Bearded Tit reported at Balscote Quarry yesterday morning in the small reed bed on the back lake below the viewing screen (I.L)
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Monday, 31 October 2022
Port Meadow: 31st October
Water Pipit: Briefly by Burgess Field gate before being flushed by a dog. Per Steve Lavington.
Adam Hartley
Kings Lock: 31st October
20 Cattle Egret: Amongst cattle in field by Thames Path between A34 viaduct and Kings Lock. 15:00.
2 Stonechat: 1 male/1 fem. By Thames Path upstream of Hagley Pool. 15:00.
Andrew Siantonas
Appleford: Appleford GP: 31st October
2 Green Sandpiper 15:10.
Great White Egret 15:10.
William Lester
Blenheim 31st October
: 31st October
12 Grey Partridge: Covey of Partridge feeding together. SP512188. 08:23.
David Watkinson
Sunday, 30 October 2022
Counting Coots
Not a sighting, but a general observation regarding coots.
The following two graphs provide numbers of Coots counted
on Allen Pit (in Dorchester), and Thrupp/Bullfield Lakes (Radley Lakes). As can
be seen in the graphs, there has been a significant and sudden unseasonal
decline in Coots on these lakes over the last week.
In contrast, numbers of Coot on Farmoor Reservoir have increased. The graph below provides the number of Coot on Farmoor Reservoir recorded in 2022 during twice monthly counts (blue bars), and the average number recorded between 2018 and 2021 for comparison (red line). The graph highlights that far from Coots starting to decline on the Reservoir (as they typically do at this time of year), the number of Coots recorded at Farmoor today (1140 individuals) is broadly double that typically recorded at the end of October. Further, the count of 1140 individuals is the highest number I have recorded at Farmoor since commencing regular monitoring in 2013. Finally, to note, the majority of the individuals were on F2 (with 1.1% of Coots on F1).
Based on the above, have Coots from Allen Pit and Thrupp/Bullfield Lakes moved to Farmoor? If so, why? Has the reduced water level at Farmoor increased its suitability for Coots? Further, how do Coots know to leave the lakes to move to the Reservoir? It is interesting to note that the majority of birds were on F2, with few on F1 when the water level was of a similar level (though I note today, the water level had risen on F1). Are the depths of F1 and F2 different to explain this pattern of occurrence, or could disturbance be implicated (i.e. paddleboards who typically paddle around the periphery of F1 and could flush Coots to F2). Finally, the combined numbers of Coot that have been ‘lost’ from Allen Pit and Thrupp/Bullfield Lakes (c150 individuals) do not equate to the increase in number on the reservoir, therefore are there any waterbody/waterbodies in Oxfordshire that have lost c370 Coots?
Dix Pit: 30th October
Great White Egret 16:23.
6 Goldeneye: 1 drk and 5 fem. Plus one strong candidate for a hybrid drake Hooded Merganser x Goldeneye. 16:23.
Egyptian Goose 16:23.
33 Red-crested Pochard 16:23.
Ian Elkins
Oxford: Aston's Eyot: 29th October
Firecrest: Loosely associated with Goldcrests in ivy-covered trees near Jackdaw Lane entrance. First site record here. 08:20.
Ben Sheldon
Wytham: Field Station: 30th October
30 Cattle Egret: With cattle in the field north of the Field Station by the river.
30 Fieldfare: Flew over the Thames north of the Field Station.
Kings Lock
2 Stonechat: A pair in the field next to Kings Lock.
Goosander: r/h. In the weir pool by King's Lock.
Adam Hartley
Just some of the Cattle Egrets |
Farmoor Reservoir 30th October
Standlake Pit 60: 30th October
Green Sandpiper 10:32.
14 Pintail 10:32.
Caspian Gull: ad. Actually hybrid but don't know how to record these. Superficiality looks pure but isn't. 10:32.
Mick Cunningham
Saturday, 29 October 2022
Balscote Quarry B.O.S Reserve 29th October
Farmoor Reservoir 29th October
Bicester Wetland Reserve 29th October
180 Teal
2 Green Sandpiper
3 Little Grebe
10 Lapwing
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Cetti's Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
Marston: A40: 29th October
7 Brambling: A single then a group of 6 heading S over. 08:38.
2 Lesser Redpoll: Heard (only) around Cherwell. 08:38.
Siskin: 6. Quite a few passing over S/SE. 08:38.
Common Sandpiper: One along river. 08:38.
Simon Myers
Childrey: Childrey Field: 29th October
Merlin: ad fem.
Wheatear
Stonechat: m.
Mark Merritt
Friday, 28 October 2022
Compton Downs - 28th Ocober 2022
Buzzard x 2, Kestrel, Wren, Dunnock x 3 Chaffinch x 10 (M & F), Skylarks x 30 (min ),
Stonechats x 10 (M & F), Yellow Hammers x 4, Corn Buntings x 6, Meadow Pipits x 12
Pied Wagtails x 3
Stonechat - female |
Corn Bunting |
Meadow Pipit |
Balscote Quarry B.O.S Reserve 28th October
Farmoor 28th October
Port Meadow: 28th October
15 Barnacle Goose: Feeding on far side from river. 12:52.
David Preston
Marston: A40: 28th October
Brambling: One over, heading S calling loudly. 08:00.
4 Siskin: A few around. 08:00.
Simon Myers
Thursday, 27 October 2022
Farmoor Reservoir: 27th October
Keith Nieland
Wytham 27th October
Farmoor Reservoir 27th October
Marston: A40: 27th October
Hawfinch: 1 flew over at treetop height - visible for ~1 min, generally heading east. Circled once, but not seen to land unfortunately. 09:15.
Simon Myers
Port Meadow 27th October
Balscote Quarry B.O.S Reserve 27th October
Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Farmoor Reservoir 26th October
Devil's Punchbowl: 26th October
Port Meadow: 26th October
Stonechat: On thistles near Walton Well car park. 15:15.
20 Barnacle Goose: Amongst a larger number of Canada geese by the branch of returning floods opposite Burgess Field gate. 15:15.
Andrew Siantonas
Blenheim 26th October
20 Barnacle Goose: moving on both sides of island. SP439164. 12:27.
David Preston
Tuesday, 25 October 2022
Farmoor Reservoir 25th October
Monday, 24 October 2022
: 24th October
10 Grey Partridge: In field adjacent (left sideA417) just E past Carrimers farm - seen from moving car but 99% certain not RLP's. SU5584. 08:45.
Mike Amphlett
Farmoor Reservoir: 24th October
Farmoor Reservoir
Yellow-browed Warbler: Elusive but eventually showed after heavy rain storm in bushes behind toilets in car park. 17:00.
Black Redstart: Showing well on roof of water treatment works. 16:30.
Laurie Bryant
West Lockinge 24th October
Balscote Quarry B.O.S Reserve 24th October
Farmoor Reservoir: 24th October
Black Redstart Still on water treatment works. 11:47 (per Mark Pidgeon)
Water Eaton: 24th October
Brambling: fem. among hundreds of birds now in fields/hedges mainly yellowhammer, reed bunting, chaffinch, bullfinch, linnet, redwing, fieldfare, skylark. 11:24.
Stonechat: male. in ditchside vegetation; first at this site for me. 11:24.
Simon Myers
Sunday, 23 October 2022
Farmoor Reservoir: 23rd October
Farmoor 23rd October
Port Meadow 23rd October
Farmoor Reservoir 23rd October
Yellow-browed Warbler still present in trees near the toilet block in the main car park c12:40
Chiffchaff 5
(per Ewan Urquhart, Anthony Roberts)
Black Redstart f/imm still on the Water Works building 14:58 (per Ewan Urquhart).
There is currently no fee for parking.
Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park: 23rd October
Hawfinch: Flying east over pond. Several siskin and redwing also. 10:46.
Nicholas Boyd
Saturday, 22 October 2022
Farmoor Reservoir 22nd October
Courtesy of Andy Last. |
West Lockinge 22nd October
Yellow-browed Warbler with tit flock c1km along track south of West Lockinge 15:40
(per Leo Bateman).
Standlake Pit 60: 22nd October
12 Pintail 11:15.
Green Sandpiper 11:15.
Water Rail 11:15.
Ian Elkins
Balscote Quarry B.O.S Reserve 22nd October
Dix Pit: 22nd October
10 Cattle Egret: Flock of birds seen moving from the larger to smaller island. First record for me at this site. 09:15.
Glen Pascoe
Friday, 21 October 2022
Grimsbury Reservoir: 21st October
Hawfinch: flew over low NW at c.7:47.
Gareth Blockley
Blenheim: 21st October
2 Mandarin Duck 08:30.
Peregrine: regular female on monument. 08:30.
Great White Egret 08:30.
2 Snipe 08:30.
3 Meadow Pipit 08:30.
Cetti's Warbler 08:30.
200 Redwing: still regular westerly movements this morning. 08:30.
10 Fieldfare: A few mixed in with the redwing flocks. 08:30.
Gareth Casburn
Thursday, 20 October 2022
Port Meadow: 20th October
Great White Egret: Along the river mid morning tho mobile.
Stonechat: m.
OTHER SPECIES: Pipit species flushed with a "buzzy" call. Looked for extensively since but no further sign.
Adam Hartley
Garsington: 20th October
2 Stonechat: 1m, 1fm. Probably same 2 birds as last week. 11:30.
Stephen Lockey
Wednesday, 19 October 2022
: 19th October
Willow Tit: In hedge by road. Glossy cap, big bib. SP374081. 15:30.
John Pimm
Bicester Wetland Reserve: 19th October
11 Green Sandpiper 14:45.
Stonechat: male. 14:45.
Laurie Bryant
Ardley ERF Lagoon: 19th October
3 Yellow-legged Gull:17:45.
Merlin 17:45.
7 Green Sandpiper 17:45.
Laurie Bryant
Kings Lock: 19th October
2 Stonechat: 1 male/1 fem. By Thames path downstream from Kings Lock. 14:45.
20 Cattle Egret: In field with cattle a little downstream from Kings lock. Hard to count in the long grass so probably an undercount. 14:45.
Andrew Siantonas
Port Meadow: 19th October
3 Stonechat: still in the Thistle area
60 Barnacle Goose: On meadow a little north of Burgess Field gate.
Phil Barnett, Gnome, Andrew Siantonas
Grimsbury Reservoir: 19th October
Dunlin: flew around a few times but didn't settle, flew off high northeast.
Stonechat: in cattle field.
Gareth Blockley
Blenheim: 19th October
6 Wigeon 08:30.
2 Great White Egret 08:30.
2 Swallow: Feeding over Great Lake. 08:30.
80 Redwing: Approx number in several flocks over. 08:30.
Gareth Casburn
Tuesday, 18 October 2022
Chinnor: Cement Works: 18th October
3 Stonechat: By north screen Lake 2b. 10:30.
David Stracey
Stonor - Southend 18th October 2022
Buzzard x 6
Green Woodpecker
Jay x 2
Pied Wagtail x 2
Chaffich (M&F) x 7
Skylark x 4
Stonechat (M&F) x2
Port Meadow: 18th October
2 Egyptian Goose: On the river.
Tufted Duck: Still on the river.
Adam Hartley
Otmoor rspb 18th October
Farmoor Reservoir: 18th October
5 Redshank 11:30.
Ringed Plover 11:30.
Common Sandpiper 11:30.
Dave Murphy
Monday, 17 October 2022
Otmoor rspb 17th October
Mapledurham - Monday 17th October 2022
Appleford GPs 17th October
Ring-necked Duck: drk. Still present at 6pm. TQ393844. 18:00.
Appleford GP
2 Green Sandpiper: TQ393844. 18:00.
Steve Violette
Blenheim - 17th October
Appleford: Appleford GP: 17th October
Green Sandpiper 16:33.
Ring-necked Duck: On bend pit. 16:33.
William Lester
Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 17th October
White-fronted Goose: Landed briefly at first screen before departing towards Greenaways. 10:30.
Marsh Harrier: Hunting over reed beds at first screen. 10:30.
Keith Nieland
Water Eaton: 17th October
Peregrine: Noisily rising and diving over small spinney, probable female. Large numbers of skylarks redwing and yellowhammers in fields. 09:00.
Simon Myers
Farmoor Reservoir: 17th October
Wigeon: fem. Shrike Meadow pond. SP437063. 11:30.
2 Teal: ecl male. Shrike Meadow pond. SP437063. 11:30.
Cetti's Warbler: Calling from reeds to left of Shrike Meadow pond. SP437063. 11:30.
Water Rail: Calling from reeds to left of Shrike Meadow pond. SP437063. 11:30.
Geoff Dymott
Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 17th October
Great White Egret
Little Egret
26 Shoveler
130 Tufted Duck
210 Mallard
Moorhen
16 Gadwall
20 Teal
16 Great Crested Grebe
Bob Pomfret
Otmoor rspb 17th October
: 16th October
Peregrine: fem. I think it was a small female. It hunted for a short time over gravel workings while passing through to east. Last seen roosting on electric pylon nr. tar lakes. SP368084. 16:44.
John Pimm
Sunday, 16 October 2022
Standlake, pit 60: 16th October
Marsh Harrier 1
Pintail 7
Snipe 1
Green Sandpiper 1
Stonechat 4
Water Rail 3
Marston: A40: 16th October
2 Mandarin Duck: Pair flew along river calling. Also extended views of an otter a few days ago, diving and munching crayfish. 09:00.
Kingfisher 09:00.
Sparrowhawk: male. 09:00.
10 Chiffchaff 09:00.
Simon Myers
Kings Lock: 15th October
15 Cattle Egret: A minimum of 15 feeding around the FAI farms cattle herd in fields near Kings Lock. What3Words ///awards.code.divisions. 16:00.
Stonechat: male. Single male in field to the west of Kings Lock. 16:00.
Wylie Horn
: 14th October
Stonechat: male. perhaps a female also. SP368084. 17:15.
John Pimm
Saturday, 15 October 2022
Radley GP: 15th October
Great White Egret: On the small lake next to the railway line,4 pm. 21:42.
David Eccles
Ardley ERF lagoon 15th October
Wolvercote: 15th October
Stratfield Brake 15th October
Friday, 14 October 2022
Port Meadow: 14th October
2 Stonechat: m & f. Still in thistles near Walton Well Rd car park
Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park
Brambling
Wolvercote Lakes
Possible Mandarin Duck: Flushed from rear pond & flew towards front pond but could not be relocated,
Phil Barnett, Ben Sheldon, Steve Pulman
Chinnor: Cement Works: 14th October
3 Stonechat: 2 by north screen, 1 by west screen Lake 2b. 10:00.
David Stracey
Otmoor rspb 14th October
Stratfield Brake: 14th October
Stonechat: male. Lovely views as it flitted in shrubs by lake in front of the bench. 16:00.
Great White Egret: Flew in and fed in the lake for the rest of my visit. 16:00.
Andrew Siantonas
Thursday, 13 October 2022
Kings Lock: 13th October
14 Cattle Egret: Saw cattle egrets at 4 different sites as I walked along Thames Path upstream from the Trout. (1) In field (with no cattle) just past where path passes under the A34. Saw 14 birds fly towards Kings Lock (2) Field next to Kings Lock with cattle. Long grass so hard to count - at least 10 (3) At Cassington end of Yarnton Mead seen across river from the Thames Path - 5 birds amongst cattle. (4) Cattle had been put into field just upstream from Kings Lock by the time I walked back. Counted 4 birds here. 15:00.
Andrew Siantonas
Port Meadow: 13th October
2 Egyptian Goose: Saw single bird on the river. Later as I was leaving I saw 2 birds on the meadow opposite the Aristotle Lane gate. 09:30.
70 Barnacle Goose: On the meadow a little to the north of the Burgess Field gate. 09:30.
Little Grebe: on the river near the sailing club this morning
Gnome, Andrew Siantonas
Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Farmoor Reservoir 12th October
Cassington GPs: 11th October
50 Barnacle Goose
Tuesday, 11 October 2022
Otmoor: 11th October
2 Marsh Harrier: fem. Patrolling second screen at sunset. 19:59.
Stonechat: fem. 19:59.
Lo Russell
Chinnor: Cement Works: 11th October
2 Stonechat: By western screen Lake 2b. 11:00.
David Stracey
Standlake Pit 60: 11th October
3 Jack Snipe: Plus 5 redwings Minute trickle of skylarks and chaffinches w. 09:41.
Mick Cunningham
Newbridge 11th October
Kirtlington: 11th October
Great White Egret: Feeding on Manor Lake again. SP513191. 07:35.
David Watkinson
Standlake Pit 60: 11th October
3 Cattle Egret: Visible distantly from LL hide when the mist cleared. Soon flew off. 08:30.
Stephen Burch
Port Meadow: 11th October
2 Stonechat: m & f. Still today in area of long grass and thistles between Aristotle Lane gate and Walton Well Rd car park.
Adam Hartley
Monday, 10 October 2022
Farmoor Reservoir: 10th October
Ruff 13:45.
2 Ringed Plover 13:45.
2 Dunlin 13:45.
4 Stonechat 13:45.
4 Yellow-legged Gull 13:45.
Peregrine 13:45.
Common Sandpiper 13:45.
Peter Alfrey
Port Meadow: 10th October
3 Stonechat: 2m & f. In the tall grass & thistles just south of the Aristotle Lane entrance gate this afternoon.
Adam Hartley
Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course: 10th October
Common Sandpiper 18:30.
5 Mistle Thrush 18:30.
3 Stonechat 18:30.
21 Meadow Pipit 18:30.
4 Wigeon 18:30.
Grey Wagtail 18:30.
2 Barn Owl 18:30.
2 Egyptian Goose 18:30.
19 Gadwall 18:30.
Nick Marriner