November

1 lesser yellowlegs
3 ruff
4 dunlin
lots of goldies
reasonable gull roost

Otmoor 1st November

Waders and wildfowl numbers are slowly building up. In front of the hide this morning were:
Lapwing 120
Golden Plover 84
Wigeon 120
Teal 110
Little Grebe 1

Also on the reserve:
Peregrine 1
Raven 1
Stonechat 1

We have had no reports of the bearded tits today, though could still be present.

Mike Shurmer
RSPB Otmoor

Port Meadow 1st November

1 lesser yellowlegs (still 16:20 per R.B.A +2 Ruff now)
1 redshank
1 ruff
2 dunlin
1 peregrine
lots of goldies and ducks

Farmoor November 1st

Goldeneye 5

Pochard 13

Wigeon 6

Brambling 1

Siskin

Water Pipit causeway.