Otmoor: Roman Road: 31st May

Otmoor: Roman Road
Cetti's Warbler: Heard, not seen.
2 Raven: 'Cronking' overhead.

Mike Flemming

Port Meadow: 31st May

Port Meadow
8 Ringed Plover

Richard Foster

Otmoor.A.M.31st. May.

2 L.R.Plover
3 Oystercatcher
6 L.Egret
5 Hobby (1 chasing a Swift )
1 Common Tern ( carrying a fish )
1 Turtle Dove
1 Jay ( on feeding station )

Farmoor 31st May

No sign of the Purple Sandpiper this morning or any Sanderling or Dunlin.
(per Dai)

(c) The Paranoid Birder.

More superb pictures of the Purp at: http://theparanoidbirder.blogspot.com/

Still present at 19:00 at least.

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm: 30th May

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm
Cuckoo: Heard calling for 30 minutes, then seen flying low over the allotments behind the sewage works.

Dave Godfrey

Radley GP: 30th May

Radley GP
89 Canada Goose: incl. 54 juv.
Oystercatcher
4 Shoveler: 2 pr.
6 Common Tern
Kingfisher
34 Tufted Duck: incl. 3 chicks lake h/i.
2 Buzzard
6 Black-headed Gull: 6 chicks on island.

Gavin Paterson

(photo Badger)

Port Meadow: 30th May

Port Meadow
4 Ringed Plover
3 Oystercatcher
Redshank

Richard Foster

Access to Rushy Common

Thanks to Antony Collieu for supplying the following details.

Access to the Rushy Common hide and the Pit 60 Hides is using a key which can be purchased for ever from Alison Hopewell of LWVP for £6.00. Contact her at Alison.Hopewell@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

Location of Rushy Common:
http://www.goingbirding.co.uk/oxon/map.asp?grid_ref=SP382074

Further Information on The Lower Windrush Valley Project (LWVP) can be found at:
http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/lowerwindrushvalleyproject

Farmoor causeway May 30th 6pm

Purple Sandpiper - 1

Sanderling - 17

Dunlin - 6

Turnstone - 1

Barn Owl - 1

Farmoor 30th May (PM)

Purple Sandpiper
Sanderling 21
Turnstone
Dunlin 5
Stock Dove 1

Purple Sandpiper at Farmoor

Justin and Steve have just found one along the causeway along with 20+ Sanderling and some Dunlin.

Farmoor 30th May

21 Sanderling on causeway this afternoon.
(per R.B.A)

Farmoor Reservoir: 30th May

Farmoor Reservoir
4 Sanderling: On Northern edge of F1. Also 23 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover and 1 Turnstone on causeway. Common Tern over F1 and large mixed flock of Swifts and House Martins with a few Sand Martins and Swallows also present.

Joe Harris

BBC. TV. Channel One 7.30pm. - 8.00pm. 30th.May 2011

This evening on BBC Channel One South at 7.30pm.  "The Truth About Wildlife"
Chris Packham. Includes footage from a Chipping Norton Farm involved with the Wychwood Forest Project that has resulted in an upsurge of Tree Sparrow numbers. Chris Packham has interviewed dr.Alan Larkman the OOS conservation officer on the farm and it will be interesting how much, if any of Alans hard hitting critical views of just how harmful modern farming methods are to our drastically declining small bird populations are included.
Barry Hudson.

Otmoor.A.M. 30th. May.

3 Little Ringed Plover
1 Ringed Plover
1 Dunlin
1 Curlew ( bathing )
( L.R.P. still on eggs) All birds on
Greenaways Scrape.

Ashgrave.
4 L.Egret
4 Redshank

Port Meadow: 29th May

Port Meadow
3 Oystercatcher
3 Ringed Plover

Richard Foster

Radley Lakes 29th May

Lapwing with three young(Lake H/I)
Tufted duck with four young(Lake H/I)
Two Oystercatchers with one young(Thrupp Lake)
One female Red-crested pochard (Thrupp Lake)
Plover Pit dry

Otmoor.A.M. 29th.May.

1 L.R.Plover (on eggs)
1 Dunlin
1 Curlew (calling)
2 Turtle Dove (flying together on bridleway)
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Quail (calling) Ashgrave and Farmland
4 Cuckoo (3 calling 1 bubbling )
Lots of Swift over Reedbeds

Farmoor Reservoir: 29th May

Farmoor Reservoir
6 Sanderling

Mike Youngman

Spotted Flycatchers 29th May

Warborough 29th May
Spotted Flycatcher
(per SRA oos)

Wantage 28th May
Spotted Flycatcher: In paddock to west of leisure centre.
(Leo Bateman)

Rushy Common 28th May

Ringed Plover
Little ringed Plover
Oystercatcher 2
Common Tern 12

(per The Wickster)

Rushy Common is apparently now open to permit holders.
Details to follow...

Farmoor 28th May

Ringed Plover (over)
Oystercatcher
Sanderling 1
Dunlin 2
Garganey (Pinkhill)

(per the Wickster)

Radley 27th May

Quail (heard) from the Thames path near Radley Lakes last night,
(per Ben Carpenter)

Kingham Stock Doves

A pair of these delightful birds currently nesting in our garden

Port Meadow: 27th May

Port Meadow
7 Dunlin
3 Oystercatcher
Cuckoo: Calling somewhere W. of the floods.

Richard Foster

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 27th May

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Dunlin
Little Ringed Plover
Cuckoo
3 Buzzard
Little Egret
Turtle Dove
Quail: heard on Ashgrave from hide.

Gavin Paterson

Port Meadow: 26th May

Mediterranean Gull
7 Dunlin
Ringed Plover

Adam Hartley


A video snippet of tonight's Med. Gull

More on Port Meadow Birding

Port Meadow 25th May

1 Ringed Plover

Yesterday
2 Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover: All three waders present for just a few minutes.

Richard Foster

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

Otmoor 25th May

Quail (heard this morning on Ashgrave from hide)
+Garganey
Grasshopper Warbler (in car park field)

(per Clackers)

Further to previous posting a Turtle Dove
was seen and heard plus 5 or 6 Hobby flying
over Greenaways.

(per Paul Greenaway)

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

Farmoor Reservoir: 24th May

2 Sanderling: Late afternoon along causeway.

Peter Law

Balscote Quarry 24th May 9.45a.m

LRP 6 plus 2 chicks,
Ringed Plover 2
Lapwing 4 plus 3 juveniles
Little Grebe 2,
Sand martins 2
Swift 3

(per Roger Evans Banburybirds)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Banburybirds/

Abingdon Starlings

The leucistic Starling 'Snowy' with one of two young in Abingdon (c) M.Flemming

The Birdless Cuddesdon Moor

Video trip report from Poland...
Awesome...

http://birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.com/2011/05/video-trip-report-poland-may-2011.html

Otmoor. A.M. 24th May.

7 L.Egret
6+ Hobby
Lots of Skylark.
Lots of Swift.

Radley Gravel Pits/Lakes 24th May

1 Avocet seen flying over Thrupp lake calling.
1 Oystercatcher
4 Common Tern
2 Buzzard
2 Little Grebe

Farmoor 24th May

Oystercatcher 1

Turnstone 5
Ringed Plover 1
Little Ringed Plover 1
Sanderling 1
Curlew 2
Dunlin 3

Little Egret 1

Otmoor 23rd May

Marsh Harrier (fem) still Otmoor RSPB 10:30am
(per RBA)

Marsh Harrier seen over reed bed.
Quail heard on Closes field.
2 male Cuckoos seen,
plus 3 Hobbies
and newly hatched Redshank chicks.

Joe Harris

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

Port Meadow: 23rd May

Port Meadow
4 Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
8 Dunlin
3 Yellow Wagtail

Adam Hartley

Eight dunlin (c) Adam Gnome Hartley

GoingBirding: 23rd May

Garsington: Kings Copse Park
Raven: In field between B480 and KCP. Flew of N towards Garsington.

Peter Law

Farmoor Reservoir: 23rd May

Farmoor Reservoir
2 Sanderling: Along causeway on F1 side.
2 Dunlin

Peter Law

Port Meadow: 22nd May

1 Sanderling
4 Dunlin
1 Oystercatcher
1 Yellow Wagtail

Adam Hartley

Radley 22nd May

Female Red-crested Pochard on Thrupp Lake (c) J.C

Farmoor 22nd May

Oystercatcher 1
Sanderling 2
Dunlin 4

Mid Morning:

3 Sanderling

(Mike Youngman)

Port Meadow: 21st May

Port Meadow
2 Ringed Plover
2 Dunlin
Yellow Wagtail
Common Tern
2 Oystercatcher
1 Nuthatch, by Medley Farm still

Adam Hartley

GoingBirding: 21st May

Ashbury
23 Corn Bunting: Ridgeway and environs, 16 singing males.
2 Grey Partridge: Ridgeway and environs.
2 Yellow Wagtail

Gavin Paterson

Cuckoo's 21th May

Cuckoo calling in Headington from 5am. Have not heard one here for years.
(Bark)

I have just heard a Cuckoo calling
at 9.10 P.M. It sounded as if it came
from C.S.Lewis Reserve.

(Paul Greenaway)

Cuckoo yesterday at Woodcote
(per EFG oos)

Port Meadow: 20th May

9 Ringed Plover
Dunlin
3 Yellow Wagtail
Cuckoo: Distant calling male.

Adam Hartley

Sent by Pete....

Got a sneaking suspicion it wasn't taken at Otmoor...

Nightingale 20th May

Nightingale (heard) at Whitecross Green Wood
(per MTM OOS)

Farmoor 20th May

Avocet ( Briefly on causeway before flying West)

Sanderling 1
Oystercatcher 1

Avocet Farmoor 20th May

Avocet along the causway 8:10a.m
(per Dai)

Port Meadow: 19th May

This morning...
16 Ringed Plover
4 Dunlin

...Down to
4 Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin by the evening

Also
1 Greenshank
1 Oystercatcher
1 Yellow Wagtail

Adam Hartley

Radley 19th May

L.R.P


Oystercatcher


5 Lapwing


Common Tern


Cuckoo


3 Willow Warbler


2 Whitethroat

Also

2 Shelduck Pair on the Ash Pit until around 20:30.


2 LRP.


Water level now very low.
(Ian Elkins)

GoingBirding: 18th May

Grove
Curlew: Bubbling N end of airfield.
2 Grey Partridge: N end of airfield.

Leo Bateman

Farmoor 19th May

Sanderling 2
Dunlin 1

Farmoor 19th May

2 Sanderling along the causeway at 8:48a.m
(per Dai)

Port Meadow 18th May

2 Garganey (pair)
15 Ringed Plover
5 Dunlin
Greenshank
Oystercatcher
Cuckoo (Flying over N)

Richard Foster

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

GoingBirding: 18th May

1066
Wood Sandpiper (SU488942.)

Abingdon: Peep-o-Day Lane
Wood Sandpiper (SU488942)

Martin Brandon

Otmoor.A.M. 18th May.

1 Pr. Linnet
2 Kestrel
1 Turtle Dove
2 L.R.Plover
1 Garganey (m)
2 Hobby.

1066 Viewing and Access

1066 is the name given to the wetland north of the B4016 between Drayton and Sutton Courtenay. This is a private site with no public access but more importantly has vulnerable breeding birds prone to disturbance. Despite this, several people have been noted walking down to the waters edge. We have received an appeal from the landowner for birders to view only from the road and on no account enter the field. Please adhere to this request. The water levels of this fabulous piece of habitat are managed specifically for birds and we do not want to upset the landowner and risk jeopardizing the continued maintenance of this valuable site. So for the sake of the birds please keep out. Obviously not every birder in the county will see this message so if you visit 1066 and see someone going where they’ve been asked not to, please point out the error of their ways.

Thanks

Ian

Port Meadow: 17th May

16 Ringed Plover
5 Dunlin
Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Egyptian Goose
Yellow Wagtail
Oystercatcher
Common Tern

Adam Hartley & Richard Foster

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

GoingBirding: 17th May

1066
Wood Sandpiper: SU491941.

Gareth Blockley

Early morning Tree Sparrows

Approximately 7.45 am tomorrow morning Wednesday 18th May 2011 BBC Radio Oxford 95.2 FM will be interviewing Dr Alan Larkman on the Breakfast Show about the Oxfordshire Tree Sparrow Project.
Barry Hudson.

Otmoor Quail: 17th May

Quail reported (Terry Tossell) as having been heard from the RSPB car park in the direction of the MOD land. They've just started firing there so little chance of hearing it again this afternoon.

Burford Quail: 17th May

Quail 1 male 1ml north of Burford by A424 in fields around Taynton / Milton under Wychwood crossroads calling intermittently 00.20 to 01.00am at least.

Dave Morgan

Otmoor, 17th May, silly o'clock to 10:00

We have just completed an early morning survey on the reserve, and have had a few interesting sightings, on a lovely spring morning.

A turtle dove was feeding on seed around the Greenaways cattle pen. There were at least two cuckoo's heard one along the Greenaways bridleway and another further round between Big Otmoor and Ashgrave. In addition there were two seperate reports of females being seen one by Big Otmoor, and the other around the reedbed.

At last a CETTI'S WARBLER was heard in the double hedge from both the Greenaways field and flood field. This is an area of the reserve not accessable to the public but if one has been heard there is hope that they may reappear in more places. A quail was seen and heard, also in Greenaways, it may be possible to hear or view from the first screen.

A male garganey was right in front of the hide, and there is still lots of activety from redshank, lapwing, curlew and snipe across the reserve.

Happy birdwatching,

Gareth Luscombe
assistant warden

Port Meadow: 16th May

3 Oystercatcher
3 Dunlin
Greenshank
Egyptian Goose

Richard Foster

Otmoor.A.M. 16th May.

3+ Snipe
8+ Redshank
3 Cuckoo
4 Curlew
4 L. Egret ( Malt Pit )
8 L. Egret ( Ashgrave )
2 Common Tern
1 Garganey (D)
1 Pr. Pochard

1066 16th May

1 x Wood Sandpiper

Our Vanishing Swifts

Edward Mayer of Swift Conservation will be giving a talk on the causes of the dramatic decline in swift numbers in the UK and what we can do to help.

Wednesday May 18th, 7.30pm, at the Peachcroft Christian Centre, Abingdon.

Please do come along. Entry is by a small donation and refreshments will be available.

Edward Mayer is the Chair and founder of Swift Conservation:
http://www.swift-conservation.org/

This talk is being held as part of the Abingdon and Radley Swift Recovery Project, a joint project between Friends of Radley Lakes and Abingdon Naturalists Society.

Port Meadow 15th May

Wood Sandpiper at southern end of flood on Port Meadow at 8:12pm
also 5 dunlin
(per Gnome)

Greenshank
Egyptian Goose
40 Swift

Sydney Penner


The wood sandpiper on the floods this evening (c) Adam Hartley.

More details on Port Meadow Birding

The Slow Mo Guys - Red Kites in Slow Motion

First saw this film on Tom's site the brilliant http://birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.com/
It was shown on ITV but for anyone who hasn't seen it... enjoy.

1066 15th May

Wood Sandpiper still this morning.

GoingBirding: 14th May

Port Meadow
7 Dunlin
Oystercatcher
2 Shelduck

Richard Foster

Warborough 14th May

No sign of reported Rough-legged Buzzard between 15:40-17:00
near Upper Farm Warborough.

3 Buzzard
8+Red Kite
Kestrel
Corn Bunting

Otmoor 14th May

Quail (calling from the Closes and heard along the bridleway this morning)
2 Grey Partridge (reported)
Garganey (D)
3 Curlew
2 Dunlin
Hobby
4 Little Egret
3 Cuckoo
Turtle Dove

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

Stonesfield Dipper video

Taken the night it was found. Unfortunatly poor light due to rain and being taken through trees.

1066 14th May

Wood Sand still at 07:00
3 Redshank

Port Meadow: 13th May

4 Oystercatcher
2 Dunlin
Ringed Plover
Curlew: Present for just a few minutes this evening.
4 Yellow Wagtails

Richard Foster& Gnome

Otmoor 13th May

2 Dunlin (feeding in front of hide)
Also Garganey pair
2 LRPs,
Cuckoo pair.

Joe Harris

1066 13th May

Wood Sandpiper still at 1066 this morning.
(Ian Elkins)

Still there this evening at 18:00

(Badger)

Radley 13th

Greenshank

L.R.P

Oystercatcher

GoingBirding: 12th May

Port Meadow
2 Oystercatcher
2 Yellow Wagtail: One a possible female blue-headed type.

Richard Foster

Farmoor 12th May

Dunlin 9
Common Sandpiper 1
Greenshank 1
Curlew 1
Black-tailed Godwit 3

Otmoor.A.M. 12th. May.

3 L.R.Plover
1 Dunlin
1 Turtle Dove
2 Garganey m/f The male going into eclipse
2+ Hobby
50+ Swift

Farmoor 11th May

Little Egret 1
Common Sand 2
Dunlin 2

Osprey ( reported by fishermen )

GoingBirding: 11th May

Port Meadow
4 Dunlin
3 Greenshank
Oystercatcher

Richard Foster

GoingBirding: 11th May

Radley village: Radley College
Cuckoo: male. fields off Sugworth Lane.
(John Hillsdon)

Cuckoo Upper Heyford
(Mro OOS)

Oxon 10th May

Probable Grasshopper Warbler calling 9:30p.m in Barton Field Radley,
Heard along the Thames path.
(per J.C)

Spotted Fly-catcher 1 on wires near Noke church.
(per Richard Ebbs Oxonbirds)

Rough-legged Buzzard 10th May

Rough-legged Buzzard Warborough over copse behind Upper Farm at 11a.m
(for 3rd day). Keep to footpaths.
(per R.B.A)

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=459600&Y=194300&A=Y&Z=120

Farmoor 10th May

Common Sandpiper: On F2 along causeway.
Little Egret
Wheatear

Peter Law

Cholsey, 10th May

1 Sparrowhawk,
1 Peregrine,
1 Hobby,
2 Kestrel,
2 Grey Partridge,
6 Red-legged Partridge

Cuddesdon 10th May

Temminck's Stint north over Cuddesdon this morning
+Whimbrel
2 Quail (Heard)

(per Phil Barnett via text)

GoingBirding: 10th May

Port Meadow
3 Greenshank
2 Dunlin
Oystercatcher

Richard Foster

Otmoor. A.M. 10th.May.

3 L.R.Plover
2 R.L.Partridge
1 Turtle Dove
2 Garganey m/f
1 Wheatear
1 Common Tern
3 Hobby

GoingBirding: 9th May

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm
Cuckoo: Heard calling from the allotments behind the sewage works then seen being chased through trees by a magpie.

Dave Godfrey

Grove Airfield 9th May

Whinchat (fem)
2 Grasshopper Warbler
Cuckoo: male.
Lesser Whitethroat: All on east side of airfield.

Leo Bateman

Otmoor 9th May

2 Garganey: male & fem. Garganey pair feeding on Ashgrave field in front of hide.
4 Hobbies
Cuckoo over Greenaways.
20+ Swifts feeding over reedbed.
Impressive sight of Buzzard being mobbed by c.50 Lapwing over Big Otmoor.
Turtle Dove briefly seen from hide.

Joe Harris

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

GoingBirding: 9th May

Port Meadow
4 Oystercatcher
4 Dunlin
3 Greenshank
Shelduck

Richard Foster

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

Mon. May 9th Stock Doves Bampton

Farmoor.A.M. 9th. May.

1 Common Sandpiper
1 Green Sandpiper
No sign of Black Throat.

GoingBirding: 8th May

Port Meadow
2 Greenshank
2 Dunlin
Shelduck

James Grundy

Farmoor Reservoir

Black throated Diver 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Common Swift 10+

Black-throated Diver 8th May

Black-throated Diver Still present and showing well at 19:00 in North West corner of F1.

Joe Harris

Little Egret: Flew in and appeared to land down behind the sewage works.
(Gareth Blockley)

GoingBirding: 8th May

Banbury
Whinchat: Just north of town along the canal between bridge 160 and the motorway (per Clive Payne).

Gareth Blockley

Rufous Turtle Dove 8th May

Rufous Turtle Dove 1w (form orientalis)
still in the back garden of No:41 The Leys 9:40-9:50a.m
then flew off. No further access to No:41 today.
(per R.B.A)

Black-throated Diver at Farmoor 8th May

Altercation with a gull

More photos of a very smart bird.

Still present in the NW corner of F1 at 16:51

(per Dave Lowe)

Radley 8th May

4 Greenshank: Lake G: In late morning 4 at first but 1 flew off, still 3 in early afternoon.
2 Dunlin
Oystercatcher

Radley GP: Fishing pit
Hobby

Mari Esashi

+Peregrine
Curlew
1 Greenshank (1066)
(Badger)

Black-throated Diver at Farmoor 8th May

Barry Batchelor found this fabulous 1st summer Black-throated Diver at Farmoor this morning on FI, still present at lunchtime.

GoingBirding: 8th May

Port Meadow
2 Greenshank
2 Oystercatcher
Bar-tailed Godwit
Dunlin

Richard Foster

Otmoor Spoonbill 8th May

Peter Barker has just phoned to say that a spoonbill flew over Otmoor at around 8.45am,
it circled a few times and then headed off to the North East.

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

Berks: Spoonbill till 7.44am Newbury at Lower Farm GP then flew North
(per R.B.A)

Stonesfield 7th May

Dipper
Seen again this evening,7-30 near Stonesfield

GoingBirding: 7th May

Otmoor
2 Garganey: male & fem. Other birds of note: 7 Little Egret, 9 warbler species, 2 Hobby, Cuckoo past hide.

Joe Harris

GoingBirding: 7th May

Radley GP

Wood Sandpiper Still present on H/I pit @ 18:15.
Little Ringed Plover On H/I pit.
2 Greenshank: Stilll present on Ash-fill Pit.
Dunlin: On Ash-fill Pit.

Peter Law

Wolvercote Nightingale

Steve Goddard has directed me to this recording of a nightingale recorded in Wolvercote on 3rd May. What's more Steve was pretty sure that he heard it late last night to the north of Wolvercote.




(c) Rumi Mohideen

There has also been an unconfirmed report of a singing Nightingale near the Four Pillars
Hotel at Sandford on Thames recently.

GoingBirding: 30th April

Drayton (nr Abingdon)
6 Greenshank: 1066. SU9449.

Steve Clarke

Otmoor p.m. 7 May

Highlights:
2 Cuckoo
2 Lesser Whitethroat
Several Hobby
2 Little Egret

Port Meadow: 7th May

1 Bar-tailed Godwit
2 Oystercatcher
1 Shelduck

Adam Hartley

Shelduck photo (c) Gnome



Little Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover

(Richard Foster)

Radley Lakes 7th May

2 of the 3 Greenshank on the Plover Pit.

1 Oystercatcher (Plover Pit)
3 Lapwing
Plus Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Cuckoo, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting.

+Wood Sandpiper on H/I

1 L.R.P on Plover Pit

(Badger)

Crane Otmoor 7th May

Pete Barker has just called from the 1st screen on Otmoor to say that they have
just had a Crane fly over, the bird was heading West.

+Marsh Harrier

More on the Crane + the complete weekend round up of all of Otmoors wildlife at
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding

Dipper Stonesfield 7th May

Dipper at Stonesfield Common.

At 6.50 this a.m while stood by the Evenlode at Stonesfield Common, a Dipper flew
upstream past me within 15 feet calling, it then crossed the flat area of the Common
before rejoining the river and was eventually lost to view behind trees.
I've checked Ashford Mill from the bridge but no sign.

Paul Wren via text.

Port Meadow: 6th May

1 Grey Plover
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
3 Greenshank
2 Common Sandpiper
1 Oystercatcher
5 Yellow Wagtail

Adam Hartley

1 Little Ringed Plover (per Richard Foster)
3 Whimbrel (per Richard Foster)

4 Common Tern: One brought several fish from the river to partner waiting by the flood. (Sydney Penner)
Lesser Whitethroat in Burgess Field (Sydney Penner)

Otmoor 6th May a.m

Bar-tailed Godwit (Big Otmoor)
Garganey (Ashgrave)
Peregrine

2 Whimbrel over Islip station

per The Wickster.

Rufous Turtle Dove 6th May

Rufous Turtle Dove 1w (form orientalis) in back garden of No:41
until 7:40a.m then flew off. Access to 41 on Sunday from 7:30a.m.
(per R.B.A)

Farmoor 6th May

Dai:
Grey Plover 1
Turnstone 2
Common Sandpiper 4
Little Ringed Plover 2
Dunlin 3

Also (per Ian Elkins):
Whimbrel 1
Little Tern 1 briefly at 09:45 (flew north)
Hobby 2
Lesser Whitethroat 1 singing at western end of causeway

Port Meadow: 5th May

1 Greenshank
2 Oystercatcher
4 Common Sandpiper
1 Red Kite
1 Lesser Whitethroat in Burgess Field

Adam Hartley

Also per Richard Foster:
2 Dunlin
2 Golden Plover
6 Common Tern
5 Yellow Wagtail

Presentation at Malta House (Oriental Turtle Dove)

Over £3000 pounds has now been raised since the 14th of Febuary
by the Akers family in Chipping Norton for Bildlife Malta.
http://www.birdlifemalta.org/

Once again many thanks to Steve & family for the continual access
in to there home for nearly three months, and congratulations on raising
such a fantastic sum for such an important and worthy cause.

Oriental Turtle Dove 1w (form orientalis) still in the back garden
of No:41 The Leys at 9:21a.m.
Access to No:41 Sunday from 7:30a.m

1066 5th May

2 Greenshank
7 Redshank

+Common Sand late p.m
2 Snipe
(Badger)

Farmoor 5th May

Common Sandpiper 6
Ringed Plover 1
Oystercatcher 1
Greenshank 1
Curlew 1
Common Tern 8
Black Tern 2

Dunlin 3

Dave Lowe
Dai John

GoingBirding: 4th May

Port Meadow
Black Tern

Steve Goddard

Buscot 4th May Buzzards Scrapping

These Buzzards appeared really serious about hurting each other, the picture quality is affected by having to photograph them through a pigwire fence.

Port Meadow 4th May

Egret sp. (possibly cattle) flew over distantly (per Richard Foster)
Black tern on the Meadow at 18:15 & coming & going thereafter(per Steve Goddard)
Possible arctic tern also (per Richard Foster)

Garganey: male.
Bar-tailed Godwit
Greenshank
Oystercatcher

Mike Youngman

Whimbrel: Flew off E around midday (Richard Foster)
White Wagtail (Badger)


Some excellent video footage of the Port Meadow stork from a couple of days ago (c) Jeff Pursey.
For more "stork porn" visit Gnome's Birding Diary

1066 4th May

2 Spotted Redshank
2 Greenshank
3 Redshank

Peter Law


(unfortunately again no sign of Spotshanks between 5-5:30pm)
But 2 Greenshank still
6 Redshank
2 Snipe

Badger

Rufous Turtle Dove 4th May

Rufous Turtle Dove 1w (form orientalis) still this morning
in the back garden of No:41 The Leys at 9.30a.m.
(per R.B.A)

Radley 4th May

Greenshank (on the small Ash-pit 'Plover Pit')
Oystercatcher
Cuckoo
Garden Warbler
10+ Swift

Little Ringed Plover (John Hillsdon)

No sign of any Spotshanks at 1066 this morning.

Farmoor 4th May

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I
1 Greenshank
3 Common Sandpiper
Lesser Whitethroat,
Common Tern
Grasshopper Warbler.

Joe Harris

Bar-tailed Godwit: Flew out of Shrike Meadow and over F1. (Peter Law)

Otmoor.A.M.4th May.

3 L.R.Plover
1 Curlew
4 Stock Dove
1 Turtle Dove
4+ Hobby

1 Marsh Harrier (rep.)
1 Peregrine (rep.)

Little Tern (Farmoor) 4th May

Dai has just called to say Steve Young has found a Little Tern, currently on F2 (09:10)

GoingBirding: 3rd May

3rd May

Farmoor Reservoir
22 Black Tern
Arctic Tern: One definite and a further possible around 6.45.
Cuckoo: In trees near Pinkhill.

Richard Foster

Port Meadow 3rd May

2 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Greenshank
3 Garganey: 2m 1f.
Oystercatcher
10 yellow wagtails including one probable female m.f. flava

Adam Hartley

Farmoor (16:30-17:30)

Black tern - 22
Arctic tern - 2+
Common tern - 8+
Yellow wagtail - 1 m

Clearly a day for tern passage at the reservoir, the Black terns were already present when i arrived and were then joined by a mixed flock of about 20 sterna terns that came in low from the south west and most of which departed to the east quite quickly. Although at distance the majority were Common's, 8 of which were present at 17:30 at least.

GoingBirding: 3rd May

Farmoor Reservoir
21 Black Tern
2 Arctic Tern
Common Sandpiper

Sydney Penner

1066

2 Spot Red
2 Greenshank
4 Redshank
2 Snipe

GoingBirding: 3rd May

Radley GP
Whimbrel: Still present on H/I pit, 15:30 - 16:30. No waders on ash fill pit.
Oystercatcher: also on H/I pit.

Peter Law

Farmoor

14:00
c30 Black Tern
At least 2 Arctic Tern
10+ Common Tern

Otmoor Crane

Probably the same bird as was seen yesterday at Farmoor was on the M.O.D. land this morning early but flew off strongly in an easterly direction shortly after being found.
Bark

Otmoor. A.M. 3rd. May.

2 L.R.Plover
1 Curlew
1 Black Tailed Godwit
3 Redshank
1 Oystercatcher
5+ Hobby
1 Kestrel
1 Turtle Dove (heard)
2 Wigeon (m/f)
1 Yellow Wagtail

Farmoor 3rd May

Black Tern 18+

Arctic Tern 5

Bar-tailed Godwit 1

Green Sandpiper 1

(Steve Young just phone to say that he is currently watching 70 Commic Terns)

GoingBirding: 3rd May

Radley GP: ""Ash-fill pit"""
4 Greenshank: 6.30-7.30.
Oystercatcher: 6.30-7.30. Pit H/I.
Whimbrel: 6.30-7.30. Pit H/I.

John Hillsdon

Farmoor 2nd May: Crane

2nd May

Farmoor Reservoir: Causeway
Crane: Seen from the Causeway flying North East over F1.

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I
Turnstone
4 Common Sandpiper
Dunlin

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
14 Black Tern

Dave Godfrey

GoingBirding: 2nd May

Port Meadow
25 Bar-tailed Godwit
2 Ringed Plover
Grey Plover
Oystercatcher
3 Common Tern
2 Yellow Wagtail

Richard Foster

GoingBirding: 2nd May

Radley GP
Whimbrel: The rest had either gone to roost or flown.
Whimbrel: only one, hopefully the rest had gone to roost.

John Hillsdon

GoingBirding: 2nd May

Otmoor
Bar-tailed Godwit: Feeding in front of Wetlands Watch hide. Also present; Swifts, House Martin, Sand Martin, Hobby, Lesser Whitethroat, Redshank, Whitethroat, Reed & Sedge Warblers, Little Egret and lots of happy Lapwings.

Joe Harris

Port Meadow (1-2pm)

Grey Plover - 1 (a more advanced summer plumage bird than that videoed by Adam yesterday morning.
Bar Tailed Godwit - 25
Garganey - 3 (2 drake)
Common Tern - 2

GoingBirding: 2nd May

Farmoor Reservoir: Pinkhill
Green Sandpiper

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
2 Dunlin

Mari Esashi

White Stork

Message from Justin Taylor to say that the Stork has been seen flying towards Bucks over the Launton Road in Bicester.
Bark

1066 1.15pm

Further to Leo's post this morning.
2 Spotted Redshank still
3 Greenshank still
1 Snipe still
5 Redshank
11 Lapwing

GoingBirding: 2nd May

Grimsbury Reservoir
2 Black Tern
2 Common Tern

Mark Ribbons

White Stork on Otmoor

I have just had a text from David Wilding to say that the White Stork has just flown over Greenaways on Otmoor R.S.P.B heading towards the M.O.D. land or the flood field.

Bark

Photos of the Otmoor stork as it flew over (c) Graham Cox

Colour ringed Kittiwake 25/04/11

I haven't got official feedback from BTO or the ringing group for this bird but
have some information from Birdforum. It would seem I got the ring combination
wrong and mistook a metal ring as a white plastic ring, meaning the bird I saw
had the ring combination orange-red-metal ring and green-green-white. This bird
was ringed in France and was seen several times in the midlands last spring, a
photo of it here from last year
http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/search2.cgi?species=Kittiwake&photograp\her=&location=&county=&start=24

Gareth

White Stork Port Meadow

A white stork dropped in to Port Meadow briefly at around midday today. Found by Richard Foster it was seen by perhaps half a dozen people who happened to be there. With so many walkers out and about it was never going to stay long and after a couple of minutes it flew off low to the east. My guess is that Otmoor may well be worth checking out.

For the record there were a couple of ringed plover, the grey plover still and a flock of 20 odd bar-tailed godwits whilst I was there. Apparently about 60 barwits have already gone through this morning.

A couple of point and shoot record shots. I'm hoping to get hold
of some video footage that was taken by someone there in due course.

GoingBirding: 2nd May

2nd May

Port Meadow
3 Bar-tailed Godwit: 2m, 1f. A solitary male, then a pair at 08:28, ahead of flock which arrived with other birders just after 9am.
Grey Plover: Still present, having been seen by several other birders, when I left at 10:30.
Garganey: 2m, 1f. All sightings viewed from Burgess Field Gate.

Peter Law

1066 & Radley 2nd May

At 1066 (0900 hrs):

2 Spotted Redshank
3 Greenshank
10+ Redshank
1 Snipe

Radley (0800 hrs):

1 Greenshank
1 Oystercatcher (H/I)
Grasshopper Warbler reeling along track to small ash pit
1 Cuckoo

May 2nd. Childrey Downs.

8 Corn Bunting, 11 Skylark, Yellowhammer, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Fox.