Otmoor 31st October

Stonechat courtesy of John Reynolds

Lesser Redpoll in car park. At least 1 possibly 4
Fieldfare c100
Redwing c50
Stonechat 6
March Harrier
No sign of Dartford Warbler or Whinchat in South Pill field.

Harwell Laboratory: 31st October

Harwell Laboratory
Peregrine

Mark Merritt

Farmoor 31st October

Redshank courtesy of dai)

Barnacle Geese 8 in field opposite entrance to the car park c09:50
Red-necked Grebe west side of F1
Goldeneye
Redshank
Rock Pipit

(Per Dai & Jonathan Mercer)

Farmoor 30th October

Sanderling 2 (per NJH)
Ringed Plover (per Dai)

Otmoor.A.M. 30th October.

1 Marsh Harrier
2 Peregrine
2 Raven (over)
C. 550 Golden Plover
C. 400 Lapwing.

Wallingford 29th October

Black Redstart Wallingford on Barley Close (per RBA).

Sent from my iPhone

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 29th October

Otmoor Kestrel courtesy of John Reynolds

Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk: Hunting over reedbed.
100 Pied Wagtail: Flying into reedbed to roost.
Swallow: Flew into reedbed.

RSPB Otmoor

Farmoor 29th October

Red-necked Grebe still on F1
Green Sandpiper
Rock Pipit

(per Dai)

Standlake 29th October

Bittern still at Pit 60 (per RBA)

Farmoor Roost

Adult Caspian Gull, F.2. this afternoon.
Rock Pipit still (per RBA)

Lower Shiplake: 28th October

6 Ring-necked Parakeet over Thames path below college
2 Egyptian Goose

Peter Law

Otmoor.A.M. 28th October.

No sign of the Dartford Warbler in the South Pill Grounds today (per Phil Barnett)

Kite & Harrier courtesy of John Reynolds

1 Marsh Harrier
1 Merlin (F) also seen nr Pill ground (Steve Akers)
1 Peregrine (per Steve Akers & John Reynolds)
1 Jack Snipe at the Pill (per Phil Barnett)
4 Raven (Steve Akers)
1 Kingfisher
1 Water Rail.(H)
C. 130 Goldies ( east of Noke).
4 Snipe
1 Nuthatch (heard by Sling Copse).
1 Whinchat in the Pill Grounds (per Pete Roby)
4 or 5 Stonechat.
2 Goldcrest (per RSPB)
1 Feral Ross's Goose (per Phil Barnett)

Brambling over Sydlings Copse (per Phil Barnett)

Peregrine courtesy of John Reynolds

Parsonage Moor: 28th October

Parsonage Moor
Dunlin: Around and over.

Stephen Lockey

Otmoor. 27th October.

Distant Whinchat.

Southern Pill Ground.

One further brief sighting of Dartford Warbler reported approx. 1.30.pm.
Whinchat.
Raven.  2. over.
Stonechat.  Several.
Note; no access to Pill Ground when red flags are flying.

Starlings at roost.

Otmoor Reserve.

Marsh Harrier.
Peregrine.
Kingfisher.
Water Rail.
Stonechat.  3.
Snipe.  7.
Starling Roost.  20,000. plus birds going into reedbeds.

Per.  R.L.  H.W.  T.S.

Otmoor 27th October

Dartford Warbler still in the South Pill Grounds
c10:37 though elusive (per Roger Wyatt)

The Dartford Warbler constitutes the 200th bird
recorded (unofficially) in the county this year.
Well done Rog.

Otmoor 26th October

2 record shots of Dartford Warbler seen on the South Pill Grounds this afternoon often being harassed by Wrens. (Rog)

Seen again briefly early evening though mobile and elusive.

Marsh Harrier over reed beds
Short-eared Owl
Peregrine
Sparrowhawk 2
Water Rail
Cetti's Warbler (h) 2nd Screen
Chiffchaff 2
Whinchat
Stonechat 6+
Feral Ross's Goose with the Greylags

(Badger et al) Ross's photo by Badger.

Lockinge: 26th October

Lockinge
Peregrine: SU432876.

Leo Bateman

Standlake, 26 October

Bittern, 1 pit 60 in front of main reeds at W end before flying into reeds out of sight
Pintail, 4
Snipe, 3
Green Sand 3, pit 38
YL Gull 2

The Downs: 25th October

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 25th October

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Marsh Harrier: from 1st screen in distance over reed beds.

Steve Akers

Farmoor 25th October

Red Necked Grebe still - W side of F1
Shoveler - 1f
Clouded Yellow Butterfly

Red-necked Grebe (c) Stephen Burch

Click here for high res version

Otmoor.A.M. 25th October.

1 Marsh Harrier
2 Peregrine
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Ruff (poss)
Stonechat
Kingfisher
A few Redwing.

Chipping Norton: 25th October

Chipping Norton
2 Raven: believed resident pair - cronking, folding wings before going in to steep dives. SP303252.

Steve Akers

Otmoor.A.M. 23rd October.

1 Marsh Harrier
1 Peregrine
2 Water Rail (h)
7 Snipe
1 Kingfisher
2 Raven
C. 100 Golden Plover
2 Stonechat.

Garsington: 23rd October

Garsington
5 Grey Partridge

Stephen Lockey

Grimsbury Reservoir: 22nd October

Grimsbury Reservoir
Mediterranean Gull: 1w. with c.300 Black Headed Gull.

John Friendship-Taylor

Otmoor. Morning. 22nd October.

Stonechat.

Peregrine.  Big Otmoor.
Marsh Harrier.  Over reedbeds.
Snipe.  3.
Stonechat.  3.
Cetti's Warbler.  Before second screen.
Kingfisher.

Per.  P.G.  T.S.

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 22nd October

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Merlin

RSPB Otmoor

Farmoor 22nd October

Bewick's Swan 2 flew west over car park c09:45 (per Dai & Dave Daniels)

Red-necked Grebe still

Sent from my iPhone

Middleton Cheney: 21st October

Middleton Cheney
Probable Hawfinch: Flew along line of hedge along footpath towards Warkworth.

Michael Hunt

20th October Rushey Common

Barn Owl
Common Gull
Greater Black Backed Gull
late afternoon
Keith Clack

Otmoor. Evening. 20th. October.



Marsh Harrier at Starling roost.



Grey Heron.

Starling roost.  15,000 approx.   Good display.
Pied Wagtail.    150. approx also roosting in reedbed.
Marsh Harrier.
Peregrine.
Kingfisher.
Water rail.
Stonechat.   9. on path to second screen.



Supper time.

Per. R.L.  T.S.








Wytham Wood: 19th October

19th October

Wytham Wood
Raven

15th October

Tackley: Sturdy's Castle
Barn Owl

Nick Suckling

19th October Oxford

2 Ravens by St. Mary's Church in central Oxford this morning

per Liam Langley

Farmoor Oct 19th (08;15-11:30)

Garden Warbler - 1
Blackcap - 2 (male and female)
Chiffchaff - 4
Stonechat - 1 male
Rock Pipit - 1
Red Necked Grebe - 1 (NW corner of F1)
Jack Snipe - 1
Shoveler - female on F1

Otmoor 18th Early Morning

Marsh Harrier 1
Cetti's Warbler (h) at second screen
Stonechat
Chiffchaff
Redwings
Golden Plover
Kingfisher


Marsh Harrier picture
courtesy of John Reynolds.

Abingdon: Abingdon Bridge: 17th October

Abingdon: Abingdon Bridge
Peregrine: Flew over going south.

Jonathan Mercer

Otmoor.A.M. 17th October.

1 Marsh Harrier (F)
1 Kingfisher
300+ Golden Plover
1 Cettis Calling 2nd screen
1 Cettis calling by W. Hide (per C.W.)
Stonechats
C. 120 Wigeon

Per P.R. R&L E. C.W. P.G.

Farmoor 17th October

Red-necked Grebe courtesy of Jon Mercer

Red-necked Grebe
Goldeneye
Rock Pipit 2+
Stonechat 2

(per Dai)

Also:
Shoveler
4 Meadow Pipits

Liam Langley

Farmoor Reservoir: 16th October

Farmoor Reservoir
2 Rock Pipit: hunting for insects on grass by the circular pits/main Thames Water buildings.

Stephen Akers

Otmoor.A.M. 16th October.

                                                            Bittern (per John Reynolds)

                                                            Short-eared Owl Noke Farm (per Neil Hammatt)
                                                            Marsh Harrier (per John Reynolds)

                                                            1 Merlin (F. Reedbeds)

                                                            2 Peregrine (per RSPB)

                                                            Sparrowhawk (per J.R)

                                                                     C. 150 Lapwing

                                                                     Stonechat

                                                                     Kingfisher

                                                                    15 Redwing (over).

All photos courtesy of John Reynolds.

Farmoor 15th October

Common Tern 

This late Common Tern juv has lost its outer primaries

Grimsbury Reservoir: 15th October

Grimsbury Reservoir
Mediterranean Gull: 2w. with gathering of c.200 Black Headed Gull at dusk.

John Friendship-Taylor

Otmoor 15th October

400+ Golden Plover
Kingfisher
Stonechat
Snipe 12+
Redwing flying over
Water Rail
Wigeon c40

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I: 15th October

(c) Stephen Lockey

Red-necked Grebe
Rock Pipit 4
Kingfisher 2

Stephen Lockey

Tar Lakes/Rushy Common 15th Oct

Osprey in dead tree adjacent to Tar Lakes until 13:15
then flew S/W (per Keith Clack).

Redwing 400+ over in small groups.

Grimsbury Res 14th October

One of Two Great Skuas courtesy of Mike Pollard

Great Skua 2 birds flew through c18:00 heading west.
Little Gull
Little Owl (h)

(per Mike Pollard)

More at Nature in the Heart of England

Redwings 14th October

Courtesy of Paul Chandler more at Cholsey Wildlife

                               Redwing 120 Middleton Cheney (M.H)

                               Redwing 3 Henley at Drawback Hill (G.B)

                               Redwing 2 Grimsbury Reservoir (G.B)
                               Redwing 15 over Wheatley (A.L)
                               Redwing 60+ over Wantage (M.M)

                               Redwing up to 400 this morning out at Lollingdon Hill

                               Also Numbers of Blackbird and Song Thrush present (T.W)

                               Fieldfare over Wantage (M.M)

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 14th October

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
25 Golden Plover
4 Redwing

RSPB Otmoor

Farmoor 14th October

6 Little Gulls adults, 1 Little Tern adult, 2 Common Terns 1st w, 6 Rock Pipits, 1 Wheatear, 1 Red-necked Grebe and Redwings overhead.

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Wheatear

 

Little Gull

Red-necked Grebe

Pit 60 Standlake 14th October

Great Skua today Standlake at Pit 60
then flew south (per Brian Wyatt)
Pintail 7
Peregrine

Lollingdon; 14th Oct

Short-eared Owl drifted over moving west.

More on Cholsey Wildlife

Farmoor Reservoir: Causeway: 13th October

Dunlin: F1 side.
Rock Pipit 2 along causeway

John Gough

Farmoor 12th October

Red-necked Grebe along western edge of F2 12:00
Rock Pipit 2 along causeway

(per Dave Lowe & Stephen Akers)

Otmoor 12th October

Bittern seen briefly in flight from 2nd screen
(per Steve Jennings and Paul Jepson)

Sent from my iPhone

Didcot landfill - 11th October

1st winter Caspian Gull still in Didcot Landfill today (no general access).

Farmoor 11th October

Red-necked Grebe still present today (per Bob Philpott& Mark Barrett)

Photo courtesy of Bob Philpott)

Lark Hill 11th October

Whinchat
3 Stonechat
4 Wheatear
c25 Skylark

Otmoor. AM. 11th. October.

Goldfinch.

Bittern. 2nd. screen.
Raven.  8 over.
Snipe.
Stonechat.  Present on various parts of the reserve, numbering well into double figures.
Cetti's Warbler. Heard,2nd. screen.
Wheatear.
Short Eared Owl.  Morleys.

Per. Otmoor M.

Sparsholt: Sparsholt Firs/Tower: 11th October

Sparsholt: Sparsholt Firs/Tower
2 Raven

Mark Merritt

Otmoor.A.M. 10th October.

1 Bittern ( pristine, 2nd screen)
1 Peregrine
2 Wheatear
8+ Stonechat
3 Water Rail (h)
1 Kingfisher
1 Sparrowhawk.

   (per P.R. & P.G.)

Otmoor. 9th. October.

Kingfisher.  The usual post.

Kestrel. Ashgrave.

Perigrine.
Poss. Merlin.  (Big Otmoor.)
Snipe.
3. Stonechat.  (Noke End.)
25+ House Martins.
2. Swallows.

Per. P.G.,  T.S.

Islip: 9th October

Islip
Raven

Michael Hunt

Farmoor 9th October

                                           Red-necked Grebe south end of F2

                                           Sanderling (per Stephen Collier)

                                           Greenshank
                                           Common Gull
                                           Rock Pipit 3

                                          

                                           (per Dai)

                                                    All photos courtesy of Stephen Collier

Bucknell/Ardley 9th October

Merlin over the Bucknell to Ardley road this morning.

(per Nick Truby)

Farmoor. 7th. October.

Ringed Plover.

Red-necked Grebe courtesy of Alan Horsley

Red Necked Grebe.  West bank, F1
Common Sandpiper.
Ringed Plover.
Rock Pipit.
Meadow Pipits.
Black Necked Grebes, 2 seen by Dai first thing, but no further sign at 11.30am.

Per Dai, Clackers, and Tezzer.

Otmoor.A.M. 7th October.

Stonechat (c) Paul Greenaway

Black-tailed Godwit courtesy of John Reynolds

1 Sparrowhawk
10 Pochard
100+ Teal (JR)
Black-tailed Godwit (JR)
Lots of Skylark
1 Bittern (full plumage)
1 Hobby
1 Kingfisher
1 Water Rail.

Farmoor 6th October

Black-necked Grebe courtesey of Dai 

Black-necked Grebe 2 (D.J) on F2 08:40 still present this afternoon (John Gough)
Red-necked Grebe (per Justin)
Ringed Plover western end of causeway F1 (per Stephen Akers)
Rock Pipit 4 at bottom of the causeway (per John Gough)
Yellow Wagtail (per Stephen Akers)
Barn Owl (per Stephen Akers)

The Insomniac Birder

2 Black-necked Grebe: Both in SW(?) corner Cumnor side very close to shore - one in constant company of a Shoveler drake; the other further along with Mallards and Coots - very good views.
Red-necked Grebe: In same location as Black-necked Grebes - mostly in company of Great Crested Grebes which allowed for perfect size comparisons and showing the striking yellow beak compared to the pink of the Great Crested.

Stephen Akers

Grimsbury Res 5th October

Mandarin Duck (per Mike Pollard)

Sent from my iPhone

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II: 5th October

Red-necked Grebe F2 from sw corner to nw corner and back again between 14.00 and 16.30.
Yellow-legged Gull: ad. in flight.

Alan Horsley

Grey Wagtail Farmoor courtesy of Jonathan Mercer

Otmoor 5th October

Bittern 2
Cetti's Warbler (h)
Stonechat 10+ (per Bark et al)

(per Peter Law)

Sent from my iPhone

Farmoor Reservoir: 5th October

Farmoor Reservoir
4 Rock Pipit

John Gough

Great crested Grebe Farmoor courtesy of Jonathan Mercer

Farmoor Reservoir: 5th October

Farmoor Reservoir
Common Sandpiper

Dominic Norris

Moulsford 4th October

Male Merlin at Shortlands Hill Moulsford at 15:40

via Adam Bassett from the Berks Going Birding site

Chipping Norton: 4th October

Chipping Norton
Peregrine: f. Spectacular very fast low but unsuccessful attack on flock of over 50 Goldfinch close to Sarsgrove Farm - then continued at tree top height over Sarsgrove Wood before going out of sight. Outstanding!!!. SP303252.

Stephen Akers

Farmoor Reservoir: 4th October

4th October

Farmoor Reservoir
Green Woodpecker
Red-necked Grebe: Happily feeding in north-west corner of F2.
Tawny Owl: (h).
10 Pied Wagtail
2 Grey Wagtail
300 Starling
Marsh Harrier: Hunting roosting starlings but gave up quickly.

Lia Verhoeff

Farmoor 4th October after the rain cleared

2 Rock Pipit west bank F2 near causeway
1 Common Sandpiper
No sign of the Red-necked Grebe

Didcot Landfill 4th October

A 1st winter Caspian Gull in the landfill at lunchtime (no general access).