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For questions you can contact Adam at: adamchartley "at" gmail "dot" com or Jason at: jasoncppk "at" yahoo "dot" co "dot" uk

Sunday 31 January 2016

Farmoor Reservoir 31st January

Great Northern Diver 2 still on F1 late afternoon (per Andy Last)

Rushey Lock: 31st January

31st January

Rushey Lock
Goosander: drk. 15:00.
Stonechat: fem. 15:00.
3 Tree Sparrow: on feeders in lock-keeper's garden. 15:00.

Chimney: Chimney Meadows
800 Golden Plover: Conservative count. 16:45.
350 Lapwing: Conservative count. 16:45.

Ian Elkins

Fyfield Wick: 31st January

Fyfield Wick
2 Grey Partridge

Jed Cleeter

Wolvercote: 30th January

Wolvercote
3 Goosander: 1 adm 2redheads. On the canal just S of the Plough pub. 07:00.

Tom Evans

Trap Grounds: 31st January

Trap Grounds
Cetti's Warbler: A single burst of song from the reed bed, about ten mins after I gave up a speculative session of playing a recording. Presumably a delayed response to that. First record from the site as far as I am aware. 17:00.

Tom Evans

Drayton (nr Abingdon): 31st January

Drayton (nr Abingdon)
Green Sandpiper: on pools from Drayton Rd.

Tom Mabbett

Otmoor 31st January

Bittern
Marsh Harrier 2
Shelduck 2 on Ashgrave
Brambling 2
Yellowhammer 7+

(per Bark)

All the highlights from a bird packed weekend
tomorrow on Otmoor Birding

Marcham: Denman College: 31st January

Marcham: Denman College
200 Siskin: c200+ Incredible noise and sight. Biggest flock I've ever seen by far.

Jed Cleeter

Saturday 30 January 2016

Farmoor 30th Jan

Great Northern Diver















Great Northern Diver 2 (both juvs) F1 in S/E corner late morning.
Goldeneye 9

Little Owl





Little Owl
Stonechat

No sign of the reported Black-necked Grebes.

(per Andy Last)


All photos courtesy of Andy Last





Goldeneye

Radley GP: Thrupp Lake: 30th January

3 Red-crested Pochard: 2 drk + 1 duck. 15:40.
2 Egyptian Geese
3 Little Egret 16:45.

Ian Elkins

Otmoor,30th January

Otmoor Skies (Lapwings and Golden Plovers) courtesy of Norman Smith.

Marsh Harriers 2, male carrying sticks into reed bed
Sparrowhawk on fence eyeing up the large flocks by hide
Bittern briefly from first screen
Tremendous amounts of Lapwing and Golden Plover constantly wheeling above
Stonechats 2 Greenaways

Clackers

Bicester Wetland Reserve

Water Rail courtesy of Nick Truby
2 Water Rail
168 Teal
5 Shoveler
17 Gadwall
4 Heron
2 Little Egret

key holder reserve

Kingston Bagpuize: 30th January

Kingston Bagpuize
Peregrine: fem. Pushed c500 Woodpigeon east. 08:05.

Jed Cleeter

Friday 29 January 2016

Port Meadow: 29th January

Port Meadow
7 Shelduck
5 Dunlin
4 Pintail
2 Goosander

Adam Hartley

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 28th January

28th January

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Brambling 15:10.
Marsh Harrier 15:50.

Michael Hunt

Farmoor 29th January

Black-necked Grebe 2 reported in S/W corner of F1 this morning but no sign at 13:00.

Thursday 28 January 2016

Ridgeway West Isley: Oxon/Berks border 28th January

Ring Ouzel in the sunshine today.

Otmoor 28th January

2 Shelduck on Ashgrave lagoon
3 Stonechat at Noke
120+ Pintail on Big Otmoor with large numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Lapwing and Golden plover
2 Marsh harriers over the reedbed

Marsh Harrier courtesy of Norman Smith.


With fish.

Culham: Culham Cut: 28th January

Culham: Culham Cut
2 Raven: ad. Acrobatic display over River then flew downstream. SU5094. 15:00.

Roy Pyniger
Garden Blackcap courtesy of Mary Clifton

Cowleaze Wood: 28th January

Cowleaze Wood
Brambling: at least 3 in Chaffinch flock just north of gate on Bucks border. SU734957. 10:00.

Peter Law

Port Meadow, 28th January

Dunlin 6
Shelduck 3
Kingfisher  on stream behind car park

Clackers

Wednesday 27 January 2016

Ridgeway West Isley: Oxon/Berks border 27th January


Ring Ouzel, an unusual wintering bird (present since 14th January), but not seen closer than 40 metres from the Oxfordshire border.

Bicester Wetland Reserve

3 Green Sandpiper
1 Little Egret
7 Heron
160 Teal
16 Gadwall
3 Shoveler

Alan Peters

Otmoor.A.M. 27th January.

2 Marsh Harrier
1+ Sparrowhawk
50+ Pintail
1 Little Egret.

Monday 25 January 2016

Sonning Eye GPs 25th January

No sign of the juvenile Glaucous Gull in the roost late afternoon.
Smew (dk)

(per Wickster & The Law)

Farmoor 25th January


White Fronted Goose across river at back of f2. Found by and given the Dave John seal of approval !
Great Northern Divers 2 on f1 14:30
Caspian Gull in roost (N.H)
Ringed Plover
Grey Wagtail
Little Grebes at least 12 on f2
Stonechat
Little Owl

(per Clackers, Mrs Clackers
& John Gough)
White-front photo courtesy 
of Dai John.

Shirburn Hill: 23rd January

Shirburn Hill
4 Raven: 2 pairs displaying and calling loudly.

Cowleaze Wood
5 Brambling: on the eastern edge of the wood. possibly more in a large flock of chaffinches.

Jackie Newcombe

Otmoor 25th am

Pintail courtesy of Jon Reynolds




















Little egret on Closes
Group of 65 Pintail flew from Flood heading towards Big Otmoor

(per RSPB)


Marsh Harrier 2
Peregrine
Sparrowhawk
Grey Wagtail

(per Jon Reynolds)

Shoveler courtesy of Jon Reynolds








Port Meadow: 25th January

Port Meadow
Peregrine
4 Dunlin
2 Shelduck
3 Pintail: male.
250 Lapwing: very large count for the Meadow.
10 Golden Plover
4 Common Gull

Adam Hartley
Meadow Pipit Otmoor courtesy of Jon Reynolds

Standlake Pit 60: 25th January

Standlake Pit 60
100 Pintail: over 100 Pintail - unable to complete exact count as no hide access. 12:30.
300 Lapwing 12:30.
Goosander: m. 12:30.
3 Goldeneye: drk. 12:30.

Steve Akers

Shipton-under-Wychwood: 25th January

Shipton-under-Wychwood
Raven 11:30.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 25th January

Chipping Norton
2 Lesser Redpoll: pair. male with beautiful pink blush - very fine. SP308267. 11:00.

Steve Akers

Blenheim Park 25th January

Peregrine
Pintail 2 (m)
Cetti's Warbler (h)

Recently:
Shelduck
Water Rail

(per Dave Doherty)

Sunday 24 January 2016

Didcot landfill: 24th January

Iceland Gull - juv at 4.30pm (at last)
Caspian Gull - 1st w


24th January Sonning Eye GP

Juv Glaucous Gull in the roost at 4:30 p.m.

per RBA

Otmoor


Marsh Harrier

Pit 60, Standlake 24th Jan

c130 Pintail
4 Goldeneye
Peregrine
Sparrowhawk
Stonechat

Long Tailed Tit

Port Meadow 24th January

Shelduck x 2
Goosander x 4 (3M and 1F)
Lapwings x 50
Dunlin x 4
 
per Mary MacDougall

Bicester Wetland Reserve

4 Green Sandpiper
75 Teal
5 Heron
7 Gadwall
Water rail
Little Grebe
3 Roe Deer

Alan Peters

Farmoor Reservoir 24th January

Great Northern Diver 2 F1
Snow Geese 40 roving feral flock 12:45 F2 then flew west.
Little Owl (Shrike Meadow)
Stonechat

(per Dave Lowe)

Blenheim 24th January

2 Pintail
38 Gadwall
210 Mallard
Snipe

Queen Elizabeth Island
28 Grey Heron: At least 9 active nest platforms. 13:00.

Woodstock: Sansoms Farm 23rd Jan
Barn Owl: daylight hunting. 15:00.

Bob Pomfret

Combe Gate

Mistle Thrush 3
Song Thrush at least 5 singing
Ravens 2 acrobatic display and calling
Red Kites at least 8 in pairs

(per Clackers)

Saturday 23 January 2016

Port Meadow: 23rd January

Port Meadow
5 Dunlin
Shelduck
5 Goosander: 4m 1r/h.

Adam Hartley

Standlake Pit 60: 23rd January

300 Lapwing:
200 Golden Plover
Goldeneye: drk. 14:00.
42 Pintail: at least 40 drakes, plus unidentified number of ducks; with
Sizeable numbers of Gadwall, Teal and Widgeon. 14:00.

(per Steve Akers)

Finstock: 23rd January

Finstock
2 Raven 11:30.

Steve Akers

Otmoor 23rd January

Bittern (2nd screen)
Marsh Harrier 2
Peregrine 2
Merlin (per N.Truby)
Pintail c50
Green Sandpiper 2 (per Tezzer)
Snipe 30+
Golden Plover c1000
Lapwing c3000
Water Rail
Cetti's Warbler 2+

Large Starling roost this afternoon but with most birds going straight to reed beds.

 
Marsh Harrier please view at 720p HD

Farmoor Reservoir 23rd January

Great Northern Diver 2 (both juvs) still on F2 near the sailing club.

Bicester Wetlands, 23rd January

Green Sandpiper
Water Rail

Clackers & Mrs Clackers
Barn Owl and Peregrine interaction Duxford.
The Barn Owl was unscathed. Courtesy of Jeremy Dexter.

Friday 22 January 2016

Didcot Landfill: 22nd January

Caspian Gull 2 (1st w & 2nd w)

Bicester: 22nd January

Bicester
Little Egret 11:00.

Christine Cherry

Otmoor 19th January

Report of 2 Bearded Tits in the reed beds on Tuesday was erroneous.

Stanton Harcourt/Hardwick 22nd January

Great Grey Shrike south of B4449
In scrub adjacent to Pits 3-4 west of access road to West Oxford Sailing Club at 15:08
(per Dave Doherty).

Please keep to public footpath.

Farmoor Reservoir 22nd January

Great Northern Diver 2 (both juvs) still present.

(per Dai)

Thursday 21 January 2016

Grimsbury Reservoir: 21st January

2 Willow Tit
1 Goldeneye

(per John Friendship-Taylor)
Wildfowl on Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Tom Nicholson-Lailey

Port Meadow: 21st January

Port Meadow
4 Dunlin
Shelduck
Tufted Duck: f.
Pheasant
50 Redwing
2 Fieldfare

Adam Hartley

Otmoor Thursday 21 January



Belated report of 2 Bearded Tits on Tuesday 19th in the reed beds.

(per Adrian Tysoe)

Water Rail skating on thin ice

                               Bittern: (2nd screen).
                               Brambling
                               Marsh Harrier
                               Cetti's Warbler: (H).
                               Peregrine

                               (per Barry Batchelor)

Marsh Tit
                               All photos courtesy of Paul Tomlinson


Great Spotted Woodpecker

Chipping Norton: 21st January

2 Lesser Redpoll: pair. SP308267. 14:15.
Blackcap: f. Back garden 41, The Leys - first this season. SP308267. 14:15.
8 Bullfinch: 5m; 3f. Highest count so far this year! - feeding on patio and feeders in our back garden

Steve Akers

Wolvercote: Oxford Canal: 21st January

Wolvercote: Oxford Canal
Raven: SP489106. 09:45.

Steve Goddard

Pit 60 Hides

Both hides now accessible.

Wednesday 20 January 2016

Chipping Norton: 20th January

Chipping Norton
2 Kestrel: f. One hunting beside minor road between Daylesford and Kingham; the other perched in tree next to bridge over Kingham Brook - a lovely sight in the bright winter sunshine. 15:30.
3 Bullfinch: 2m; 1f. 15:30.

Steve Akers

Cholsey Marsh 20th January

Corn Bunting c160 in the roost this evening
Meadow Pipit c50

(per Paul Chandler)

Abingdon SW 20th January

Siberian Chiffchaff

Siberian Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff

Goldcrest

Otmoor reedbeds 20 January (a.m.)

7 Water Rail
2 Stonechat
2 Cetti's Warbler
Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Peregrine

Port Meadow 20th January

Male Goosander courtesy of Alec Nightingale















Goosander 4 (3dk) on Thames south of the weir at Wolvercote
Shelduck 2
Redshank 2

(per Alec Nightingale)


Female Goosander courtesy of Alec Nightingale

Sonning Eye GPs: 20th January

Smew: f. on water ski pit. 11:00.
3 Red-crested Pochard: 2m 1f. on water ski pit. 11:00.
6 Egyptian Goose
2 Cetti's Warbler

Henley Road GPs
2 Smew: m+f. 11:00.

(per Hugh Netley)

Culham: Culham Reach: 19th January

Culham: Culham Reach
3 Bullfinch: 2m1f. 12:00.

Roy Pyniger

Abingdon SW and Didcot landfill: 19th January

Siberian Chiffchaff 1 at Abingdon Sewage Works still with c20 Chiffchaffs.


Caspian Gull a new 2nd winter at Didcot landfill

Tuesday 19 January 2016

Swyncombe Wood 19th January

Nuthatch

Treecreeper

Otmoor RSPB 19th January

Short-eared Owl on Ashgrave this afternoon
Stonechat
Kingfisher
Brambling at least one still showing from the Wetlands Watch hide yesterday (per R.L)

(per Terry Tossel)

Cholsey 18th January

Belated report of a Mealy Redpoll reported in Cholsey garden yesterday afternoon.

(per Paul Chandler) Cholsey Wildlife

Abingdon Sewage treatment works.

Siberian Chiffchaff (tristis) recently
Chiffchaff c20

(per The Gunslinger) 

Rushey Common area/Dix pit, 19th January

Rushy Common area
Bullfinch 3m 1f
Egyptian Geese 2
Peregrine

Dix - trees before recycling area
Redpoll at least 2 with Siskins

Clackers

Henley Road GPs 19th January

Red-breasted Merganser r/h
Smew 2 (1dk)

(per RBA)

Kingston Bagpuize: 19th January

Kingston Bagpuize
Raven: Flew west. 07:50.

Jed Cleeter

Monday 18 January 2016

Dorchester: Dorchester complex: 18th January

Dorchester: Dorchester complex
Shelduck 09:00.

Thomas Stevenson

: 18th January

crowsley park
Raven: SU735800. 11:00.

Hugh Netley

Henley Road GPs 18th January

Red-breasted Merganser still on Henley Rd GPs at 14:30 and showing well.

(per S.Kiver)

Otmoor WeBS totals, 18/1

Bittern- 1
Black-headed gull- 245
Canada goose- 359
Coot- 72
Cormorant- 5
Gadwall- 36
Golden plover- 3129
Great crested grebe- 2
Grey heron- 3
Greylag goose- 134
Kingfisher- 2
Lapwing- 3033
Lesser black-backed gull- 3
Mallard- 186
Moorhen- 2
Mute swan- 23
Pintail- 42
Shoveler- 174
Snipe- 15
Teal- 1434
Tufted duck- 5
Water rail- 3
Wigeon- 1660

Also 2 Marsh harriers, Grey wagtail, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Peregrine.

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I: 18th January

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I
Great Northern Diver: By boat house. 12:00.

John Gough

Bicester Wetland Reserve

2 Water Rail showing well from tower hide
2 Little Grebe
50 Teal
3 Gadwall
2 Heron

Alan Peters

Sunday 17 January 2016

Chipping Norton: 17th January

Chipping Norton
2 Raven: SP303252. 10:30.

Steve Akers

Hardwick GP: 17th January

Hardwick GP
Cetti's Warbler: In bank side vegetation on membership waterski lake.

Combe
2 Raven

Paul Wren

Dix Pit: 17th January

Dix Pit
Goldeneye: m. Extensive views of beautiful Goldeneye Drake. 16:00.
4 Pintail: 2 m; 2f. 16:00.
42 Shoveler 16:00.
2 Teal: pair. 16:00.

Steve Akers

Henley Road GPs 17th January

Smew (m/f) reported

(per Matthew Southwell)

Otmoor.A.M. 17th January.

Bittern from the 2nd screen 16/1 courtesy of Martin Swannell


1 Marsh Harrier
1 Bittern (reported)
1 Yellowhammer (per Sandra)
Lots of Goldies and Lapwing.
Marsh Tit.

Courtesy of Martin Swannell

Old Shifford, 17th January


Linnets 250-300
Chaffinches c150
Sparrowhawk

Clackers

Saturday 16 January 2016

Ewelme: Cress beds: 16th January

Green Sandpiper 09:30.
Water Rail
Little Egret
Mandarin recently

(per Thomas Stevenson)
Benson & Ewelme Wildlife

Henley Road GPs 16th January

Red-breasted Merganser (f) still this afternoon
+Smew

(per RBA)

Standlake pit 60: AM 16th January

4 Goldeneye ( 2m, 2F)
At least 65 Pintail
15 Shoveler
5 Pochard
Pintail

Pintail

Goldeneye

Pintail

South Leigh 16th January

No sign of the Great Grey Shrike east of South Leigh near The Nunnery by 13:15

Otmoor 16th January

Bittern
Marsh Harrier
Pintail c10
Stonechat 2+
Marsh Tit

(per the O.M)

Woodstock: Shipton Slade Farm: 16th January

Woodstock: Shipton Slade Farm
11 Siskin 08:15.
Sparrowhawk: male. 08:15.
40 Skylark 08:15.

Bob Pomfret

Friday 15 January 2016

Port Meadow: 15th January

Port Meadow
5 Redshank
8 Goosander
8 Shelduck
11 Pintail
2 Stock Dove
10 Common Gull

Adam Hartley
Water Rail Bicester Wetlands Reserve

Courtesy of Nick Truby

Upper Cherwell Valley: 15th January

Upper Cherwell Valley
Green Sandpiper
Barn Owl

Gareth Blockley

Henley Rd Pits + Henley rugby club, 15th January

Henley rd pits
Smew 1m 1f
Goosander

Henley rugby club
Ring Necked Parakeet

Clackers and Mrs Clackers

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 15th January

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
2 Short-eared Owl: Greenaways-being mobbed by crows. 12:00.

Stephen Lockey

Standlake Common area: AM 15th January

Pit 27

1 Goosander (f)
6 Red crested Pochard


The whole area around pit 60 is now extensively flooded. The Langley Lane hide is completely cut off (as defined by the water level being much higher than my wellies!). The north hide is still just about accessible from both directions with a good pair of wellies.

Thursday 14 January 2016

Didcot Landfill : 14th January

1st winter Caspian Gull


Henley Road GP's 14th January

Red-breasted Merganser (f)
Smew (r/h)

(per Phil Brown)

Access off of A4155.


Farmoor Reservoir 14th January

Great northern Diver at least one juvenile still on F1 this afternoon (per Phil Brown)

Otmoor 14 January a.m.

Short Eared Owl in Morley's Field
Peregrine
Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Marsh Tit by car park
Brambling (amongst the flock of linnets/reed buntings/goldfinches/chaffinches at the Hide)

Brambling at Hide



Linnet at Hide

Side of Witney sewage works,14th January

Chiffchaff 1  probably 2
Goldfinches 46 at least

Clackers

Wednesday 13 January 2016

Port Meadow: 13th January

Port Meadow
7 Shelduck: On an island in the extended flood waters.

Adam Hartley

Standlake: Standlake Common GPs: 9th January

Standlake: Standlake Common GPs
111 Red-crested Pochard: at least 111 with 1 leucistic bird. 10:00.
8 Goosander 10:00.
40 Pintail 10:00.
Peregrine 10:00.

Tom Mabbett

Otmoor.A.M.13th January.

1 Peregrine
5 Pintail
C. 1000 Golden Plover.

(per Paul Greenaway)

Morleys Field
Woodcock
Short Eared Owl

(per Paul Tomlinson)

Henley Rd gravel pits: AM 13th Jan

2 Goosander (m)
3 Smew (1m, 2f)
1 Red-Breasted Merganser (f)

Smew and friends

Kestrel

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II: 13th January

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
Great Northern Diver: By the Sailing club. 10:00.

Farmoor Reservoir: River Thames
2 Goosander: Males. Flew off downstream. 10:00.

Stephen Lockey

Barford St. Michael: 13th January

Barford St. Michael
Hawfinch: Over calling.
2 Tree Sparrow

Michael Hunt

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Farmoor Reservoir 12th Jan

Great northern Diver 2+ still on F2 this morning near the sailing club (per RBA).

Henly Road GPs 12th January

3 Smew (1 drake, 2 redheads) and 1 Red-breasted Merganser.
Smew

Smew

Red-breasted Merganser

Egyptian Goose