2 Ring-necked Parakeet
(per The Wickster)
This seems to be one of the most reliable sites
for these birds in the county.
Park at Henley Rugby club,walk away from Henley
along the Marlow road for approx 50yrds then
cross over the road and take the footpath towards
the river about here
3 seen at 10am New Year's Day on the gable on the last river-fronted building down from Hobbs boatyard, right next to Mill Meadows playground.
(anon from comments)
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Wytham 31st December
White-fronted Goose near Wytham village.
About here
Canada Geese 375
Greylag Geese 102
Bar-headed Geese 2
Farmoor (Dec 31st) 8-10:45
Great Northern Diver - 1 juv appeared in good health and no sign of red twine.
Water Rail - 1
Goldeneye - 12
Wigeon - pair
Aythya Hybrid - male on F1 still.
Bullfinch
Aythya Hybrid (c) The Paranoid Birder
Water Rail - 1
Goldeneye - 12
Wigeon - pair
Aythya Hybrid - male on F1 still.
Bullfinch
Aythya Hybrid (c) The Paranoid Birder
Friday, 30 December 2011
Otmoor 30th December
White-fronted Goose not seen amongst the Greylags.
Grey Heron flying across the channel by the hide
Fox running on Ashgrave
Buzzard from the hide
Kestrel in a tree by the path to the 1st screen
Photos (c) Nigel Forrow
Farmoor Reservoir 30th December
Farmoor II
Great Northern Diver Juv. troubled by what looks like red fishing line on feet.
David White
+Jack Snipe (per Dai oos)
Great Northern Diver Juv. troubled by what looks like red fishing line on feet.
David White
+Jack Snipe (per Dai oos)
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Otmoor 29th December
White-fronted Goose still on Greenaways with one of the Greylag flocks though mobile.
Cetti's Warbler (heard halfway along the bridleway)
Green Sandpiper (2nd Screen)
All things Moorish Otmoor Birding
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Otmoor 27th December
3+ SEO giving close spectacular views all afternoon in broad daylight.
The WF Goose with the greylags on Greenaways.
Also present peregrine, sparrowhawk, buzzard, kingfisher, cettis warbler heard near the vols hut, raven.
more at Otmoor Birding
The WF Goose with the greylags on Greenaways.
Also present peregrine, sparrowhawk, buzzard, kingfisher, cettis warbler heard near the vols hut, raven.
more at Otmoor Birding
Farmoor (Dec 27th) 10:30 - 12:45
Great Northern Diver - 1 juv showing well from the sailing club
Goosander - 1f
Siskin - 5
Kingfisher - 1
Greenfinch - 35
Lapwing - c40 (s)
Bullfinch - 3
(c) The Paranoid Birder
Goosander - 1f
Siskin - 5
Kingfisher - 1
Greenfinch - 35
Lapwing - c40 (s)
Bullfinch - 3
(c) The Paranoid Birder
Monday, 26 December 2011
Standlake, 26th December
Caspian Gull 1, 3rd/w
WF Goose 1ad
Goosander 4
Golden Plover 3
Redpoll 1
Wigeon 356
Teal 291
Pintail 1m
WF Goose 1ad
Goosander 4
Golden Plover 3
Redpoll 1
Wigeon 356
Teal 291
Pintail 1m
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Otmoor.A.M.25th December.
2 Raven
1 Sparrowhawk (F)
C. 1000 Golden Plover
C. 500 Lapwing
1 White Fronted Goose (still with Greylags)
1 Sparrowhawk (F)
C. 1000 Golden Plover
C. 500 Lapwing
1 White Fronted Goose (still with Greylags)
Weston-on-the-Green: Stonehouse Farm: 22nd December
Weston-on-the-Green: Stonehouse Farm
10 Common Crossbill
Elizabeth Hodgson
10 Common Crossbill
Elizabeth Hodgson
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Appleford Spit Pit (Dec 24th) 3-4pm
Common Sandpiper - 1
GBBGull - 10
Hardly any gulls on the pool or surrounding fields.
GBBGull - 10
Hardly any gulls on the pool or surrounding fields.
Farmoor (Dec 24th) 12:30 - 2:30
Great Northern Diver - 1 Juv still showing well on F2
Redshank - 2
Pochard - 22
Great Crested Grebe - 72
Redshank - 2
Pochard - 22
Great Crested Grebe - 72
Friday, 23 December 2011
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Cholsey: Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve: 22nd December
Cholsey: Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve
100 Corn Bunting: 100+ at roost site.
2 Water rail
Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
3 Corn Bunting
Paul Chandler
more on the Cholsey Wildlife blog
100 Corn Bunting: 100+ at roost site.
2 Water rail
Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
3 Corn Bunting
Paul Chandler
more on the Cholsey Wildlife blog
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Otmoor 20th Dec
Peregrine (Greenaways)
Merlin (Ashgrave)
Short-eared Owl 2 (Closes)
(per Terry Tossel & Paul Greenaway)
Otmoor Birding
Merlin (Ashgrave)
Short-eared Owl 2 (Closes)
(per Terry Tossel & Paul Greenaway)
Otmoor Birding
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Farmoor Res 18th December
Great Northern Diver 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Common Redshank 3
Aythya hybrid 1 (Common Pochard x Tufted Duck)
Otmoor 18th December
White-fronted Goose still on Ashgrave
Hen Harrier (ringtail)
Short-eared Owl 3+
more at Otmoor Birding
Chimney Meadows
Short-eared Owl (per Antony Edwards)
Hen Harrier (ringtail)
Short-eared Owl 3+
more at Otmoor Birding
Chimney Meadows
Short-eared Owl (per Antony Edwards)
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Badbury Hill, 17th December
Crossbill 4
Brambling 1
Lesser Redpoll 5
Raven 2
Marsh Tit 3+
Goosander 3, Buscot
Siskin 1
Brambling 1
Lesser Redpoll 5
Raven 2
Marsh Tit 3+
Goosander 3, Buscot
Siskin 1
Otmoor 17th December
White-fronted Goose on Ashgrave with the goose flock.
Goosander over
(per Pete Barker)
more at Otmoor Birding
Goosander over
(per Pete Barker)
more at Otmoor Birding
Friday, 16 December 2011
Farmoor afternoon
c300 Fieldfare and c50 Redwing, 1 Buzard, Treecreeper, Bullfinch through Buckthorn Meadow to Pinkhill (including the berry burdened cotonesters by the F1 fishermans car park). c300 Wood Pigeon at Pinkhill lock area, possibly flushed by one of the 4 sightings of female and male sparrowhawks through same area to Wytham Wood, where 3 Buzzard hovering and 1 Kite soaring in the winds. 21 Pochard(14m 7f)and 1 Redshank on F1. 14 Goldeneye (2m displaying with sounds effects to 12f) on F2 where the resident Great Northern Diver has been joined by 3 Pintail (2m 1f) still present late PM after first seen early AM by Dai. A couple of displaying GC Grebes seemed to ignore the near zero temps but the Pied Wagtails have adapted and crashed to just 3 birds seen. Gull roost was dominated by B H Gull (1000's), followed by Lesser B-backs (100's)and perhaps 20 Common Gulls. Yellow-legged seemed to outnumber Herring when the rain hit. A poor gull showing, compensated by one Common Sandpiper at south of F2 and c1000 Jackdaws swirling in an immitation of pre-roost Starling flock.
University Parks: 16th December
University Parks
2 Raven: Sat in pine tree, vocalizing, before flying off to the south.
Sydney Penner
2 Raven: Sat in pine tree, vocalizing, before flying off to the south.
Sydney Penner
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Cholsey 15th December
Lollingdon Hill
Hen Harrier (ring tail)
2 Corn Bunting
250 Lapwing: 250+.
Paul Chandler
more on the Cholsey wildlife blog
Hen Harrier (ring tail)
2 Corn Bunting
250 Lapwing: 250+.
Paul Chandler
more on the Cholsey wildlife blog
: 15th December
Cottesmore Lane
24 Grey Partridge: covey of 14 and another of 10. SU638925.
Thomas Stevenson
more on the Benson & Ewelme Wildlife blog
24 Grey Partridge: covey of 14 and another of 10. SU638925.
Thomas Stevenson
more on the Benson & Ewelme Wildlife blog
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Sonning Eye
13th December
The 1st winter Glaucous Gull was in the Sonning Eye roost this evening arriving at approx. 3.50pm. The bird has been around the Woodley area since at least the 10th but is elusive.
The roost is to the West of the sailing club and there is no vehicle access onto the site.
Hugh
The 1st winter Glaucous Gull was in the Sonning Eye roost this evening arriving at approx. 3.50pm. The bird has been around the Woodley area since at least the 10th but is elusive.
The roost is to the West of the sailing club and there is no vehicle access onto the site.
Hugh
Sonning Eye Glaucous Gull 13th December
RBA are reporting a glaucous gull in the roost at Sonning Eye at 4pm today
The juv bird seen around Reading over the last few days was relocated this evening
by Hugh Netley.
Photo taken in Berks of the Glauc here and here
The juv bird seen around Reading over the last few days was relocated this evening
by Hugh Netley.
Photo taken in Berks of the Glauc here and here
Monday, 12 December 2011
Otmoor: 12th December
Few birds around today, but some highlights nonetheless:
Hen Harrier viewable intermittently around the reed-bed area;
Short-eared Owl viewed from The Pill around 2.45pm
Otmoor Owls
Some great photos of the Otmoor short-eared owls taken by George Reszeter on 6th December
Sunday, 11 December 2011
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Friday, 9 December 2011
Farmoor 9th December
Great Northern Diver seen flying South West over F2 at 09-00hrs.
4 Redshank
22+ Goldeneye
Short-eared Owl late afternoon.
4 Redshank
22+ Goldeneye
Short-eared Owl late afternoon.
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Otmoor Hen Harrier Yesterday
Some more photos of the hen harrier at Otmoor yesterday, taken by (c) Paul Higgins
Iceland Gull 7th December
(Simon Bradfield)
And again 14:00-15:45p.m (Badger)
+ Yellow-legged Gull (ad)
8 Common Gull
Radley
Iceland Gull (2ndw) 16:05 amongst the Thrupp Lake roost.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Otmoor 6th December
Hen Harrier (ringtail) Quartering the Closes between carpark and the hide.
3 Short-eared Owl Probably 4 or 5 present over Greenaways, Closes and back of reedbeds.
Raven: 1 or 2 present.
Terry Tossell
photos (c) Mike Flemming
Mike Flemming's Natural History Photos
Farmoor 6th December
21 Goldeneye
3 Pochard
3 Redshank
1 Common Sandpiper
Henley Road GPs: 6th December
Henley Road GPs
Goosander: rh.
5 Goldeneye: 2m+2f.
3 Egyptian Goose
Sonning Eye GPs
2 Goldeneye: 1m+1f.
Marek Walford
Goosander: rh.
5 Goldeneye: 2m+2f.
3 Egyptian Goose
Sonning Eye GPs
2 Goldeneye: 1m+1f.
Marek Walford
Monday, 5 December 2011
Farmoor 5th December
Snow Geese part of a feral flock of 34 at Farmoor this morning.
No sign of the Great northern Diver.
photo (c) Terry Sherlock
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Otmoor Raptor Display
2.30 Left car park to immediate views of ring-tailed Hen Harrier playing like a cat with a vole(?) for at least 5 minutes in The Closes; giving very close views for those in the hide. BBWOT bird race team arrived and left with two new species under belt; followed by arival of some 50-60 birdwatchers looking to repeat U-Tube views of Starling Roost, from southern screen overlooking the reedbeds at west of Greenaways. Green Sand at northern screen seen by Peter Law was just 1 bird and the starlings appeared to be on a numerical par, when seen from afar. The Short-eared Owls were far better. First appearance at 3.30pm next to junction in SE of Greenaways, seen most of the time till 4.15, occasionally hopping over to quarter Moorleys, and once both ascended for a fascinating slow wing beat hover. At similar time 2 birds were observed by others mobbing the buzzard by the hide and another bird was seen just east of NE of Greenaways, where a bird had been seen immediately before the stunningly close views at 3.30 mentioned before. So at least 5 birds....
Snipe flushed by the SE's and 2 Red-legged Partridge in SE Greenaways plus flocks of Fieldfare all over reserve.
First birding visit here and two raptor county ticks in the bag. With yesterday, 170 on the list please Jason !
More here Otmoor Birding
Snipe flushed by the SE's and 2 Red-legged Partridge in SE Greenaways plus flocks of Fieldfare all over reserve.
First birding visit here and two raptor county ticks in the bag. With yesterday, 170 on the list please Jason !
More here Otmoor Birding
Otmoor 04 Dec
Fieldfare
Short-eared Owl (shot into the sun)
Both images were taken on the South Pill Ground in late afternoon sun.
Photos (c) Nigel Forrow
Otmoor: Central: 4th December
Otmoor: Central
2 Short-eared Owl: Seen hunting the going high to see off Buzzard.
John Barnes
2 Short-eared Owl: Seen hunting the going high to see off Buzzard.
John Barnes
Grimsbury Reservoir: 4th December
Grimsbury Reservoir
Coot: Uncommon here - new for the year. Only the second one I have ever recorded here, I've seen more Med gulls!.
Willow Tit: In the woodland, near to the canal.
Gareth Blockley
Coot: Uncommon here - new for the year. Only the second one I have ever recorded here, I've seen more Med gulls!.
Willow Tit: In the woodland, near to the canal.
Gareth Blockley
4th December
Farmoor
GN Diver 1 - E side FII at 10.10
Standlake
Green Sand 1
White-fronted Goose 1ad - Thames fields
Little Egret 1
Wigeon 300+
Teal 250
Pintail 1m
GN Diver 1 - E side FII at 10.10
Standlake
Green Sand 1
White-fronted Goose 1ad - Thames fields
Little Egret 1
Wigeon 300+
Teal 250
Pintail 1m
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Stonesfield Common
Golden Plover 300+ over common and adjacent fields before heading off towards Fawler
Farmoor at Dusk
Light no good for gull roost but a Great Northern Diver was perfectly silloueted at the edge of the thousands of Larids. At least 2300 Jackdaws coming mainly from Wytham direction to roost in the woodland south of the Res. One buzzard flying NE into wind, over the cold waters of F1 towards Wytham and later 2 Buzzard circling together surprisingly late in the fast advancing gloom, overhead of the departing Jackdaw flocks.
Great views around Appleford Pit gulls
402 Canada Geese with 2 Greylags arriving together certainly made the gulls shift to the goose free side, but this chap and his large dog circling the lake in full view had not the slightest effect on anything ! So great views of Iceland flying around at will, Caspian (sedentary), 2 adult Yellow-legged and Badgers 1st W bird, set aganst a background of argentatus Herring Gulls and intermedius L B-backs, G b-backs, Black-headed and 1 adult Common Gull and the sun perfectly behind the car between 1pm and 2pm made for a very worth while visit.
Thrupp Lake, Radley
Earth Trust Birdwatching walk around Thrupp Lake, Radley yielded 31 species in 2 hours. Green Sandpiper, small flocks of Redwing and Lapwing, displaying G.C. Grebes in winter plumage, singing Song Thrush, 3min Kingfisher and perhaps 6 Grey Heron and a personal County tick - Redpoll, probably being the main interest. No Goosander now, but wildfowl included: Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted, and Pochard. All birds getting increasingly tolerant of people including the gulls, Cormorants and waterfowl.
Collective observations by attending group with Ben Carpenter leading.
Collective observations by attending group with Ben Carpenter leading.
Appleford 3rd December
Iceland gull 2w on the Spit Pit at 11:23
Caspian Gull late afternoon
Yellow-legged Gull (ad 1stw)
(per Badger)
Caspian Gull late afternoon
Yellow-legged Gull (ad 1stw)
(per Badger)
Farmoor Res 3rd December
Great Northern Diver at 07:43 but No further sign after 8a.m (per The Wickster)
Back on F2 at 11:20 (per The Wickster)
photo (c) T.Sherlock
Friday, 2 December 2011
Appleford 2nd December
Iceland Gull (2ndw)
Caspian Gull (prob) see Ian's post from 30th Gulls at Appleford
Both on the Spit pit mid afternoon.
View only from Car.
photo (c) Lew
Farmoor 2nd December.
Great Northern Diver F2 ( Late afternoon )
2 Tawny Owl
2 Redshank
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Tawny Owl
2 Redshank
1 Common Sandpiper
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Coleshill: 1st December
5 Common Cranes seen in Coleshill (National Trust Estate), both in am and pm today. Also one dead one in a nearby field.
The dead one did not have any rings. At 4.05pm they flew, north, towards Buscot.
Helen Newton
The dead one did not have any rings. At 4.05pm they flew, north, towards Buscot.
Helen Newton
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Gulls at Appleford 30/11/11
Appleford: Appleford GP: 30th November
Appleford: Appleford GP
Iceland Gull: 1w. Birds from this morning still present. SU522927.
Caspian Gull: 1w. SU522927.
Phil Chapman
Iceland Gull: 1w. Birds from this morning still present. SU522927.
Caspian Gull: 1w. SU522927.
Phil Chapman
Otmoor Tree Sparrows 30th November
Paul Greenaway has just phoned to say that there are two Tree Sparrows on the temporary feeders near the new hide.
Appleford Spit Pit 30th November
Tom Wickens has just called to say that not only is the 1st winter Caspian gull on the Appleford Spit Pit this morning but also there's a 1st winter Iceland gull there.
Monday, 28 November 2011
Otmoor Great Grey Shrike
RBA are reporting a great grey shrike yesterday at Otmoor at the Firing Range at 2 p.m.
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Otmoor 27th November
Female Hen Harrier on Otmoor today (c) Jonathan Mercer
also 5 Short-eared Owls on the reserve
Full weekend round up at Otmoor Birding
Radley 27th November
2 of 4 Crossbills (3m1f) today at Radley at the east end of Bullfield Lake.
(per Mike Flemming)
photo (c) M.Flemming
Beckley: 27th November
Probable Hen Harrier male. Seen, by my non birding wife, flying across B4027.
Nick Suckling
Nick Suckling
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Appleford 26th November
1st winter Caspian Gull still at Appleford this morning on the Spit Pit.
more photo's here
View only from car.
Friday, 25 November 2011
Biffaward grant to Otmoor R.S.P.B
Biffaward is a multi-million pound fund that helps to build communities and transform
lives through awarding grants to community and environmental projects across the UK.
Biffaward looks to support site-based projects that protect and enhance biodiversity
across the UK, particularly those concentrating on species and habitats that have been
identified as a priority in Biodiversity Action Plans.
more at Otmoor Birding
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Spam E-mails
Hi all, my Gmail account was hacked last night so some of you may have got a spam mail from me with a dodgy link in it. If so then please just ignore it & delete the message.
I'm sure most of you will already know this but just in case for those who don't, this is rather common for Gmail and Hotmail accounts. If you have one of these accounts and suddenly start getting lots of mail delivery failure messages for spam links then you've been hacked and need to change your password. I don't know about Hotmail but Gmail also has a link at the bottom showing who else is logged on to your account - you can kick them off first and then change the password so they can't get back in. The messages should then stop.
If you ever get an unexpected e-mail from someone with just a dodgy looking link and no message, don't click on it. At the very least e-mail them back to check whether it was genuine.
My apologies for those who already know all this. That is the end of this public information broadcast!
If you ever get an unexpected e-mail from someone with just a dodgy looking link and no message, don't click on it. At the very least e-mail them back to check whether it was genuine.
My apologies for those who already know all this. That is the end of this public information broadcast!
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Farmoor 22nd November
2 Redshank
1 Knot (still present 2p.m per The Wickster)
18 Goldeneye
1 Aythya hybrid
1 Knot (still present 2p.m per The Wickster)
18 Goldeneye
1 Aythya hybrid
