Abingdon Lock 31st October

Waxwing over Abingdon Lock heading west c10:15 (per The Gun-slinger)

Otmoor: 31st October

Peregrine: Hunting over Ashgrave.
Lesser Redpoll: Car Park.
Marsh Tit: On Feeders.
10 Snipe

Peter Coombes

The Otmoor Blogger


Photo Lesser Redpoll

Balscote Quarry 31st October

No sign of the Great grey Shrike.
Tree Sparrow 27

(per Gareth)

Barton fields and Radley Gravel Pits 31st Oct

No sign of G,G,Shrike :-(
2 Cetti's warblers heard singing.1 from Longmead Lake and 1 by the river near Barton fields.
1 Dead Water Rail seen hanging from the barbed wire on top of the fence around Lake H/I.
2 Redpoll
5 Siskin
1 Kingfisher
2 Little Grebe
2 Heron
2 Chiffchaff
8 Meadow pipit
1 Marsh Tit

Farmoor 31st October

Long-tailed Duck still on F1 11:45
Slavonian Grebe F2
Rock Pipit 2

(per RBA)

Barton Fields, Abingdon: 31st Oct

Great Grey Shrike on Barton Fields, Abingdon this morning (08:15); however, not seen 30 mins later. (Apologies for poor photo- taken on maximum digital zoom)

 

No further sign by 09:30

Park at Abingdon Science Park and take the cycle track

c1/4m towards Abingdon and view scrub to left.

Great Skua at Farmoor

This Great Skua arrived at dusk yesterday evening. It promptly knocked an adult Lesser Black-backed gull into the water, quickly drowned it and was still feasting by nightfall. Still present this morning it did however look a little odd and appeared to have difficulty flying. Thames Water ranger Mark kindly allowed us the use of a boat, primarily for the purpose of obtaining some photographs. However upon closer inspection it was obvious that the left eye was damaged. It also appeared to be oiled along the flanks, wings and vent.  It was a difficult decision to either leave it or intervene but in the event it actually swan towards to the boat as if in a plea to be rescued. Roger netted it with ease and it was delivered to the local vets in Botley.

Like the previous four Great Skuas earlier this month it is also an adult in moult. However unlike those who were happily migrating across country, this is clearly a weakened bird and almost certainly a victim of the recent stormy weather.

Abingdon 30th October

Waxwing 2 flew over the Sophos building on Abingdon Science Park heading
towards the east side of Abingdon at 15:15 also a single bird opposite Nord Gear
again on the Science Park briefly at 16:15 but no sign since.

(per Trevor Lincs birder)

Farmoor 30th October

Great Skua still in the middle of F2 until about 10am when it was taken into care Long-tailed Duck still along southern edge of F1 and showing well Slavonian Grebe southern end of F2 Redpoll over Siskin c6

Balscote Quarry: 30th October

Great Grey Shrike - still present 10:30am. Favouring far left hand hedge
Merlin
Please view from the screen

(per Roger Evens et al)

Tuesday Cothill Reserves: BBOWT Reserves

8 min Redwing in Hawthorns in centre of BBOWT Dry Sandford Reserve; couple of tit flocks with no chiffs. Couple of Common Darters
Approx 13.15pm Crossbills heard, from the boardwalk, near the Pines to the mid-east side of the Parsonage Moor BBOWT reserve. Perhaps as many as 20 Common Darters still around this and the adjacent Cothill Natural England reserve.
Excellent management work throughout the Fen areas with both grazing and cutting.

Balscote Quarry: 29th October

Great Grey Shrike - late afternoon (per Roger Evans)

Farmoor. 29th October.

Great Skua arrived on F2 late afternoon killed and ate a Lesser black backed Gull.

Still present at dusk. The reservoir doesn't open until 08:00 but F2 is viewable from the perimeter fence accessed from the single track Lower Whitley Farm road to the south of the reservoir Here

(per NJH, Dai and The Wickster)

 

Long-tailed Duck still present at 16:50 on F1

 

Long Tailed Duck.

Please view at 720p or 1080p HD

Otmoor.A.M. 29th October.

1 Hen Harrier (F)
1 Marsh Tit
1 Kingfisher
3 Snipe.

Farmoor Tuesday 29th October

Long-tailed Duck still at Farmoor showing well in front of the hide on F1 09:40 at least.
Slavonian Grebe still along southern end of F2 this morning.

 

(c) Badger

Farmoor Reservoir 28th October

Long-tailed Duck (male) South east corner of F2. (per Simon Ramm)

No sign (in S/E corner of F2) at dusk (per Dave Lowe & Dai)

Otmoor 27th October

Great white Egret still this morning though mobile (per Bark)

Pintail fem
Hen Harrier ringtail

(per Simon Dowell)

Full weekend round up tomorrow on Otmoor Birding

Lapwing photo courtesey of The Early Birder

 

Farmoor 27th October

Slavonian Grebe still present on F2 in S/E area late afternoon

Common Sandpiper along the causeway.

Stonechat 2 near Pinkhill Lock

 Stonechat

Slavonian Grebe

The Insomniac Birder
 

Slav Please view at 720p or 1080p HD

Cholsey: Cholsey Hill: 27th October

Cholsey: Cholsey Hill
150 Golden Plover

Paul Chandler

Water Rail Ewelme Cressbeds courtesey of Tom Stevenson

Benson & Ewelme Wildlife

Henley 26th October

Ring-necked Parakeet 2 nr Henley rugby club. (per Jon Prowse & Clackers) Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Farmoor, 26 October

Slavonian Grebe (c) Stephen Burch

Click here for hi res version

Farmoor, 26th Oct

Slav Grebe 1
Rock Pipit 2
Crossbill 3 low to N over car park, female types

Otmoor 26th October

Great white Egret Hen Harrier r/t Merlin Water Rail (per Mark Merritt) Bearded Tit 2+ (per Bark) Jack Snipe Snipe Stonechat 3+ (Badger & The Early Birder)

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II: 25th October

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
Slavonian Grebe: In south east corner.

Gareth Blockley

Watlington Hill: 25th October

Watlington Hill
2 Raven: engaged in spectacular aerobatics.

Peter Law

Pangbourne 25th October

Mandarin 42 along Thames north of Pangbourne this morning. +probable Otter. (per The Wickster) Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Otmoor.A.M. 25th October.

1 G.W.Egret
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Stonechat.

Great White Egret

Farmoor Thursday 10.30-1pm

To the sound of a scattering of Skylarks moving overhead, little on the ground; but 1 Redshank, the Slav grebe, 3 Rock Pipits and 6-9 confiding Meadow Pipits and 1 Wheatear saved it being a complete 'washout' in glorious sunshine, enjoyed also by southward bound passing Red Admiral and a Peacock butterfly. Back to Mothing me thinks!

Otmoor 24th Oct

Hen Harrier

Hen Harrier

Common Buzzard

Stonechat

Stonechat

Kestrel

Otmoor 24th October

Great White Egret (Big Otmoor)
2 Bearded Tit In bushes next to Hide (Wetlands watch).
Raven

Peter Coombes

Chinnor 24th October

Despite searching no sign of the recent Cattle Egret in or around Chinnor today.

(per Tezzer & Andy Last)

Lark Hill 24th October

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - flew SE out of small wood by Lark Hill Farm
Whinchat
White Wagtail
Wheatear
Reed Bunting
2 Corn Bunting

Otmoor 24th October

Buckland Warren: 24th October

Buckland Warren
27 Common Crossbill: Distant flight views only.

J Dexter

Chinnor 19th October

CATTLE EGRET Saturday 19th Chinnor in three gardens.
For the past week, it has been apparently ranging between gardens in the Stokenchurch
and now Chinnor areas (per LGRE)

This constitutes only the 2nd record in Oxfordshire after the Dorchester/Days Lock individual.

 photo (c) Lee Evans, taken from his Buckinghamshire Birding blog.

Farmoor 23rd October

Slav (and Stickleback) courtesey of the gun-slinger

 

Slavonian Grebe 2 along eastern edge of F2 14:36 (per RBA)

08:50 (per Dai)

Otmoor. 23rd. October.

Reed bunting.  Saunders Field.

Greenaways

Great White Egret.
Hen Harrier.

Pill Ground.

Field Fare     150 approx.
Snipe            2
Jack Snipe.

(per Paul Greenaway and T.S.)

Farmoor. 22nd. October.

Slavonian Grebe.  F2.  Southern edge.

Otmoor 22nd October

Great white Egret on Greenaways along diagonal track at 17:06 (per Ticker) This morning viewable from the Wetlands watch hide 10:48 (per Paul Greenaway)  Hen Harrier r/t Greenaways 16:37 (per Ticker) Bittern over reedbeds Tawny Owl (H) Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Farmoor 22nd October

Slavonian Grebe close in on south side of F2 this morning (per Dai)

Otmoor 21st October

Great white Egret on Big Otmoor 09:15 (per Wreny)

Farmoor Reservoir 20th October

Photo courtesey of Mike Kosniowski

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I
Red-crested Pochard

Mike Youngman

Otmoor 20th October

Please view at 720p

Great White Egret still 10:05 flew from Greenaways towards Big Otmoor. Short-eared Owl (over Greenaways) Fieldfare 70+ Wheatear GWE photo courtesey of Alec Nightingale

Didcot 19th October

Ladygrove
Peregrine: Sitting atop one of the pylons that runs through the estate. SU525914.

Andrew Forster

Furzewick Down 19th October

Ring Ouzel; male, typically flighty, and sticking to hedge. Not interested in having his photo taken.
Stonechat; much more obliging!

Otmoor 19 October

GW Egret still on Greenaways at 10:00am
3 Stonechat close to the hide
Probable Merlin over Ashgrave
Peregrine
Hen Harrier (ringtail)
Raven 7
Bearded Tit 2

Great White Egret (c) Stephen Burch
www.stephenburch.com

Bearded Tit (m) Courtesey of Mark Chivers

 

Bodicote: 18th October

Bodicote
Ring Ouzel: fem. Feeding on yew berries at Council offices.

Tony Crisp

Otmoor 18th October.

Great White Egret still 17:00 Greenaways

Merlin. (f.) Also seen on Ashgrave.

Hen Harrier ( Ringtail)

Stonechat. 2. (m. and f. ) Ashgrave

(Per. Paul Greenaway.)

2 Bearded Tit From 1st screen.
11 Fieldfare
Redwing
Raven
2 Water Rail

(per Peter Coombes & Joe Harris)



Conflict between Grey Heron And Great White Egret.

Port Meadow: 18th October

Port Meadow
4 Bar-headed Goose

Mary Gregory

Cholsey: 17th Oct

 
Stonechat - 1 along the Bunk line

Wheatear - 2 Lollingdon hill
Stonechat - 1 Lollingdon hill

Swallow - 2 flew downriver

Otmoor. 17th October.

Little Egret.  Ashgrave.

Kestrel.  Ashgrave.

Aston: 17th October

 

Merlin (female type)

J Dexter




photos (c) J.Dexter

Otmoor 16th October

Ringtail Hen Harrier Otmoor this afternoon.

Both photos courtesey of Tezzer

Farmoor 16th October

Caspian Gull (ad) in the roost this evening (per Nic & The Wickster)
Little Gull 1stw (per Dai)

1st winter Little Gull Farmoor photo courtesey of Dai

 

The Insomniac Birder

Lollingdon Hill, 16th Oct

1 Merlin (fem)
1 Stonechat
2 Wheatear
1 Chiffchaff

Farmoor 15th October

 
Rock Pipit 3
Little Gull 1
Jack Snipe 1

(per Dai)

Farmoor One

First winter Caspian Gull
3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 First winter, 1 adult).

(per Nic Hallam)

Otmoor 15th October

Great White Egret again on Greenaways 16:10 (per Andrew Marshall) Still present flew towards Ashgrave c17:35 (per JT) Marsh Harrier Merlin  m (per Peter Coombes et al) Bearded Tit 2 Marsh Tit on feeders 17:00 Fieldfare 8 Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Juvenile Gannet - Farmoor, 14th October

A juvenile Gannet arrived at Farmoor during a heavy rain shower at about 17.45 this evening. It scattered all the gulls on F.2. and then sat around on the water for a few minutes looking rather bewildered. It made another circuit of F.2 before moving off at speed over F.1 and disappearing into the gloom.

This is only the sixth for Farmoor, the last in 2002.