Port Meadow: 31st March

Port Meadow
2 Oystercatcher
2 Shelduck
5 Little Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
Pintail

Mary Gregory

Radley Lakes: 31st March

Radley Lakes
1 Cetti's Warbler
1 Redshank
2 Willow Warbler
1 Raven

South Abingdon GPs
c.30 Sand Martins
1 Cetti's Warbler

1066
1 Ruff
2 Redshank
c.20 Lapwing
c.40 Teal

Otmoor: 31st March

Otmoor
Peregrine
Little Ringed Plover

Joe Harris

Dix Pit Great White Egret

RBA are reporting a Great White Egret that flew over Dix Pit early afternoon. We don't know anything more about this report at this stage.

Farmoor 31st March

Rock Pipit along the causeway.

(per Dai)

Rushy Common 31st March

Peregrine
Oystercatcher 4
Little Ringed Plover 2 (Tar Lakes)
Shelduck 2
Egyptian Goose 5
Blackcap (singing)

(per Clackers)

In search of the 'Aloo' Chat 30th March

Good to see some new faces at what is always a great evening.

Birders Curry Night Kidlington 30th March.

Port Meadow: 30th March

Port Meadow
4 Little Ringed Plover
2 Redshank
Oystercatcher
2 Shelduck

Richard Foster

South Leigh: 30th March

South Leigh: 30th March

South Leigh
Great Grey Shrike: Usual place. Showing well in the evening sunlight.

Gareth Blockley

Henley Road GPs: 30th March

Henley Road GPs
2 Oystercatcher: Flew over calling, heading towards Sonning Eye.

Marek Walford

Otmoor.A.M 30th March.

8+ Redshank
75+ Goldies, changing plumage.
1 Snowgoose, with small flock of Canadas.

Port Meadow: 30th March

Port Meadow
3 Little Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
2 Shelduck
2 Pintail

Adam Hartley

Swallow

One Swallow does not make a summer, so hopefully this chap has some friends following close behind. The sun may not be shining today but it certaining felt like spring hearing him twittering away.

... and a possible White Wagtial ? ...

Gareth

: 30th March

West Challow
Curlew: SU3688.

Peter Malowany

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 29th March

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
2 Short-eared Owl

Steve Roby

Otmoor
Ruff: On Big Otmoor scrape.

Joe Harris

South Leigh, 29th March pm

Great Grey Shrike still present in usual spot. Wheatear in adjacent field. No sighting of the Hen Harrier. 2 Buzzards. (3 Hares.)

Photo (c) Nigel Forrow

Farmoor March 29

Whilst it is great to see rare and unusual birds and to hear about them I submit the humble Mallard which like many species we take for granted and often only look at casually in our search for the out of the ordinary is, when looked at closely, a thing of great beauty as are most of the bird species we share this planet with and that enhance our lives

Linky Down 29th March

Ring Ouzel male. Till 11.15 when it flew towards the M40.

Roger Morton

Farmoor Roost

First summer Mediterranean Gull on F.2.

Port Meadow: 29th March

Port Meadow
Shelduck
2 Redshank

Richard Foster

Osprey Thursday 29th March 6.15 pm.

A friend has just reported an Osprey hunting the Thames first seen at Rushey Weir and heading towards Grafton Lock.
Barry Hudson.

Bodicote: 29th March

Bodicote
2 Corn Bunting: m. singing. Canal Lane.

Gareth Blockley

(c) Roger Wyatt

Crane Update

25th March Gloucestershire   3 Cranes Whitminster flew S/E over M5 j13 at 11:30am
25th March Oxfordshire          3 Cranes flew north over Farmoor Res 18:19pm
25th March Oxfordshire          3 Cranes Otmoor 19:15pm
26th March Oxfordshire          3 Cranes Otmoor 09:30am before flying N/E
26th March Bucks                   3 Cranes flew north over Little Horton c12:00pm
28th March Suffolk                 3 Cranes Minsmere RSPB flew over car park then
                                                 circled over at 4.25p.m.

(c) Paul Greenaway

Cranes over Otmoor

Farmoor 28th March





Common Scoter 2

Scandinavian Rock Pipit

Both still this evening
(per The Wickster)

photo (c) Dai The Insomniac Birder

Port Meadow March 28

Little Ringed Plover 2
Ruff 2
Common Redshank 3
Common Shelduck 3
Northern Pintail 2
Common ChiffChaff 2 singing males

Port Meadow
Oystercatcher
Gadwall
Willow Warbler

Sydney Penner

Grimsbury Reservoir: 28th March

Grimsbury Reservoir
Sand Martin: Just a single through north late afternoon. Low in altitude but it didn't hang around.

Gareth Blockley

Crowmarsh Gifford 28th March

Osprey over Crowmarsh Gifford at 12:30
Peregrine over yesterday

(per The Bald Birder)

White Storks 28th March

Possible 5 White Storks reported over Wytham wood heading north east towards Otmoor c09:20

(per Steve Heath)

No further sign on Otmoor this afternoon.

Farmoor 28th March

Common Scoter 2 on F1 09:20 (per Dai)

Otmoor 27th March

White-fronted Goose still with the Greylags on Greenaways at mid day (per RBA)
Short-eared Owl over reedbed on Greenaways 19:03 (per RBA)

Water Rail 1st screen
Dunlin 1st screen
Golden Plover c40

Otmoor Birding

Farmoor 27th March

Hen Harrier (ringtail)
Black-tailed Godwit
Sedge Warbler

The Insomniac Birder

nr Chipping Norton March 27

Golden Plover 293 some now coming into summer pluamge

Port Meadow: 27th March

Port Meadow
2 Little Ringed Plover
Oystercatcher
2 Redshank

Steve Goddard

Little Egret Otmoor 27th March

Stonesfield Common

Chifffchaff 2
Reed Bunting 2
60 + Fieldfare yesterday

Iffley: Iffley Meadows: 27th March

Iffley: Iffley Meadows
Cetti's Warbler: 1 singing along the thames opposite Iffley meadows.

Wayne Bull

Grimsbury Reservoir: 27th March

Grimsbury Reservoir
2 Blackcap: m. singing.
9 Common Gull

Gareth Blockley

Cranes on Otmoor 26th March

Two Cranes have been been seen again this morning in the Otmoor area. The birds are very mobile and flighty and if you are lucky enough to see them please keep your distance and be aware that at this time of year all the fields hold breeding birds which should not be disturbed.
Bark

3 Common Crane flew off North from Otmoor c09:30 (Badger)

Otmoor Birding

25th March Gloucestershire   3 Cranes Whitminster flew S/E over M5 j13 at 11:30am
25th March Oxfordshire         3 Cranes flew north over Farmoor Res 18:19pm
25th March Oxfordshire         3 Cranes Otmoor 19:15pm
26th March Oxfordshire         3 Cranes Otmoor 09:30am before flying N/E
26th March Buckinghamshire 3 Cranes flew north over Little Horton c12:00pm

Top 2 photos (c) Paul Greenaway.

(c) Stewart Prattley



Chiffy (c) Mike Flemming

Mike Flemming's Natural History Photos



Farmoor F1 26th March

Open Bill, Close Bill, Swallow


Perhaps 8-10,000 B H Gulls by dusk not knowing which way to catch a fly next as possibly billions of insects emerged this evening, forming a dense low mist around the perimeter of the Reservoir. Just two wp adult Little Gulls and seemingly all the GC Grebes joined in the fly catching bonanza, whilst the late arriving Common Gulls (adults and exceptionally contrasty first winter birds of late) and c250 L. B-backs declined to dine. The work of the Cotswold Park Ringing Group in ringing nestlings was on show - the first of at least four similar white ringed birds I have managed to confirm the code for; with previous sightings at Shippon, Appleford and Farmoor. Hope to post more info when I get a reply.

A glance up to view a sunlit low flying Merlin helicopter(?) at 18:30, meant a very high flying north bound Oystercatcher was seen (one heard and seen earlier across NW of F1) and immediately followed in same frame by a south bound fast descending Swallow which after reaching water level, continued southward. Hardly competes with yesterday's ('overwintering'!) Sedge Warbler but very probably a personal earliest nevertheless.

Farmoor March 26th

Pinkhill

Blackcap 1 singing male
Common ChiffChaff 2 singing males
Common Snipe 2
Common Teal 5

Shrike Meadow

Kingfisher 2 on river

Drayton 1066: 26th March

Drayton 1066
3 Redshank

Paul Chandler

Ring Ouzel on Sat 24th March

Ring Ouzel Juniper Valley on Saturday (per Tony Williams).

Stonor: Stonor Park: 24th March

Stonor: Stonor Park
4 Raven

Robin Dryden

Common Cranes 25th March

3 Common Cranes flew North over Farmoor Reservoir at about 18:15 (per Ian Smith)
2 Common Cranes were then seen to land at Otmoor RSPB at 19:15 with a third bird
circling before all three headed off N/E. (per Bark)

5 Little Gulls at Farmoor on F1 this evening.
1 Little-ringed Plover on Otmoor in front of the hide.

Otmoor Birding

Port Meadow: 25th March

Port Meadow
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Pintail
3 Redshank

Sydney Penner

Cranes, Little Gulls and Snow Geese; Tick, Tick, Tick

3 Common Cranes heading NE on the NE side of Farmoor, lost to sight behind hilltop reservoir (Beacon Hill) at 18:19 (BST)
5 Little Gulls; 4 together plus 1 remaining apart for 2 hours plus - all winter plumage adults (Breeding plumage adult seen earlier in day by Dai).

‘Craning’ my neck for an English tick 18:19 (BST) was possibly just reward for helping another birder, not that many minutes previously, get Little Gull on his life list. An even earlier English ‘tick’ (for me) was the wandering flock of 16 (11 white & 5 blue) Snow Geese that circled at 16:40. Was there a certain First Nation accent mixed with Texan drawl to those geese calls ? Expert opinion is always welcome.

No apologies for the photographs. They possibly exceed my usual Farmoor standard as regular readers will recognise.

Port Meadow: 25th March

Port Meadow
Oystercatcher

Mary Gregory

(c) Roger Wyatt
No sign of the Garganey at Farmoor today

Venn Mill: 25th March

Venn Mill
2 Curlew: SU430947.

Mark Merritt

Drayton 1066: 25th March

Drayton 1066
2 Redshank

Dave Godfrey

Westwell: 24th March

Westwell
6 Raven: 3 pairs over north, mobbing Buzzard on the way.

John Palmer

Farmoor 25th March

Sedge Warbler Shrike Meadow 08:20 (per Dave Daniels)

South Leigh, 24th March pm

Hen Harrier in the field next to the usual Shrike field. Great Grey Shrike present until at least 5 pm.

Photo (c) Nigel Forrow

Saturday 24th March: Farmoor

Little gull still on Farmoor I (per Dai)
Garganey on west side of Farmoor II (per Stuart Thompson)

Garganey (c) Dai
The Insomniac Birder

Coleshill 24th March

Hen Harrier still near Coleshill (perMRo oos)

Cowleaze Woods March 24

Common Crossbill 5
Lesser Redpoll 11
Siskin 3
Marsh Tit 2
Tree Creeper 1
Nuthatch 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Green Woodpecker 1

Standlake:Pit 60 March 24th

Curlew 3
Snipe 4
Redshank 4
Shoveler 10
Little Egret 1

Shutford, 24th March

I've just received a call from Steve Holliday who is watching a male Black Redstart in Shutford, North Oxon. It is hanging around the cemetery and adjacent orchard at SP 379401. Please respect the privacy of the residents.

Port Meadow: 24th March

Port Meadow
3 Pintail
2 Oystercatcher

Sydney Penner

South Leigh 24th March

Great Grey Shrike Still present in same location.

Thomas Stevens

About Here

Otmoor Hare Madness 23rd March

Scrum (c) P. Barker

A pile of nine hares on Big Otmoor. Passion running wild.

South Leigh 23 March

In the mid afternoon light... Click here for a hi res version.
(c) Stephen Burch

Great Grey Shrike, South Leigh

The Shrike was active last night (22nd), catching two Shrews (I think) then regurgitating a ball of something. Unfortunately, it was a bit gloomy at 5-6 pm hence the quality of the photos is not great but they are, I hope, interesting nonetheless.

Photos (c) Nigel Forrow

Blackthorn: 23rd March

Blackthorn
Curlew

Colin Oram

Port Meadow: 23rd March

Port Meadow
Peregrine: Came in onto the flood from the east, over Burgess Field, and put up assorted Redshank, LRP and ducks; circled the flood and disappeared back eastwards.

Steve Goddard

Spit Pit, Appleford 23rd March

The 2nd winter Iceland Gull was back this afternoon along with a 1st w Yellow-legged Gull.

Farmoor Roost

Iceland Gull roosted again on F.2.

Closer views tonight and looks more like a second winter...

Farmoor 23rd March

No sign of the Black Redstart around the treatment works east of F1 this afternoon.

Henley Road GPs: 23rd March

23rd March

Henley Road GPs
2 Oystercatcher
2 Goosander: drk+rh.
2 Goldeneye: m+f.

Sonning Eye GPs
Oystercatcher: Feeding on the rowing course bund. Not one of the Henley Road birds.
Scaup: drk.

Marek Walford

South Leigh 23rd March

Great Grey Shrike still near South Leigh singing and showing well at 16:10.

(per Terry Tossel)

About Here

Port Meadow: 23rd March

Port Meadow
Little Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher
4 Redshank
4 Pintail

Adam Hartley

Oxford: 22nd March

Oxford
Cetti's Warbler

Steve Roby

Farmoor Roost

Iceland Gull. Juv again, F.2.

Bayworth 22nd March

Black Redstart (m) since last Saturday near Bayworth Park but no sign this afternoon.

Port Meadow: 22nd March

Port Meadow
2 Oystercatcher
4 Redshank

Adam Hartley

South Leigh 22nd March

Great Grey Shrike still this morning near South Leigh 6:30-7a.m although mobile.

(per Andrew Last)

About Here

Farmoor 22nd March

(c) Mike Flemming

Black Redstart still around the water treatment works to the east of F1 13:30
(per Justin) 
Little Gull (per RBA)   
Peregrine (m) over this morning

The Insomniac Birder

Crowmarsh Gifford 21st March

No sign of any Black Redstarts today (per Richard Broughton Oxonbirds)

Banbury: 21st March

Banbury
Red Kite: Thermalling over town with Raven and Buzzard (per Clive Payne).
Raven: Thermalling over town with Red Kite and Buzzard (per Clive Payne).

Hopcrofts Holt
Merlin: by the roadside on the A4260 just North of Hopcrofts Holt. Flew North (per Paul Hunter-Higgins, Banburybirds) . SP4625.

Somerton
Probable Merlin: around 1400hrs today flying by the side of the road over the field verges on the right between North Aston Mill and the set of humpback bridges on the way to Somerton. (per Penelope Lack, Banburybirds).

Gareth Blockley

Banbury Birds

Port Meadow: 21st March

Port Meadow
7 Redshank
Oystercatcher
Shelduck

Adam Hartley

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 21st March

White-fronted Goose: on Ashgrave with Greylags.
Curlew: est 3-4 birds on Greenaways.
Redshank: several to-ing and fro-ing.
2 Little Egret
Lesser Redpoll

Peter Law

Otmoor Birding

Farmoor I March 21

Black Redstart 1 still present at 1200 around the works and viewable from the perimeter track of Farmoor 1. It is in female type plumage which some second calendar year male birds show (see BWP Vol 5 p 693) It was also singing quietly to itself when first found which confirms it as a male.

Little Gull 1 ad in winter plumage
Black headed Gull 1500+
Oystercatcher 1

(Photo of the Black Redstart on Cholsey Wildlife and The Insomniac Birder)

South Leigh 21st March

Great Grey Shrike still near South Leigh at 11:40am (per Justin)
                                 still there at 13:30 (per Wayne Bull)
About Here

Farmoor 21st March

Black Redstart (m) around the water treatment works to the east of F1 at 10:15a.m

(per Ewan)

Otmoor RSPB 20th March

Spotted Redshank (Otmoor RSPB per RAE OOS)

Otmoor Birding

South Leigh: 20th March

South Leigh
Great Grey Shrike: still where reported earlier in the day - excellent views.

Richard Catling

Pair of Goshawks displaying over Wytham Woods  09:15hrs.
Little Gull still present on F1. 

Tilehurst Station 20th March

White-fronted Goose (in fields opposite Tilehurst station with Canada Geese late afternoon)
Egyptian Geese 11
Mandarin 2

(per The Wickster)

Farmoor Roost

Iceland Gull. juv/first winter, F.2

Mediterranean Gull. 1 adult, F.1.1 first winter, F.2.

Crowmarsh Gifford 20th March

2 birds seen yesterday (19th) in an area with no general access.

At least 1 Black Redstart still present today (per Richard Broughton Oxonbirds)
More about these charismatic birds on The Bald Birder blog.

Farmoor Reservoir 20th March

Farmoor I
Little Gull: Still present with the Black headed Gulls. Bird is in mostly winter plumage.

John Edwards

South Leigh: 20th March

Great Grey Shrike Still present in the bushes north of the footpath east of the road just
south of Green farm.

John Edwards



South Leigh Shrike (c) George Reszeter



Otmoor: 19th March

Jack Snipe (Flushed up from Big Otmoor)
Dunlin

Joe Harris

Hen Harrier (male) seen over reed bed from first hide.

John Barnes

Otmoor Birding

Farmoor March 19

Little Gull 1
Golden Plover 26 flew through
Common ChiffChaff 1 singing

Little Gull at Farmoor record shot The Paranoid Birder

South Leigh 19th March pm

Great Grey Shrike present until at least 3 pm. Thanks to Ian for pointing me in the right direction.

Photos (c) Nigel Forrow

Osprey

Osprey reported for yesterday (18th) at Shotover Plain (per RBA).

Gareth

Letcombe Bassett: Ridgeway above Letcombe Bassett: 19th March

Letcombe Bassett: Ridgeway above Letcombe Bassett
Peregrine: Feasting on a supper of Woodpigeon!.

Mark Merritt

GG Shrike South Leigh Monday 19th

Click on title for a Streetmap link that shows the field in which the bird was using last year's projecting hedge growth for perches along north and south boundaries, which were in full sunshine. Perched with underside illuminated by sun, it was visible from the roadside between 11.35 and 12.20 minimum. Also much closer from the footpath alongside the south hedge boundary, where it had some comment to make on my presence !

Otmoor: 18th March

Marsh Harrier (male) flew in to reed bed from N at 18:00hrs, circled twice and went
down at southern end. Viewed from bridle path.

Peter Law

see Otmoor Birding for the complete weekend round up.

Farmoor late morning March 18

Goshawk 2
A female seen over the pylons and then a male approx 45 minutes later in the same vicinity
Red Kite 4+
Common Buzzard 6+
Common Kestrel 2
Raven 1
Little Gull 1 [adult but without hood on Farmoor 1]
Black Headed Gull 800+
Curlew 1
Common Shelduck 2 [ a pair in amongst the BH Gulls]
Sand Martin 15+
Short-eared Owl (Buckthorn Meadow per Dai)

The Insomniac Birder news from the Res

South Leigh March 18

Great Grey Shrike 1 from 0830 to at least 1000
(with grateful thanks to Sally for putting out the news)
Hen Harrier 1
Red Kite 2
Common Buzzard 8+
Common Kestrel 2

2 Short-eared Owl (Thomas Stevens)

Directions for the Shrike

Take the road from the A40 signposted to South Leigh. When you come to a sharp right hand bend in the road go back up road to top of hill (not very far) and park in nearest available layby to where the footpath crosses the road. Take the footpath on east side of road and walk down the footpath beside the hedge, with a rough field on your right to a gap in the hedge at the bottom of the field. Go through gap where there is a little bridge and look at the bushes in front of you and around the field on the other side of hedge you have just walked down beside. This is where it was this am.You could also try the hedgerows further down where the road swings sharp right. Park on bend off the road and follow the track up to the top of the rise and view left.It could be around there also. Its really luck of the draw but all the best
Ewan

Great Grey Shrike still present near South Leigh mid morning although mobile.

Otmoor 18th March

There is clearly some truth to the folk tale of a sinister hooded figure that stalks the moor.

At least seven Wheatears from hide
Merlin (per David Wilding)
Dunlin with Goldies
Sand Martin mid morning

Grimsbury Reservoir: 18th March

Rock Pipit Late morning (per Clive Payne). No sign early afternoon.
Peregrine

Gareth Blockley

Port Meadow: 18th March

18th March

Port Meadow
4 Redshank
71 Golden Plover
Dunlin
Oystercatcher
Curlew
Black-tailed Godwit: still present at 14:15.

Also 3 sand martins over at 15:45 (Adam Hartley)

Peter Law

Farmoor 18th March

2 Goshawk (m/f) south of F2 nr Lower Whitley Farm late morning (per Steve Heath)
1 Little Gull (ad) still on F1
2 Shelduck
Rock Pipit (along the causeway. different bird from yesterdays)
Sand Martin (small numbers through early morning)

Sunday 18th March Port Meadow

A (rather flighty) black-tailed godwit on the floods & a singing chiffchaff along the railway track

(per Jarrod Hadfield)

Sunday 18th South Leigh: Great Grey Shrike Still

The great grey shrike is still present at South Leigh this morning at 10 am (per Badger) though mobile. Also a hen harrier.

Otmoor 17th March pm

Distant view of Wheatears from the hide (none sighted at Noke end).

Photos (c) Nigel Forrow

Great Grey Shrike South Leigh 17th March

Great Grey Shrike near South Leigh this evening.

Along road from barnard gate to south leigh,south of Green House Farm,

and east of Twelve Acre farm.

(per Sally Hula)

Otmoor 17th March

Wheatears (c) Terry Sherlock

9 Wheatear (2 nr the farm at Noke 3 Big Otmoor 4 Ashgrave)
4 Chiffchaff
1 Peregrine
1 Merlin (m Greenaways)
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Ruff    (per the Robys)
1 Snipe
4 Redpoll (on the C.F feeders)
Otter (along bridleway)

White-fronted Goose still on Ashgrave at 3.30pm (per RBA)
Otmoor Birding

Farmoor 17th March

2 Little Gull (mid afternoon on F1)
1 Rock Pipit (along causeway early morning)
30+ Sand Martin

The Insomniac Birder

Port Meadow 17th March

5 Redshank
4 Dunlin
1 Oystercatcher
3 Shelduck
No sign of Little Ringed Plover this morning.

(per The Wickster)

Port Meadow: 16th March: Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher
2 Ruff
6 Redshank
Dunlin
Shelduck
4 Goosander
4 Pintail

Adam Hartley

Henley Road GPs: 16th March

16th March

Henley Road GPs
3 Smew: 1m+2rh.
2 Goosander: 1m+1rh.
Chiffchaff
3 Sand Martin

Sonning Eye GPs
Oystercatcher: Feeding on the rowing course bund.

Marek Walford

Otmoor: 16th March

Otmoor
Brent Goose

Joe Harris

Black Redstart Crowmarsh Gifford 16th March

A confiding Black Redstart at a private site in Crowmarsh Gifford today.

(Per John Redhead)

Ring-necked Parakeet Crowmarsh Gifford Howbery Park this afternoon.

(per The Wickster)

Grimsbury Reservoir: 16th March

Grimsbury Reservoir
Redshank: Still there this morning but gone by c.08:00.

Banbury: Spital Farm Lake
Goosander: f.

Gareth Blockley

Standlake Pit 60 16th March

Sand Martin 12+ (two parties)
Ruff 1
Redshank 3
Little Egret 2
Chiffchaff 2 (singing along track)
Blackcap

T3 Lake (pit adjacent to Pit 60)

Sand Martin 8+

(per Jon Prowse)

Otmoor: 15th March

Otmoor
Brent Goose: On Big Otmoor with Canada's.

Joe Harris

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Short-eared Owl

Steve Goddard

Otmoor Birding

Dix Pit March 15

White Wagtail 1 [in with flock of 35 Pied Wagtail]
Meadow Pipit flock of 30
Some of the nesting Cormorants on the island have young now two thirds grown

Farmoor 1 March 15

This Mallard has been present usually near the yacht marina for the last three years. It is always in this intriguing plumage variation which appears to be a combination of mostly eclipse plumage with some male plumage. See comments















Common Goldeneye 26 [5 males 3 imm males and 18 females]
Gadwall 4
Common ChiffChaff 1 singing

Grimsbury Reservoir: 15th March

Grimsbury Reservoir
Redshank
3 Chiffchaff: 2 singing.
Redwing: Singing. First time I've ever heard one singing.

Gareth Blockley

Banbury: 14th March

Banbury
Snipe: Flying round over my flat calling, maybe disorientated in the fog?.

Gareth Blockley

Missing Red tailed Hawk

I was wondering if you could help us…
We are looking for a Bird of prey that has gone missing in the oxford area.
The bird in question is an American Red Tailed Hawk.
The bird was last seen in the Woodeaton area at Sescut Farm on Sunday.
He’s easily identified if nothing else than by the leather straps that are attached to his legs.He’s similar in size to a female common buzzard but with a red tail.

I don’t know if there is any way that your site can help it would be great.

Thanks

Adam

If anyone has any news or sightings of the Red tail please call Adam Bloch on 07703532828

or email him at adam@bloch.com  

Otmoor 14th March pm

(c) Andy Last

Brent Goose back with the Canadas
Peregrine stooping over Big Otmoor
4 or 5 Short eared Owls
(per Andy Last)

Otmoor Birding

Farmoor Gulls

Another evenings cachophony of courting Black-headed Gulls totalling ? - so estimated at 15-20,000 which is what I also reckoned last Sunday. Around 600 L B-backs, 10 Common, 1 tiny Herring Gull, 1 adult winter Little Gull hawking amongst a massive fly emergence and 1 adult Med Gull not bothered about much; thus showing the extent of hood reaching down the neck, in comparison to BH Gull, is still viewable when the rear of bird hidden by others in the roost (as this bird was initially). 1 Oystercatcher over F2 and 24 plus Pied's (no alba)taking the walking approach to harvesting the diptera feast along the causeway. Must dispute claim on Adam's excellent Birding Diary that Cormorants are "just not that attractive" (at least when seen in good light) and I leave it to others to decide whether this bird is a carbo or sinensis