Chipping Norton: 31st May

Chipping Norton
3 Blackcap: male. A very special moment today watching a male Blackcap feeding a newly fledged chick hiding in the holly at the bottom of our garden. Utterly delightful. Meantime another male singing loudly from neighbouring garden. SP308267. 10:30.

Steve Akers

Farmoor Reservoir: 31st May

Farmoor Reservoir
2 Black Tern: Birds still present on F2. 14:53.

Luke Marriner

Farmoor 31st May

2 Black Terns

Farmoor Reservoir: 31st May

Farmoor Reservoir
2 Black Tern: Birds still present on F2. 14:53.

Luke Marriner

Appleford GPs 31st May

Hobby 3

Egyptian Goose 2 

Common Tern 2 

Little Egret 3 

Little-ringed Plover 

Lapwing c6

Oystercatcher 2+

Reed Warbler 

Reed Bunting 

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Farmoor Reservoir 31st May

Black Tern 2 over F2 11:50 (per Andy Last). 

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Bicester Wetland Reserve 31st May

Alan Peters

Key Holder Reserve

South Leigh: 31st May

South Leigh
Cuckoo 09:00.

Richard Catling

South Leigh: 30th May

South Leigh
Cuckoo 19:00.

Richard Catling

Clifton Hampden: 30th May

Clifton Hampden
Oystercatcher 21:00.

Alex Edgar

Appleford GP: 30th May

c8 Ringed Plover
Little Egret
Yellowhammer

Otmoor: 30th May

Otmoor
Marsh Harrier 15:35.
4 Redshank 15:35.
4 Raven 15:35.

W Holden

Sonning Eye GPs: 30th May

Sonning Eye GPs
Oystercatcher 13:20.

Marek Walford

Chinnor: Cement Works: 30th May

Chinnor: Cement Works
2 Bullfinch 08:00.
4 Chiffchaff 08:00.
2 Whitethroat 08:00.
9 Blackcap 08:00.
2 Linnet 08:00.
2 Little Ringed Plover 08:00.
Garden Warbler 08:00.

Nick Marriner

Swift over Stonesfield courtesy of Paul Wren.

Yarnton: 30th May

Yarnton
Barn Owl 05:00.

Nick Suckling

Mistle Thrush Blenheim Park courtesy of Christopher Knight.

Towersey 29th May

Pheonix Trail

Little Owl
2 Grey Partridge
Lapwing
9 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff
9 Whitethroat
Cormorant
13 Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting
7 Linnet
Lesser Whitethroat

Nick Marriner

Uffington: Britchcombe Farm: 29th May

Uffington: Britchcombe Farm
3 Raven
3 Meadow Pipit: Singing males.

Mark Merritt

Chinnor: Cement Works: 29th May

Chinnor: Cement Works
2 Little Ringed Plover: On island Lake 2b. 09:30.

David Stracey

Shelswell: Shelswell Park: 29th May

Shelswell: Shelswell Park
Spotted Flycatcher: ad. 1 or possibly 2 in tops of mature trees at minor rd jctn nr Coldharbour Fm. SP605316. 09:20.

Chris Coppock

Otmoor: 29th May

29th May

Otmoor
3 Teal 08:00.
6 Cuckoo 08:00.
4 Oystercatcher 10:30.
2 Marsh Harrier 10:30.
3 Hobby 10:30.
4 Willow Warbler 06:15.
3 Lesser Whitethroat 06:15.
4 Little Egret 06:15.

Isaac West

Blenheim: 28th May

Blenheim
Raven: Harassing any other corvid or Buzzard that came near it. Presumably defending a nest it had nearby . 10:00.

Nick Suckling

Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course: 28th May

Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course
4 Oystercatcher 04:31.

Luke Marriner

Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course: 28th May

Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course
4 Oystercatcher 04:31.

Luke Marriner

Otmoor rspb 'A partial re-opening' 28th May

“Otmoor nature reserve is now partially open.  Most reserve paths are open except for the visitor trail that leads to the reedbed.  Due to social distancing guidelines it is currently not possible to open this section of the reserve for visitor access. The hides and viewing screens will also remain closed.  Car parking charges remain in place for non-members £2 per car.  We would like to thank you for your patience during this difficult time.” 

David Wilding
Site Manager.

South Moreton: 28th May

South Moreton
2 Little Owl: SU552882. 06:15.

W Holden

: 27th May

Burcot: River Thames
Hobby: Hawking. SU559958. 21:35.

Alex Edgar

Radcot Lock: 27th May

Radcot Lock
Cuckoo: singing in trees next to road. 09:52.

W Holden

Appleford: Appleford GP: 27th May

Appleford: Appleford GP
4 Little Ringed Plover: SU519938. 15:09.
2 Ringed Plover: SU519938. 15:09.
Hobby: SU519938. 15:09.
Peregrine: SU519938. 15:09.
2 Egyptian Goose: SU519938. 15:09.
Pochard: SU519938. 15:09.

Conor MacKenzie

: 27th May

Burcot: River Thames
Hobby: Hawking. SU559958. 21:35.

Freeland: 26th May

Freeland
Hobby: Single bird being mobbed by a crow over fields to east of Wrosslyn Rd. 23:46.

David Cleal

Appleford GPs 26th May

Marsh Harrier (f) circled the pit this evening before heading off east, 1st record for the site.

Ringed Plover 6
Little-ringed Plover 4+
Oystercatcher
Egyptian Goose 2
Cuckoo

South Leigh: 26th May

South Leigh
Cuckoo 20:00.

Richard Catling

Thame 26th May

Thame
Cuckoo: Calling by the river. SP701065. 19:56.

Luke Marriner

House Martins Farmoor Reservoir courtesy of Stephen Lockey.

Kelmscot: Kelmscott Manor: 26th May

Kelmscot: Kelmscott Manor
Kingfisher 13:07.
Cuckoo: in the poplars by Buscot. 13:07.
6 Reed Warbler 13:07.

W Holden

Otmoor 26th May

At least 7-8 hobbies
2 redshanks
1M & 1F marsh harriers
1 curlew
1F blackcap

(per Moth)

9 Little Egret 12:00.

Ruff 12:00.

Wigeon: Very late bird in amongst some Tufted Ducks. 11:00.

6 Cuckoo 11:00.

2 Lesser Whitethroat 11:00.

2 Willow Warbler 11:00.

Barnacle Goose 11:00.

Garden Warbler 11:00.

2 Oystercatcher 11:00.

4 Snipe 11:00.

2 Common Tern 11:00.

(per Isaac West)

Spotted Flycatcher 11:00. 

(per David Parker)

Male cuckoo courtesy of Moth

Male marsh harrier with hassling lapwing courtesy of Moth

Nether Worton: 26th May

26th May

Nether Worton
Spotted Flycatcher: Catching flies in the churchyard. SP424301. 16:52.
Nuthatch: SP424301. 14:15.
Robin: SP424301. 14:15.
Goldfinch: SP424301. 14:15.

Mary Clifton

Aston Upthorpe: Juniper Valley: 26th May

Aston Upthorpe: Juniper Valley
Grey Partridge 12:28.

John Taylor

Bicester Wetland Reserve 26th May

1 Cuckoo
2 Lapwing
7 Gadwall
Reed and Sedge Warblers
Blackcaps, Whitethroats
Reed Buntings

Key Holder Reserve

Alan Peters

South Leigh: 26th May

South Leigh
Cuckoo 09:15.

Richard Catling

South Leigh: 25th May

South Leigh
3 Hobby 19:00.

Richard Catling

Blenheim Park 26th May

Mandarin

Egyptian Goose 

Little Egret 8

(per Dave Doherty)

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

: 25th May

Thame
Yellow Wagtail: On by new MP Cricket Ground. SP703063. 17:00.

Thame
Spotted Flycatcher: St Mary's churchyard. SP703063. 17:00.

Thame
Corn Bunting: On wires by new MP Cricket Ground. SP703063. 17:00.

Nick Marriner

Otmoor: 26th May

Spotted Flycatcher in the willow at the entrance  to the car park

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Appleford GPs 25th May

Sanderling 2 (per RBA) 

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Otmoor, 25th May

Carpark to Bittern Bench, Bridleway 07:30-11:00

Bittern 2
Marsh Harrier 2
Grasshopper Warbler
Willow Warbler
Cuckoo 4

Reed Warbler

Common Whitethroat

 Old Caley's Diary

Otmoor 25th May

Lesser Whitethroat Otmoor courtesy of Steve Liptrot.

Scary Hill: 25th May

Scary Hill
Peregrine

Mark Merritt

River Thames: nr Lower Radley: 25th May

River Thames: nr Lower Radley
Cuckoo 16:06.
Kingfisher 16:06.

Jason Coppock

Appleford GPs 25th May

Ringed Plover 6

Little-ringed Plover 4+

Oystercatcher
Egyptian Geese 

Cuckoo 

Yellow Wagtail 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Otmoor, 24th May

07:30-12:00

No further sign of the Wood Sandpiper by early afternoon on Big Otmoor.

Ruff (f) on Big Otmoor 

Oystercatcher 2 

Little Egret 6

Common Tern 2 

Hobby 7+

Marsh Harrier 

Bittern 

Grasshopper Warbler 

Cuckoo 3+

(per Badger, Nick Truby et al)

Letcombe Bassett: Gramps Hill: 24th May

Letcombe Bassett: Gramps Hill
6 Yellow Wagtail

Mark Merritt

South Mo? 24th May

Little Owl: SU552882. 05:45.

W Holden

New Marston: New Marston Meadows: 24th May

New Marston: New Marston Meadows
Spotted Flycatcher 14:27.

Tom Evans

Rushy Common: 24th May

Rushy Common
2 Chiffchaff 13:29.
Common Tern 13:29.
Cuckoo 13:29.
Garden Warbler 13:29.
Kestrel 13:29.
Little Egret 13:29.
4 Long-tailed Tit 13:29.
3 Red-crested Pochard 13:29.
5 Swift 13:29.
Whitethroat 13:29.

Mark Pidgeon

Fyfield Wick: 23rd May

Fyfield Wick
Hobby: Low level over garden hunting. 10:05.

Jed Cleeter

Appleford: Appleford GP: 24th May

Appleford: Appleford GP
Sanderling 10:00.
2 Dunlin 10:00.
6 Ringed Plover 10:00.
Oystercatcher 10:00.

Michael Pocock

Oxford, Walton Manor 24th May

Crane (appeared to be unringed) circled low over my garden in Walton Manor, just east of Port Meadow for a couple of minutes at 9 a.m. before heading off south west.

Gnome

Sutton Courtenay

Garden Warbler in the Millennium Common courtesy of Christopher Knight.

Farmoor - 23 May pm

1 Sanderling
1 Dunlin
Swifts, House Martin, Sand Martin

For a larger image, click here 

Sanderling (c) Stephen Burch

Letcombe Bassett: May 23rd

Quail at Latton Down per Birdguides, 16:03

Farmoor 23rd May

Sanderling
Ringed Plover

Otmoor 23rd May

Probable Wood Sandpiper (per RBA). 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

: 23rd May

crowsley wood
3 Cuckoo: m. singing. SU734802. 08:00.

Hugh Netley

Appleford 23rd May

Sanderling 

Ringed Plover 

Swift 40+

Cuckoo 

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Fyfield Wick: 22nd May

Fyfield Wick
3 Cuckoo: male. At least 3 different males been calling early morning and at Dusk for about a week now. 06:15.

Jed Cleeter

Appleford GPs 22nd May

Sanderling 4

Ringed Plover 2

Little-ringed Plover 

Oystercatcher

Scutchamer Knob: 22nd May

Scutchamer Knob
Spotted Flycatcher: m.

West Ginge: West Ginge Down
2 Spotted Flycatcher: pair.

Mark Merritt

Sonning Eye GPs: 22nd May

Sonning Eye GPs
Cuckoo 12:00.

Marek Walford

Farmoor Reservoir 22nd May

Sanderling 2

Ringed Plover 

10:10 (per Ewan Urquhart) 

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Dix Pit: 22nd May

Dix Pit
Probable 2 Common Tern 09:21.
2 Little Egret 09:21.
40 Cormorant 09:21.
10 Grey Heron 09:21.
Red-crested Pochard 09:21.

Mark Pidgeon

: 20th May

River Thames, Cholsey Marsh, north
2 Reed Warbler: A couple in song nr Bow bridge. . SU6086. 06:45.

Mike Amphlett

Dorchester: River Thames: 21st May

21st May

Dorchester: River Thames
Mandarin Duck: fem. 20:15.
Oystercatcher 20:15.
Cuckoo 21:15.

Alex Edgar

Appleford GPs 21st May

Ringed Plover 3 

Little-ringed Plover c6

Oystercatcher 

Little Egret 2 

Egyptian Goose 6+

Cuckoo 

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Farmoor Reservoir 21st May

Sanderling

Five Sanderling and a Dunlin

Sanderling

Woodway: 21st May

Woodway
Grey Partridge: Seen with leaping Roebuck in Oven Bottom. 16:19.

John Taylor

Chesterton 21st May

Cattle Egret Chesterton flew over M40 J9 at 11:30 (per RBA) 

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Otmoor bridleway, 21 May

13.45-16.15
At least 10 hobbies over Greenaways & occasionally The Closes
1m and 1f marsh harriers over Big
1 (almost certainly 2) bittern
1 curlew landed on Greenaways
At least 3, probably 4 cuckoos calling from pretty much every direction

Hobbies

Curlew

Bittern

Farmoor, 21st May

16:30-17:45

Sanderling 5
Dunlin
Common Tern 5
Wigeon

Woodstock 21st May

Probable White-tailed Eagle reported over Woodstock being mobbed by Red Kites c16:35.

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Chimney: Chimney Meadows: 21st May

Chimney: Chimney Meadows
2 Cuckoo: Minimum.
Grasshopper Warbler
3 Tree Sparrow
Tawny Owl: m. Hooting at 9:50 AM.

Mark Merritt

Farmoor 21st May

Sanderling

Sanderling 5

Dunlin 

Common Sandpiper 

10:18 (per Ewan Urquhart, Jim Hutchins) 

South Leigh: 20th May

South Leigh
Cuckoo 20:00.

Richard Catling

Chipping Norton: 21st May

Chipping Norton
Goldcrest: Feeding on insects on top of Damson tree - birding in the time of Covid whilst "shielding" as a family under lockdown - this smallest of our birds is the highlight this morning. SP308267. 07:30.
Song Thrush: With beak full of slugs and snails and flew off to nest. SP308267. 07:30.
Blackcap: m. Singing from top of white willow tree. SP308267. 07:30.
Bullfinch: m. SP308267. 07:30.
3 Swift: Feeding overhead - Swifts breed regularly in Chippy every summer - numbers low so far this year - most seen have been 6. SP308267. 07:30.

Steve Akers

Horton-cum-Studley: 20th May

Horton-cum-Studley
5 Spotted Flycatcher 07:30.
2 Garden Warbler 07:30. 
3 Lesser Whitethroat 07:30.
Yellowhammer 07:30.
2 Yellow Wagtail 07:30.
2 Corn Bunting 07:30.
17 Blackcap 07:30.
6 Chiffchaff 07:30.
2 Grey Partridge 07:30.
9 Whitethroat 07:30.
Cuckoo 07:30.
38 Linnet 07:30.

Nick Marriner

Appleford GPs 20th May

Ringed Plover 3

Little-ringed Plover 2+

Common Sandpiper
Oystercatcher 2
Lapwing 4+
Little Egret 

Common Tern 2 

Egyptian Goose 6

Gadwall 2
Red-legged Partridge 

Cuckoo 

Yellow Wagtail

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Thame: Cuttle Brook: 20th May

Thame: Cuttle Brook
Little Egret: Again flying along the Cuttle Brook towards main river. SP701058. 14:11.

Mike Bond

New Marston: New Marston Meadows: 20th May

New Marston: New Marston Meadows
Garden Warbler

Tom Evans

Cholsey 20th May

White Stork 2 Drifted over Cholsey 09:45 (per RBA). 

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Twyford 20th May

No sign of the Hoopoe this morning in Rawlins Close (per RBA)

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: 19th May

Towersey - Pheonix Trail
Yellow Wagtail: SP737048. 22:09.

Towersey - Pheonix Trail
2 Grey Partridge: SP737048. 22:09.

Towersey - Pheonix Trail
7 Blackcap: SP737048. 22:09.

Towersey - Pheonix Trail
13 Whitethroat: SP737048. 22:09.

Towersey - Pheonix Trail
12 Yellowhammer: SP737048. 22:09.

Towersey - Pheonix Trail
3 Chiffchaff: SP737048. 22:09.

Towersey - Pheonix Trail
Reed Bunting: SP737048. 22:09.

Towersey - Pheonix Trail
4 Lesser Whitethroat: SP737048. 22:09.

Towersey - Pheonix Trail
Lapwing: SP737048. 22:09.

Towersey - Pheonix Trail
5 Linnet: SP737048. 22:09.

Nick Marriner

Farmoor 19th May 2020

Sanderling 2

Turnstone 2

Dunlin

Little Ringed Plover 16:48.

Farmoor Reservoir: River Thames

Common Sandpiper: on muddy 'beach' of Thames opposite Shrike Meadow. 16:48.

(per Ewan Urquhart, Anthony Cheke) 

Courtesy of Ewan.

Adderbury 19th May 2020

Hoopoe 1 - showing on and off briefly, in the morning, at Rawlins Close

: 19th May

19th May


2 Cuckoo: Bubbling female - years since I've heard that! 19:12.

26th May


2 Oystercatcher: One with 2 small young, Big Otmoor, seeing off another. Possibly 3 adults. 19:12.

Upper Lambourn: Wellbottom Down: 19th May

Upper Lambourn: Wellbottom Down
Quail: Heard only. Probably just in Berkshire. 14:35.

Nick Suckling

Twyford: 19th May

HOOPOE still present 17:20 (per RBA) although mobile.

From the finder. Still present this morning in front gardens of Rawlins Close (OX17 3HS). Please respect residents privacy. 07:19.

Mike Wallen, Jim Hutchins, Ewan Urquhart et al

Courtesy of Gnome from yesterday

Courtesy of Jim Hutchins

Twyford, 18th May

 
HOOPOE: first reported at 13:55 and showing periodically in front gardens of Rawlins Close. Seems to appear about once per hour on it's favoured lawn (with the four stones on it) and is spooked by large crowds but can give prolonged views if you keep your distance. Still being seen this evening. With huge thanks to Bucks County recorder Mike Wallen for getting the news out so quickly.

Please respect residents privacy and don't park in Rawlins Close.

per Badger, Gnome, Old Caley et al.

Photo courtesy of Nick Truby: Old Caley's Diary

Courtesy of Nick Truby.

Grab courtesy of Badger,

Otmoor 18th May

2 Garganey: pair. On 'Big Otmoor'.
3 Hobby: At least 3, didn't emerge until late morning.

Anthony Cheke

: 18th May

2 Garganey: m&f. 00:02.

South Leigh: 18th May

South Leigh
Cuckoo 19:00.

Richard Catling

Chipping Norton: 18th May

Chipping Norton
Cuckoo: Heard calling continuously from woods on farmland between CN and Salford by my wife Sharon. 20:48.

Steve Akers

Twyford: 18th May

Twyford
Hoopoe: Still present at 20:00 in the close and also seen on the road in. Very mobile but shows well once settled. 20:06.

Luke Marriner

Farmoor Reservoir 18th May

Sanderling

Sanderling 3

Ringed Plover 

10:26 (per Jim Hutchins) 

: 18th May

Balscote Quarry
2 Ringed Plover: SP391427. 08:00.

Steve Holliday

: 16th May

Ardington
Hobby: Swooped in at head height - a few metres away - in an (unsuccessful) attempt to take a House Martin. Stunning. SU4388. 18:00.

Leo Bateman

Bicester Wetland Reserve 18th May

1 Common Sandpiper
1 Cuckoo present for over a week
regular warblers

Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Otmoor Bridleway 18th May

Bittern 

Marsh Harrier 3

Little Egret 2 

Cuckoo 7

(per Ewan Urquhart) 

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Marston: 18th May

Marston
Ring-necked Parakeet: On Raymund Road. Chased off by a Magpie. SP525081. 07:30.

Colm O Caomhanaigh

Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course: 18th May

Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course
4 Oystercatcher 07:00.
3 Gadwall 07:00.
5 Lapwing 07:00.
Pochard 07:00.
17 Blackcap 07:00.
11 Whitethroat 07:00.
4 Willow Warbler 07:00.
7 Chiffchaff 07:00.
Lesser Whitethroat 07:00.
Garden Warbler 07:00.

Nick Marriner

Otmoor: 17th May

Otmoor
Garganey: male. Still present. 22:39.
Marsh Harrier 22:39.
3 Cuckoo 22:39.

Peter Alfrey

Headington: 16th May

16th May

Headington
Cuckoo: Flew SE over my garden. 07:48.
2 Egyptian Goose: Flew W over my garden. 08:17.
2 Rook: Flew S over my garden. 08:53.
Hobby: Flew high N over my garden. 10:25.
Common Gull: ad. Circled over garden briefly before heading NW. 10:34.

Isaac West

South Leigh: 17th May

South Leigh
Cuckoo 20:15.

Richard Catling

Port Meadow: 17th May

Port Meadow
Little Ringed Plover
2 Shelduck
2 Ruddy Shelduck

Adam Hartley

Horton-cum-Studley: 17th May

Horton-cum-Studley
Cuckoo: m. heard-only.

Adam Hartley

Farmoor Reservoir 17th May

Curlew Sandpiper briefly along the causeway this morning before flying west, it was a different bird to the individual seen on the 14th.

Sanderling over

Dunlin 4

Ringed Plover
Oystercatcher 4

Corn Bunting 

(per Dave Lowe, Ewan Urquhart, Dave Doherty et al)

Curlew Sandpiper courtesy of Joe Wynn

Shipton-on-Cherwell: River Cherwell: 17th May

Shipton-on-Cherwell: River Cherwell
2 Grey Wagtail: m & f. 16:00.

Nick Suckling

Aston Upthorpe: 17th May

Aston Upthorpe
Whimbrel 14:00.

D Moden

Little Egret Chippinghurst courtesy of Stephen Lockey.