Oxon County Birding Review of 2013

The traditional end of year review from Gnome Studios

Appleford 31st December

Iceland Gull (juv)

In field south of Appleford and north of the B4016 c14:45

Bittern 2nd screen Otmoor RSPB courtesey of Andrew Marshall

Port Meadow: 30th December

Port Meadow
4 Redshank
2 Goosander: r/h.
12 Pintail

Adam Hartley

Tubney 29th December

2 Raven

Mark Merritt

Otmoor. AM.

Bittern. 2nd screen.

 

Merlin. Otmoor Lane.

Kingfisher. 2

Stonechat.

perigrine. 2

Lapwing. 1000+

Wigeon. 500+

Teal. 600+

Bittern.

Raven. Over.

Whooper Swan. 3.

Pintail. 3.

Pochard. 4.

(per. Otmoor M).

Otmoor 28th December

Bittern seen from the 2nd screen
Whooper Swan 3 (2juv)
Teal 500+

More at Otmoor Birding

Mobile phone video of the Otmoor Starling roost c50,000 birds courtesey of Steve Clarke.

Downs nr Lands End 28 December

2 Woodcock - flushed by beaters from a wood on the Berkshire side of the border, one made it safely into Oxon at about SU442836. The other was unfortunately shot by the waiting guns and probably didn't make it over the county line.
3 Stonechat on the same walk - one at about SU457843 and the other two at SU435846

Sutton Courtenay: 27th December

Sutton Courtenay
Green Sandpiper

Steve Clarke

Cassington GPs: 27th December

Cassington GPs
40 Shoveler: male.
2 Goosander: male.

Thomas Stevens

 

Well Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a good yarn or two now would it?

So, a few well known faces on the Oxon birding scene have very kindly agreed to to tell us a story.

 

The third and final tale in our Christmas trilogy is read by Otmoor stalwart Pete Barker and is entitled   'Night Drive' so if you are sitting comfortably we shall begin...

Please view at 720p HD

 



 

Wishing all our contributors, patch workers and photographers

A very happy Christmas and a bird filled 2014.

 

The O.B.L Christmas Competition

For your chance to win this bird related item from the last centuary...

Simply tell us what you think it is?

Please email your answers to jasoncppk@yahoo.co.uk

with the heading O.B.L Xmas Comp and we will pull a name at random.

All entries must be received by the 1st of January 2014

(Please don't use the comments box for your suggestions).

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II: 26th December

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
Probable Slavonian Grebe: poor view (into sun, distance) so not sure if Slavonian or Black-necked - others please check!.

Anthony Cheke

Standlake, 26th December

Smew, 1m pit 27 (3Ts / waterski pit)
Goosander 11
Little Egret 5
Water Rail 1, at edge of a very flooded pit 60
Pintail 4
RC Pochard 25 pit 28
Good numbers of wigeon and teal etc.

Cowlease Wood: 26th December

Cowlease Wood
2 Brambling: seen in fog in large mixed feeding flock, but there were probably more as reported on 22nd.

Peter Law

Woodcote 25th December

Common Buzzard 

Common Buzzard

Brambling 

Otmoor.A.M. 25 th December.

1 Water Rail
2 Pintail (m/f)
1 Ringtail Harrier
1 Peregrine
3 Whoopers (still)
4 Kingfisher
3+ Dunlin
1500+ Lapwing
C. 750 Golden Plover.

 

Well Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a good yarn or two now would it?

So, a few well known faces on the Oxon birding scene have very kindly agreed to tell us a story.

 

The second tale in our Christmas trilogy is read by Ewan Urquhart and is entitled

'Christmas in The Highlands' so if you are sitting comfortably we shall begin...

 

Please view at 720p HD

 

Wishing all our contributors, patch workers and photographers

A very happy Christmas and a bird filled 2014.

 

 

The O.B.L Christmas Competition

 

 

For your chance to win this bird related item from the last centuary...

Simply tell us what you think it is?

 

Please email your answers to jasoncppk@yahoo.co.uk

with the heading O.B.L Xmas Comp and we will pull a name at random.

All entries must be received by the 1st of January 2014

 

(Please don't use the comments box for your suggestions).

Shotover A.M. 24th December.

6+ Redpoll
2 Siskin
2 Coal Tit
1 Treecreeper
1 Nuthatch
1 Raven (over)
2 Bullfinch

 

 

Well Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a good yarn or two now would it?

So, a few well known faces from the Oxon birding scene have very kindly agreed to tell us a tale.

The first story from our Christmas trilogy is read by Keith Clack and entitled  'A Memorable Start'.

Are you sitting comfortably? then we'll begin...

 

Please view at 720p HD







Wishing all our contributors, patch workers and photographers

A very happy Christmas and a bird filled 2014.

Otmoor: 24th December

Otmoor
Bittern: Flying across reed bed towards where the starlings roost.

Hayley Gray

Otmoor

Belated upload from Sunday 22nd December (am).

Fieldfare, Bridleway

Golden Plover above big Otmoor

Yellowhammer, Moorleys

Photos (c) Nigel Forrow

Stanton Harcourt 23rd December

No sign of the Drake Falcated Duck at Dix Pit by 11:20. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Red Kite courtesey of Mark Chivers



Cowlease Wood: 22nd December

Cowlease Wood
Brambling: Several in a very large flock of Chaffinches near the car park.

Roger Morton

Farmoor 22nd December

Tufted Duck 450 +
Goldeneye 10
Pochard 12
Little Grebe 14
Water Rail 1
Rock Pipit 1
Common Sandpiper 1

Common Sandpiper

Otmoor 22nd December

Whooper Swan 3 (2 juv) in field N/W of the 2nd screen with 9 Mute Swan. Hen Harrier r/t on Greenaways Golden Plover c400 Lapwing c500 Pintail Marsh Tit on feeders Yesterday 2 Ruff Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Stanton Harcourt 22nd December

Falcated Duck still on Dix Pit 08:40    (per Pete Roby)

...though no sign at 12:40    (per Badger)

No sign at Vicarage Pit
Rushy Common or Farmoor

Dix Pit 21st December

Falcated Duck record shot (c) Stephen Burch

www.stephenburch.com

The drake Falcated duck was still present at dusk and seemed
to be favouring the near left hand corner of the pit viewed
from the small car park adjacent to the waste recycling centre.
It also spent some time out of view behind the island.
(per Mark Chivers)

Dix Pit 21st December

Drake FALCATED DUCK at Stanton Harcourt on Dix Pit

per Stuart Thomson

Didcot 20th December

Merlin (m) just south of Didcot on the Downs (per The Wickster)

Shiplake 20th December

Egyptian Geese c70 still adjacent to the A4155 at Shiplake this morning. (per Mark Chivers) Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Foxholes BBOWT 19th December 2013

Woodcock 1
Raven 2
Redwing 100+
Marsh Tit 3
Tree Creeper 2

Otmoor. AM.

Reed Buntings.

Field Fare.

Kestrel.

Kingfisher.      2.
Stonechat       2
Siskin             2          (per. R.C.)
Little Egret
Perigrine.                   (per. P.G.)
Whooper Swans.       I adult  2 Juv.
Marsh Tit.                  On feeders.
Dunlin.                       One flying with Lapwings.     (per. P.G.)

A4155 Shiplake

Egyptian Goose  x  70

Dorchester: 17th December

8 Egyptian Goose
2 Pintail

Thomas Stevenson

Otmoor: 17th December

17th December

Otmoor
Merlin: from Closes to Moorleys, late afternoon.
Barn Owl: hunting in Moorleys at dusk.
2 Woodcock: out of Moorleys to Closes.

Peter Law

17th December Thame

A Swallow was seen by Thame church this morning by Bob Hurst

Farmoor 16th December

Photo courtesey of Dai

Barnacle Geese 3 on F2 09:10
No sign of the Scaup

(per Dai) The Insomniac Birder

Otmoor 16th December

Whooper Swan 3 (2juv) again from the 2nd screen
Hen Harrier r/t
Peregrine
Sparrowhawk
Water Rail

(per Zoe Edwards)

RSPB Otmoor Blog

Farmoor Reservoir 15th December

3 Scaup (1w) on F2

David Hastings

Buzzard



Otmoor 15th December

Whooper Swan 3 (2 juv) 2nd screen
Hen Harrier (ringtail)
Bittern 2
Raven 2
Stonechat 2 nr 1st screen

(per The Wickster)

Full weekend round-up on Otmoor Birding

Stanton Harcourt 15th December

Smew (m) on Dix Pit  (per Stuart Thomson)
Still 12:50 along 'road' side of the pit though distant (per Clackers)

Otmoor, 14th December

Whooper Swans, 2nd screen, 12:50 - 1:10 pm

Low-flying Kingfisher, 2nd screen

Redwing, near the feeders

Fieldfare, near the feeders

Buzzard, close fly-past, 2nd screen

Bullfinch, behind 2nd screen

Photos (c) Nigel Forrow

Otmoor 14th December

Whooper Swan 3 (2 juv) 2nd screen
Peregrine 2
Water rail

Whoopers and Kestrel picture courtesey of The Early Birder

Sutton Courtenay 13th December

Iceland Gull (juv) c15:00-15:10 Sutton Courtenay GPs

Please view at 720p HD

 

Otmoor.A.M. 13th December.

      Second Screen:
1 Bittern most probably 2 (per R & L Ebbs)
1 Ringtail Harrier
3 Whooper Swans
2 Kingfishers (flying together)

      Big Otmoor:
1 Peregrine
1 Sparrowhawk (over).

Two of the three Whoopers courtesey of Andrew Marshall

Farmoor Roost

Juvenile Iceland Gull. Adult Mediterranean Gull. F.1. Roost 

Weston-on-the-Green: 12th December

Weston-on-the-Green
Short-eared Owl: Seen flying onto the Airfield at dawn.

Michael Hunt

Otmoor Birds (c) Paul Higgins

Port Meadow: 10th December

Port Meadow
5 Dunlin
Yellow-legged Gull: 1w.

Adam Hartley

Farmoor. AM.

Rock Pipit.  Causeway.

F2.    Goldeneye.
         Kingfisher.

Otmoor. 9th December. PM.

Whooper Swan.  2nd screen.

Starling.  Morleys.

Starling roost.

Morleys.  (Car Park Field).
Yellow Hammer    5
Marsh Tit.             Feeders
Woodcock.           Flying out at dusk.

Bridle Path..      
Kingfisher.

2nd Screen.
Whooper Swans   (1 adult, 2 juv)
Pied wagtail           30+.   Roosting.    (per. Hugh Wiggins)

Starling roost.       Good display.

Port Meadow: 9th December - Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull: juv/1w.
Yellow-legged Gull: ad.
4 Dunlin

Adam Hartley

More at Port Meadow Birding

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill: 9th December

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
2 Raven: Courtship display.

Paul Chandler

Didcot 9th December

Iceland Gull 

Iceland Gull 

Farmoor Reservoir 9th December

Bittern Pinkhill this afternoon
Jack Snipe Shrike Meadow

(per Dai) The Insomniac Birder

Common Sandpiper
Redshank 2

(Stephen Lockey)

Otmoor.A.M. 9th December.

Whooper Swan 3 (2juv) still in field N/W of the 2nd screen at 11:30. The swans regularly come in from the fields to drink in front of the 2nd screen.

Hen Harrier r/t reported
15+ Snipe
2 Raven
1 Kingfisher
1 Peregrine

Green Plover and Snipe.

Common Snipe.

Red Kite.

Didcot 9th December

Iceland Gull again briefly this morning near to the entrance to Hill Farm then flew off.

Didcot 8th December

Juv Iceland Gull this evening following the plough just north of Didcot, beside the ring road, adjacent to the Hill Farm turn off. It may not be there tomorrow as the ploughing was completed.

 

Otmoor 8th December pm

1 Ringtail Hen Harrier (possibly 2)
2 Peregrine on Greenaways
2 Water Rail
Sparrowhawk
Treecreeper
1 Woodcock flew from Carpark field to Closes after dark
Tawny Owl Heard from Otmoor lane

no sign of whooper swans from second screen after approx 1:30pm


The three remaining Whooper's in front of the second screen c13:20
(Badger) Please view at 720p or 1080p HD

Full weekend round up on Otmoor Birding

Whooper adult courtesey of The Early Birder