Mealy Redpoll at Milcombe

Thanks to Richard Hazel for alerting us to the presence of
this stunning bird and for permission to use his excellent photos.

There has been a Mealy (Common) Redpoll visiting a niger feeder in a garden at Milcombe village for the last week including today. Milcombe is about 6km south-west of Banbury off the A361. It is a strikingly pale individual, bordering on Arctic, though it has a large bill and heavily streaked flanks and undertail coverts. The garden is viewable from a public right of way across paddocks accessed from Paradise lane in Milcombe at SP 410348. There are only up to 7 Redpolls (Lesser) visiting but very irregularly so you may be in for a long wait. As usual please respect the privacy of the residents, particularly the garden into which you are viewing, whose owner was kind enough to alert us of the birds presence.

The juv Glaucous and Iceland Gulls were both on the Spit Pit at lunchtime before being flushed by some more tiresome scaring antics. What a sad profession.

Appleford Iceland Gull 31st Jan

Iceland Gull Appleford landfill site at 4.15p.m
(per R.B.A)

Glaucous Gull still a.m

No sign of the Iceland Gull at Radley this evening.

South Abingdon G.P's 31st January

3 smew at lunchtime today. Most of the lakes are now frozen over.

Rushy Common 31st January

2 Smew (both redheads) at Rushy Common.
(per Barry Hudson OOS)

Rushy Common is off of the minor road between Cogges and Stanton Harcourt. There is currently no public access to the newly created nature reserve but most of the lake can be viewed from the roadside verge.

Bewick's Swans 30th Jan

Sunday pm. On the left bank of the Thames about half way between Sandford and
the Radley College boathouse, in a field of young Brassica, 3/4 Bewick's swans in
company with 20+ mute swans. Possibly the same group reported near Dorchester a
week or so ago?
(per Brian Lavercombe Oxonbirds)

Otmoor A.M.31st January

1200+ wigeon
200+ teal
pochard
pintail
tufted
mallard
shoveler
2 buzzard
4 red kites
15 pied wagtails

Cherwell (Old Marston): 1m goosander

Waxwings 31st January

10 Waxwings in Drayton nr Abingdon on berries outside 55 Abingdon Road
(per The Wickster)

50+ Waxwings Cumnor nr garden Centre at 14.25
(per Dai Johns)

Berry-munching waxwing (c) Pete Styles

Waxwings at North Leigh

There were 30-40 Waxwings on Crab-apple trees at Cuckamus Green, North Leigh this afternoon.

Farmoor roost 30th January

Glaucous Gull (2w)
2 Caspian Gull (2w +1w)
2 Med Gull
Red-breasted Merg
(per NJH)

more info & photo's at the superb
http://www.farmoor-birding.com/

Radley Iceland Gull 30th January

Iceland Gull again came in to roost on Thrupp Lake 16.40
until at least 17.20.

Otmoor Barnacle Geese 30th January

Pete Barker found 7 Barnacle Geese this morning near to the 2nd screen on Otmoor

mixed in with the resident Canada Geese. All the Geese were un-ringed and were

gone by midday. Most likely to have come from a feral flock than be 'wild' birds but

worth noting that the free flying Bedfordshire flock is now Cat C.

http://thebritishlist.blogspot.com/2009/01/species-categories.html

Complete weekend round up at...

http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding

Iffley Lock to Abingdon 30th Jan

48 Mute Swan

1 Tufted Duck

2 G C Grebe

3 Goosander

7 Coot

1 Raven

2 Buzzard

1 Sparrowhawk

42 Linnet

3 Reed Bunting

3 G S Woodpecker

(per Colin Williams)

Balscote Quarry 30th January

Little owl 1
Tree sparrow 30+
Yellowhammer 20+
Reed bunting 2
Snipe 2
Golden plover 20

http://thestonedcurlew.blogspot.com/

Meadow Lane Nature Park

Waxwings 42
Bullfinch 2
Kingfisher 1

Witney Lake 30th January

The Slavonian grebe still present today (per Bird Guides)

+Little Egret

photo's (c) Dave Morgan

Farmoor I: 30 January

3 Gadwall
3 Goosander (1m)
14 Goldeneye
2 Common Gulls
1 Scaup (f)
3 Common Redshank

Standlake 30 Jan

Smew 4 redheads pit 60
Little Egret 1
Wigeon 900
Teal 230
Goosander 4
Pintail 15
Marsh Tit 2

Scaup 1f still at Farmoor yesterday (29th)

Otmoor Sunday 30th January: Barnacle geese

7 un-ringed barnacle geese from the 2nd screen at Otmoor at 12:10pm (per Badger)

Waxwings 30th January

8 Waxwings near junction of Mably Way and Denchworth Road, Wantage, this morning.

15 Waxwing over my garden in Kelburne Road, Cowley, at 4pm heading towards Iffley.

Finally got Waxwing on my garden list

(per Colin Williams)

55 Waxwings in the trees at the top of Beauchamp Lane in Cowley at 12:00
(per Oz)

c40 Waxwings Abingdon at the Wooton end of Furlong Road

(per Bob Eeles)

28 Waxwings Henley on Queen Street mid morning

(per R.B.A)

c8 Waxwings Abingdon on Dunmore Road near the bus shelter late afternoon

Grove Waxwings

Belated report of 15 Waxwings near Grove Kebab Van, Wasborough Fields, 27th Jan (per Tom Cole)

Farmoor 29th Jan

c30 Snow Geese over this morning
+4 Redshank
(per The Wickster)

Radley 29th Jan late p.m

The Iceland Gull &
Glaucous Gull both on Thrupp Lake
until 17.20 at least.
+ Goosander (redhead)

Iffley Meadows 29th Jan

Waxwing 5
Goosander 2m 1f
Buzzard
Kestrel
Blackcap 1m
Bullfinch 2

The Goosanders were showing very well on Wiers Mill Stream with the males displaying sky pointing behaviour.

Blackcap photo (c) M.Flemming

Appleford Saturday 29th January

juv. glaucous gull at 10:20 a.m. on the Spit Pit
juv. iceland gull at 10:45 a.m. on the Spit Pit
(per Badger)

Waxwings Saturday 29th January

50+ waxwings flew over Abingdon College at 9:58a.m. towards Wooton Road (per B.B)

12 waxwings in a tree beside Wolvercote Village Hall this morning around 10.45 (per Steve Goddard)

19 Waxwings in Henley on Queen St this afternoon
(per R.B.A)

45 Waxwings on Littlehay Road, Oxford at 1pm today
(per Joe Harris)

28 Jan Farmoor

Female Scaup

Marsh Tit

This is a pale headed Long-tailed Tit from Otmoor, possibly the bird reported as a Northern. Long-tailed Tit.

Farmoor 28th Jan

2 Med Gulls (both Adults) in the roost this evening
+Red-breasted Merg (f)
(per R.B.A)

More info & photo's on the superb
http://www.farmoor-birding.com/

28 Jan - Botley Waxwings

c.15 flew through the Minns Business Park this afternoon. Good office tick!

Pale Common Buzzard

This morning I walked along the south side of the Thames between Abingdon and Radley in search of Wayne's possible Rough-leg. I photographed this very pale juvenile Common Buzzard just east of Kingfisher Barn and I sent the images to Wayne who confirmed it was the bird he saw last Tuesday. It could have been very easy for him say it wasn't (I would've!) so for that he should be commended. It is a really striking bird and I believe I saw the same individual between Sutton Courtenay and Appleford in early December. Thanks go to Wayne for agreeing to flag up the presence of this wanabe Rough-leg.

Cheers,

Ian

Radley 28th January

Wigeon

Teal

Pochard

Mallard

Tufted

Shoveller at least 13

Gadwell 64+

G C Grebe

Cormorant

Mute Swan

Gulls coming in inc many Common Gull

Coot

Canada and Greylag

Red Kite 3

(per John Hilsdon)

Poss Iceland Gull in the roost

(per Ben Carpenter)

28th Jan, Sonning Eye GP

Bittern in the reedbed at the north end of the lake, there on my arrival at 17:10 until dark

Port Meadow Friday 28th January

2 dunlin
1 redshank
90+ pintail (!)
2 shelduck
(Gnome)

2 more dunlin
1 black-tailed godwit
(David Fearn)

Godwit photo (c) David Fearn

Shotover A.M. 28th January

4 tree creepers
14 long tailed tits
6 bullfinches
2 goldcrests
1 green woodpecker
4 reed buntings
2 buzzards
1 red kite

Blackcap

1 Male Blackcap in Bampton Garden

Barry.

Waxwings Friday 28th January

1 Waxwing in garden in Walton Manor, Oxford (per Gnome)




Photo (c) Gnome

Waxwings 27th Jan

75 Waxwings on Orchard Close Shiplake until 11.19a.m
when they flew in the direction of Shiplake College
(per B.B)

9 Waxwings flew east over Balliol college front quad at16:25
(per Richard Foster)

Otmoor A.M.

4 bullfinches
1 marsh tit
10 chaffinches
4 dunnock
2 red kite
lots of ducks mainly wigeon

Port Meadow 27th January

Today:
1 black-tailed godwit
2 dunlin
lots of pintail
loads of wigeon & teal

Yesterday:
1 yellow-legged gull in the roost last night.

Ravens in Cholsey

2 Ravens seen this morning.

More at http://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/

Banbury area 27th January

Horley Scout Camp:-
1 Siskin
1 Female Sparrowhawk.
5 Bullfinch
15 Fieldfare

Balscote Quarry:-
15 TreeSparrow
1 Little Owl reported

(per Mark Ribbons)

Salford 27 January Willow Tit

A single bird seen feeding on a fat ball at a private site on 24 January

Winter Bird Atlas

Further to John Melling’s post in Oxonbirds, the map shows a visual representation of where effort could be concentrated in the final few weeks of the national (and county) bird atlas. The paler tetrads are where fewer than 10 species (in cases no birds) have been recorded. This is the last chance to make your mark on the map and help to produce a robust data set that will be used for years to come.
As John has already commented (and as can be seen from the map), areas that are in need of attention are concentrated around the following: near Bicester; to the north of Witney; and around Hook Norton.
It shouldn’t take too much time or effort to stop at an under-recorded tetrad on the way to Farmoor or Otmoor, and have a quick tetrad bash to bring up the species total. (Of course, records are still very much welcome from the ‘hotspots’ of the county.)
Further details can be found at http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/birdatlas or by googling (other search engines are available) ‘UK Birdatlas’ or similar.
Not sure which tetrads you will be passing through on your way to Farmoor or Otmoor? Check out the following link and just click on the relevant region: http://blx1.bto.org/atlas/tetrads/open-tetrad.jsp
It is recommended to regularly check the coverage, as it likely that it will change on a very regular basis as more and more records are entered towards the end of the project. This information can be found at the following link: http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/birdatlas/results/regional-results and clicking on the relevant region.
Data can be entered via the Birdatlas website, via Birdtrack or by paper.
Key to map:
Clear=No species!;
white=1-9 spp;
yellow=10-19 spp;
orange=20-34 spp;
red=35-49 spp;
blue=50-79 spp;
black=greater than 80 spp

Farmoor 26th January

red-breasted merganser & 4 goosander flew over Shrike Meadow and probably landed on the reservoir at 15:05
(per Dai John)

Iceland Gull Appleford 26th Jan

Iceland Gull (juv) Appleford GPs again on 2nd pit south
of road at 1.35p.m
(per R.B.A)

Iffley Meadows 26th January

3 Cormorant
2 Grey Heron
1 Common Buzzard
2 Woodcock (flushed)
8 Meadow Pipit

Waxwings 26th January

45+Waxwings at playing fields at Wooton and Dry Sandford
Community Centre c11.15a.m
(per R.B.A)

photo (c) Wayne Bull

Starling roost in Kidlington 25th Jan

c4000 Starlings over Waverly Avenue Kidlington and Gosford
at around 5p.m this afternoon.

photo (c) M.Flemming

Photo's of the Iceland Gull Appleford 25th Jan

Iceland Gull at Appleford 25th Jan

Present on the spit pit from 12.10 till 12.35pm

Other site information:

Short-eared Owl at Bury Down
Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer

Water Rail at Ewelme
Grey Wagtail

Radley Gravel Pits/Lakes 25th January

Mallard,Wigeon,Shoveler,Teal,Pochard,Tufted duck,
2 Shelduck
60+ Gadwall
1 Goosander (rh)
2 Red Kite
2 Common Buzzard
1 Kestrel
11 Common Gull
3 Stock Dove
2 Siskin

Iceland Gull Appleford 25th Jan

Iceland Gull (juv) at Appleford on the Spit Pit 12.10
(per Justin)

Probable Rough-legged Buzzard Radley 25th Jan

Wayne Bull has just seen a probable Rough-legged Buzzard at Radley c11a.m
The bird showed a lot of white in the tail, giving a first impresion of a ringtail Harrier,
The bird apperaed a little larger than a Common Buzzard and at one point seen to hover.
It was then seen to fly in the direction of the Audlett Drive entrance to the Radley
pits complex and is currently being looked for...

Waxwings 25th January

c20 Waxwings briefly on Lake Street Oxford at 9.05a.m
(per Dave Lowe)

Glaucous Gull Appleford 24th Jan

Glaucous Gull (1st w) Appleford on the Spit Pit at 2.45p.m
(per R.B.A)

Blenheim 24th Jan

1 Hawfinch at the top of the trees behind the walled garden this afternoon
+Raven over
(per Oz)

Farmoor (2 - 3:30pm) 24th Jan

Scaup - 1 (female on F1)
Barn Owl - 1 (pinkhill)
Goosander - 3 (1 male)

Otmoor 24th Jan

4 bullfinch
1 heron
2 red kites
1 buzzard
6 pochard
10+ gadwall
2 pintail
20+ tufted
200+ wigeon
25 teal
25+ shoveler
C.2300 lapwing
1 peregrine

Port Meadow 24th January

3 redshank
2 dunlin
20+ pintail
1 nuthatch (a rare Meadow bird) heard only.

Waxwings 24th January

15+ Waxwings at Dry sandford pit BBOWT reserve feeding on privet berries before moving onto the apple tree just outside the reserve late morning.
(per Wayne Bull)

24 Waxwings around Iffley Turn & Donnington Playing Field.
(per Steve Roby)

30 Waxwings near Lye Valley Nature Reserve Headington today

(per Janet Stansfield)

photo (c) Wayne Bull.

Otmoor 23rd January

1000+ Wigeon
400+ Teal
Pintail
c3000 Lapwing
10 Golden Plover
2 Sprawk
2 Peregrine

More Info pictures & the complete weekend round up at
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding

Kidlington Grey Wagtail

One outside Martin's Newsagents in High Street this morning.

Kidlington Starlings

Performing again tonight over Oxford Road.

Short-eared Owls & Hen Harrier

Bury Down/Cow Down: At least 7 (but probably double figures) short-eared owls seen flying and perching in tops of scrubby trees at junction of Bury Down Ridgeway and the Cow Down gallops. A ringtail harrier seen briefly in valley to north of this area.

Slavonian Grebe - Witney Lake

Slavonian Grebe still showing well today.

Glaucous Gull Appleford 23rd Jan

Glaucous Gull (1st w) still just south of Appleford this morning
in field adjacent to the B4016
(per R.B.A)

Grimsbury reservoir - 23/01/11

Brambling - 1 winter male along the canal hedge,
Siskin - 50 - 60, a very vocal flock with several males singing (no redpolls),
Willow tit - 1 calling in the south of the wood around the stream,
Stock dove - 4 in the fields at the back (notable there!),
several species now singing including 2 Coal tits.

Gareth

Sunday 23rd January: Waxwings

20+ waxwings in Wootton still along the main Abingdon to Cumnor Road approx. 600m north of the Hungry Horse restaurant
(per the Wickster)

BBOWT Dry Sandford Pit reserve, Cothill: 13 waxwings initially found feasting on the large apple tree at the entrance on the reserve and then up to 53 were followed around the reserve whilst they fed on privet and hawthorn berries as well as rosehips. The birds were also watched drinking and bathing from the small stream at the back of the reserve. The birds were very approachable and photogenic.

(per Colin Williams)

25 waxwings at the Abingdon Road entrance to the Iffley Road/Uni Sports Club
(per Bird Guides)

54 Wawings were sat in a tree opposite our house in Gainsborough Green, Abingdon Friday morning at 09:15 staying there for 5 minutes before flying off north.
(per Dave Godfrey)

Yesterday at 10:30 4 Waxwings in trees adjacent to the A34 north of Drayton (same place as per Thursday's sighting)
(per Dave Godfrey)

Oddington 23rd Jan

Little Owl
Golden Plover (Over moor) 25+
Lapwing (Over moor) 1000+
Buzzard 2
Red Kite 1

Farmoor 22 Jan

Barn Owl

Scaup

Otmoor: mainly from the bridleway between the reserve and Oddington 22nd Jan

Little Egret 1
Egyptian Goose 1
Golden Plover c75
Lapwing 500+
Fieldfare 500+
Redwing 300+
Starling 300+
Bullfinch 4
Little Grebe 1
Buzzard 3
Marsh Tit 1
Pintail 6
Treecreeper 1
Grey Heron 2

Appleford 22nd January

(Same Caspian last November (c) Lew)

Caspian Gull (2nd w)
Glaucous Gull (1st w)
Both in fields south of Appleford adjacent
to the B4016 this afternoon.

Wantage to Letcombe Regis FP

2 Brambling
c 300 Reed Buntings in reedbed roost, more arriving as I left.
2 Treecreeper

Slavonian Grebe Witney Lake 22nd Jan

Slavonian Grebe still Witney Lake at south end at midday
Access from end of Avenue two off Station Lane.
(per Steve Burch)

Photo (c) Steve Burch
(click here for higher res. version)

21st January

Shiplake
Ring-necked Parakeet heard calling from the Thames path off Church Lane

Bury Down
Ring-tail Hen Harrier hunting over a large area in both Oxon and Berks (15:30)

North Leigh Common 22nd Jan

1 Brambling (f)
30 Chaffinch
(per Keith Clack)

Kidlington Starlings

Large number of starlings in roost or pre roost in trees near the Thames Valley Police HQ.

Waxwings Saturday 22nd

Flock of 30 Waxwings seen at 4pm Arthur Evans Close, Wootton.
(per Richard Ballard)

11 Waxwings Oxford opposite Westgate car park this afternoon
(per R.B.A)

A single Waxwing at noon today perched on a rooftop on Beauchamp Road, Temple Cowley, before it flew off in the direction of Iffley.
(per Colin Williams)

3 Waxwings at Donnington Playing Field around 3pm this afternoon.
(per Steve Roby)

Otmoor Friday 21st January

4 bullfinch

1 egyptian goose

1 marsh tit

1 buzzard

Hen Harrier Berks/Oxon border 21st Jan

1+ Hen Harrier (ringtail) Bury Down (Berks) at 3.30p.m though mobile
(Per R.B.A)

Kidlington Starling Roost 21st Jan

2000+ Starlings in a pre-roost flap about in Kidlington c17.00

near the Oxford/Bicester Road junction.

(photo Mike Flemming)

Port Meadow 21st January

Floods partially frozen
2 dunlin
quite a few pintail
little grebe on the river

Smew 20th Jan

2 Smew (both redhead) still at south Abingdon G.Ps yesterday.
(per David Guyoncourt)

Waxwings 20th January

5 Waxwings 8.50 to 9.10 am, Pheasant Walk,Littlemore, Oxford.
In same spot as previous day - top of pair of horse chestnut trees
at end of street.
(per Lynda & Tony Raymond)

Witney Lake

Slavonian grebe still present early afternoon

1 grey wagtail

Also quite a few siskins about


Photo (c) Gnome

Smew Standlake Common 20th Jan

Smew (redhead) on Pit 60 this afternoon
(per Tony Edwards)

Waxwings 20th January

There is a flock of 20+ Waxwing at BBOWT's Dry Sandford Pit, Cothill (west of Oxford) this morning. They are feeding on privet berries adjacent to the carpark. They were also seen yesterday.(per Colin Williams)

I also had a flock of 20 Waxwings fly over Mayfair Road, Cowley at 0830 this morning heading towards Littelmore (per Colin Williams)

Small group (10?) of Waxwings in trees on the Eastern side of the A34 about 08:20 this morning, just North of Drayton. Presume it’s the same group as the drayton road ones; probably about half a mile away as the Waxwing flies. (per Jon Norris)

About 8 Waxwings still Oxpens Road in Oxford showing on front 2 trees at entrance of ocvc.

they are mobile but have been seen each day since last friday. Normally around 8am and
mid morning and then near dusk. They are feeding on a berry tree near the
furniture entrance when there are no students about.
(per Chris Oxonbirds)

Slavonian Grebe Witney Lake 19th Jan

Slavonian Grebe still present at 16.30 on Witney Lake
+Little Egret
(per Tony Edwards Oxonbirds)

Leucistic Starling Abingdon

This leucistic Starling has been sporadically visiting my garden near the Abbey Fishponds reserve on Radley Road, Abingdon since October 2008. Such a striking bird must surely have been seen by other birders and it would be interesting to know what area it and its associated flock forage over.

Mike Flemming

Cholsey Jack Snipe, 19th Jan

Jack Snipe.

More at http://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/

Bagley Wood 19th Jan

1 Woodcock
1 Stock Dove
2 Grt Spotted Woodpecker
7 Jay
1 Goldcrest
2 Coal Tit
7 Nuthatch
2 Treecreeper
10+ Siskin
2 Bullfinch

Waxwings 19th January

15+ Waxwings again on Drayton Road leaving Abingdon in trees on right just before
layby opposite road to Oday hill 11.30a.m
(per John Hardie)

10+Waxwings 8.25-8.35a.m Pheasant Walk Littlemore Oxford.
(Further up the road from previous sightings).
(per Lynda & Tony Raymond)

30+ Waxwings 12:30 along Drayton Road leaving Abingdon. Most of them were

in apple trees on right just after layby opposite road to Oday hill.

(per Pete Roby)

Dorchester 18 Jan

Two Smew (red heads) amongst the ducks this afternoon.

Blewbury Downs 18 Jan

Otmoor 18th Jan a.m

3000+ lapwing(flying)
C. 200 goldies
1 sparrowhawk
1 little eagret
2 skylarks
lots of ducks
1 buzzard
1 red kite
(per Paul Greenaway)

Port Meadow 18th January

2 dunlin
6 goosander (2m)
20+ pintail

Goosanders at Sutton Courtenay 18th Jan

31 Goosander (30 r/h, 1 male) in pits immediately to east of Sutton Courtenay.

Radley Gravel Pits/Lakes 18th Jan.

Mallard,Shoveler,Pochard,Tufted Duck,Wigeon.
60+ Teal
70+ Gadwall
1 Goosander (female)
3 Buzzard
1 Red Kite
1 Kestrel
1 Water Rail (calling)
25 Lapwing
1 Green Sandpiper
4 Common Gull
2 Grt Spotted woodpecker
4 Skylark
4 Siskin
2 Bullfinch

Waxwings 18th Jan.

3 Waxwings along Drayton Road c500 metres south of Abingdon
in Crab apple tree at 9.30a.m
(per The Wickster)

21 Waxwings Drayton Road though mobile at 10.00a.m
(per B.B)

50+ Waxwings in the car park at sainsbury's heyford hill briefly at 1.05 p.m before flying off in the direction of heyford hill lane.

Northern long-tailed tit Otmoor

We had a possible sighting of northern long-tailed tit on Otmoor yesterday afternoon, it was only a quick view at the feeders so it would be great if this could be confirmed. The sighting was from our Assistant Warden and the description of the event is below.

Seen yesterday at around 1430 on the bird feeders, with a flock of c. 10 long-tailed tits.

It had an all white head, but otherwise looked like the 'normal' tits. My initial thoughts were that it appeared slightly longer and slimmer.

Once I got back to the office checked the Collins books and looked at a few pics on birdguides, I would say I am 90% confident it is a northern long-tailed tit. The slimmer appearance may have been due to its paler plumage. I went down again this morning from 0730-0845 and didn't even see a long-tailed tit!

As yet this is a unconfirmed record but if people are around on Otmoor it would be good for you to check any flocks of long-tailed tits.

The white fronts were still on Big Otmoor yesterday, 1,800 lapwing on Ashgrave, and shelduck on the 100 Acre. Water levels are high on the moor and the duck numbers are increasing.

If coming to the reserve could you please drive slow through Beckley as we have had some comments recently about people speeding.

Cholsey Marsh at dusk 17th Jan

145 Corn Bunting at roost.

More at http://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/

17th Jan

2 Ravens henley on thames. Very vocal.

Hugh Netley

Waxwings 17th January

35+ Waxwings 9am, Pheasant Walk, Oxford, same spot as before.
(per Lynda & Tony Raymond)

Today at 10am and 3.30pm 25+ Waxwings mobile outside furniture centre
on Oxpens Road.
(per Chris Hyde Oxonbirds)

5 Waxwings reported in a garden in Wolvercote
(per an anonymous comment on the Port Meadow blog)

Flying Kites 16 January

A Red Kite over Kingham this morning -unusual
A Red Kite over Taynton this lunchtime - not so unusual

(photo (c) B.B)

Port Meadow 16th January

possible Glaucous gull (per Ivor Rymes)
lots of pintail
7 goosander
1 pochard
100+ golden plover

Tubney Wood

1 raven just off the A420 near Tubney Wood.

Bagley Woods 16th Jan

3 Woodcock
Raven
numerous small flocks of Siskins
(per The Wickster)

Glaucous Gull 16th Jan

Glaucous Gull (juv) Still just south of Appleford loafing in field adjacent to the
B4016 though distant at 12.06

West Oxon 16th Jan

Witney Lake:
Slavonian Grebe 1
Siskin 15

Dix Pit:
RC Pochard 30
Teal 136
Pintail 12
YL Gull 6 (c.1000 gulls present this am)
redpoll 1
Siskin 1

North Leigh/East End Common:
Brambling 2
Lesser Redpoll 4

Waxwings 16th Jan

25+ Waxwings over oxpens road at 10.00 a.m this morning.

19 Waxwings between 10.10 and 10.30am in Pheasant Walk, Oxford; same spot
as previous two days.
85+ Waxwings at 2.45pm briefly
(per Lynda & Tony Raymond)


14:00 80+ Waxwings Between Towns Road Oxford
14:05 5 Waxwings Iffley Road
14:07 20 Waxwings Donnington Bridge Road
(per Tom Bedford)



http://birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.com/2011/01/east-oxford-taken-over-by-masked.html

Farmoor 16th January

Bittern on Pinkhill at c09.25 in the South/West corner of the reeds
(per Dai John)

Witney Dipper 15th Jan

Dipper on a small flooded patch of the woods off Witan way (roughly opposite the junction with St. Mary's Mead). Present about 15:15, but gone by 16:20. Probably will stick about though, I suspect it moved on to the nearby River Windrush.
(per Phil Chapman)

Appleford Spit Pit 3.05-4.20pm 15th Jan

Glaucous Gull 1 1stW seen feeding at tip, washing in pit and flew off alone to the fields by village at 4.04pm.
Common Gull 5
Lapwing 9
c300 B-h Gulls probably outnumbered all other gulls combined. A marked decrease on recent visits and all present could be viewed as they fed on fresh refuse close to road, so Iceland very probably not present. Possibly all other gulls were off looking for Slaty-backed Gull at Rainham? !
Goldcrest and Redwing
Red Kites chasing gulls as usual, but also picking dropped food from off the water surface.
Plenty of fishermen, walkers and dogs exercised along road.

Also 3 Buzzard by road corner west of rail bridge.

Friday 14th Berinsfield to Drayton Road

8.00am 3 Mutes
4.15pm 6 Bewicks and 18 Mute (including 1x1st winter)

Thursday 13th Benson Lock/Benson
GC Grebe 2a and 1x1stW
Mallard 9 pairs
Brambling 1m with 5 Chaffinch in ash trees opposite keepers house
Treecreeper heard in keepers house car park
Grey heron 2 on banks
Red Kite 3

Witney Lake

1 Slavonian grebe
1 Med. gull
60 siskins
(per the Wickster)

Grebe still present at 13:00
(per Steve Burch)


Photo (c) Steve Burch

Still present c16.00
(per Keith Clack)

15th January - Waxwings

08.30 am; 13 Waxwing in tree's around Donnington Playing Field
Small groups have been showing briefly in the area of Cavell Road over the past week.
(per Steve Roby)

13+ Waxwings on Oxpens Road, same position as yesterday but mobile.
(per Steve Goddard)

10 Waxwings on Bertie Rd., Cumnor at 14:50
(per Dai John)

c. 25 Waxwings on corner of Oxpens Rd. by railway station car park though mobile
(per Richard Foster)

25 Waxwings were seen today in Marston at 12:45 in two trees on the corner of Old Marston Road and Marston Road
(per Karl Harlos)

C. 25+ Waxwings Littlemore, Oxford. Present on and off in varying-sized flocks between 8.50 and 10.50am on tallest birch behind houses on right near start of Pheasant Walk.
(per Lynda and Tony Raymond)

90+ Waxwings in a compact flock moving amongst the trees around the Oxford railway station car park.
(per Guy Houlsby)

Slavonian Grebe Witney Lake 14th Jan

The Slavonian Grebe was showing well at 13.00 hours on Witney Lake today.

Witney Lake is accessible from the end of Avenue two off Station Lane.

Thame 14th Jan

Wholly unconfirmed report of a Black Kite 2 miles north of Thame this morning?
(per R.B.A)

Glaucous Gull At Appleford 14th Jan

The Glaucous Gull was briefly back on the Spit Pit at 12.40 but only stayed for 5 minutes as all the Gulls were sent up by gun fire.
(per Simon Bradfield)

21 Goosander - Sutton Courtenay

18 Female and 3 Male.
On pits either side of “A” shown here

White fronted geese 14th Jan

At least 14 whitefronts in fields with greylags and canadas between shiplake and sonning. Viewable from thames path just south of small copse at su767775 looking west.
Probably same birds which were seen briefly on the berks side at Borough marsh in Dec.
Also at least one r.n.parakeet.

Hugh Netley

Walton Manor: Nordic Jackdaw again

"Norbert" the Nordic jackdaw once again put in an appearance in the garden this morning.

Waxwings 14th January

20 Waxwings again in Marston this morning in two small trees on the corner of Old Marston Road and Marston Road.
(per Bob Pomfret, OxonBirds)

25 Waxwings this morning on Pheasant Walk in Littlemore, Oxford at around 9.10 am.
Stayed for a while, then flew off in Sandford direction.
(Per Lynda & Tony Raymond)

5 Waxwings outside NSF, Rycotewood Furniture Centre, Oxford and Cherwell Valley
College at 2.30pm on rowan tree - full of berries. opposite ice rink. OX1 1SA.
(per Chris Oxonbirds)

3 Waxwings yesterday in tree by railway bridge on Walton Well Rd.
(per Ben Sandford-Smith)

Radley Gravel Pits/Lakes 13th Jan

Mallard,Teal,Shoveler,Gadwall,Pochard,Tufted duck.
4 G.C.Grebe
2 Heron
5 Cormorant
1 Red Kite
2 Buzzard
3 Water Rail (1 seen,2 more calling)
7 Common Gull
5 Herring Gull
10 LBB Gull
2 Green Woodpecker
1 Skylark
1 Treecreeper
4 Siskin
15 Goldfinch
1 Bullfinch

Slavonian Grebe Witney 13th Jan

Slavonian Grebe on Witney Lake this morning
(per Dave Doherty)

Still present at 15.50 along the northern shore (per Jon Prowse)
Access to the Lake is from the end of Avenue two off Station Lane.

(photo Badger)

Waxwings 13th January

c80 Waxwings Alexander Close Abingdon 09.30-10.20a.m
Birds were landing in the road and drinking from the puddles.
(Badger then Wayne Bull)

3+Waxwings Banbury on bank near flyover at 11a.m
(per R.B.A)

7 Waxwings Sandford-on-Thames
(per N.J.H)

C. 25+ Waxwings, Littlemore, Oxford, 15 Jan. Present on and off in varying-sized flocks between 8.50 and 10.50am on tallest birch behind houses on right near start of Pheasant Walk.
(per Lynda and Tony Raymond)

Waxwings 12th January

c80 Waxwings Alexander Close Abingdon 09.14-09.25 though mobile.

30 Waxwing Oxford still at Osney Allotments early afternoon
(per R.B.A)

4-5 Waxwings this morning in Oxford on Howard Street and in the Cricket Road allotments behind the Howard Street houses
(per Oz)

17 Waxwings still in Banbury near Hi-Q at lunchtime
(per Steve Holiday see Comments)

11th Jan sonning eye and henley rd pits

During webs count over 4000 birds counted.

8 smew ( 2rh sonning eye 1 rh henley road 1m and 4rh private pit )
2 1st winter drake scaup sonning eye
2 rh goosander
1 drake red cr pochard
1533 tufted duck
1183 coot
551 gadwall
515 widgeon
226 pochard
20 goldeneye
2 eygptian goose
64 teal

hugh netley

South Stoke 1.00-1.30pm Tuesday 11th Jan

4 Red Kites but no sign of the White-fronts in field immediately north of village.
Many 100's of Lesser Blackbacks, Common and Black-headed Gulls loafing together amongst the pig pens to the SSE of the village. No Herring, Yellow-legged or Caspian Gulls seen.

Waxwings 11th Jan

At 9 am this morning 22 of them arrived in a tree right next to my car as I
was waiting at the junction of Old Marston Road and Marston Road (Oxford). They
stayed just long enough to count and then flew off over the Co-op towards
Croft Road (per Bob Pomfret Oxonbirds)

31 Waxwings Banbury off Gatteridge Street by HiQ Exhaust at 2.50p.m then flew north
(per R.B.A)

At least twelve more Waxwings lingering in the Grimsbury area, seen by one one of my
collegues. She saw them from her flat window on a Cherry tree by
Fowler Road.
(per Gareth Banburybirds)

Otmoor 11th Jan

29 White fronted geese seen flying over greenaways towards ashgrave at 1.45 pm
2 Peregrine Falcon (a male in ashgrave and female in big otmoor)
4 Red Kite
1 Sparrowhawk
The usual ducks,finches,tits and thrushes.

10/01/2011 - Otmoor White-fronts

29 White-fronted Geese still present on Otmoor (on the Big Otmoor field) on monday afternoon

Waxwings 10th Jan 2011

c43 Waxwing Oxford on Donnington Bridge late afternoon
(per R.B.A)

Is this Another Dutchman Wintering in the UK?

In-between finding white winged gulls, Badger has turned to searching for colour gull rings to read; An infinitely more challenging and rewarding undertaking. When he told me he had found one with the letters ANS (so soon after M.AAK), I thought he was taking the proverbial, as everyone knows this is the acronym for the Abingdon Naturalists’ Society, named after his home town.

Seemingly not; Peter Stewart has confirmed this is one of ‘his' gulls, many of which have gone wandering (some even back to Continental Europe) and the increased readings whilst gulls stand on frozen waters. The gull would have originally been caught at Stoke Orchard, amongst the fresh refuse, using a Canon Net…. Ah.. such happy memories…

The Severn Estuary Gull Group - Recapture History
Lesser Black-backed Gull Ring number FP 86626 Blue ANS [Adult]
05/02/07 Stoke Orchard landfill site, Gloucestershire (Caught/ringed)
3/01/08 Grundons landfill site, Gloucestershire (2 km, N 332 days)

17/12/08 Grundons landfill site, Gloucestershire (1 yr 316days)
01/12/09 Gloucester landfill site, Gloucestershire (16 km, SW, 2 yrs
15/12/09 Grundons landfill site, Gloucestershire (2 yrs 313days)

03/12/10 Priorslee Lake, Telford, Salop (86 km, NNW 3 yrs 301days)

05/01/11 Didcot, Oxfordshire (69 km ESE, 3 yrs 334days)

Then on Saturday 8th at Radley, Badger is seeing another blue ring with a definite ‘J’ on it. So now it appears he thinks the gulls are being named after him!
As well as allegedly spreading Bovine TB; at least one Badger is definitely carrying the highly contagious gull addiction virus.