Coleshill, near Farringdon: 30th December

Belated news of 5 Waxwings near the church at Coleshill early afternoon on Saturday 30th, but no sign later: 

https://ebird.org/checklist/S157631099

(eBird, per Matt Slaymaker) 

Radley GP: 31st December

Radley GP
Great White Egret: Still present this afternoon. 16:28.
2 Goosander: pair. Still on Thrupp Lake. 16:28.

Ian Elkins

Chilswell valley: 31st December

12 Waxwing: On two silver birches at the bottom of the valley close to the A34 but no further sign by 15:30 (per Moth et al).

Stonechat: male. Perched alongside the lane at the top of the valley.
60 Meadow Pipit: On the field at the top of the lane.

(per Bob Pomfret)

Farmoor Reservoir: 31st December

Farmoor Reservoir
Egyptian Goose: 2 flew into F1. 14:33.

Yacky Morris

East Challow: 30th Dec.

 

 

12 Waxwings this afternoon, flew towards Wantage at 13:35PM.

Cottisford: 30th December

Cottisford
5 Grey Partridge 14:30.

Stuart Lowe

Boarstall Decoy: 30th December

Boarstall Decoy
18 Woodcock: Flushed from various woods and spinneys. Probably the most I have seen in a day. SP618150. 12:00.

Colin Oram

Stonechat Farmoor courtesy of John Workman.

 

Chipping Norton: 30th December

Chipping Norton
2 Stonechat: ad pair. Still present in bramble bushes on Addlestrop Hill. SP256286. 13:45.
2 Brambling: male and fem. At least two Brambling, possibly several more in the beech woods. SP256286. 13:45.
20 Great Tit: At least 20 in large Tit flock in the woods here with Blue and Coal Tit. SP256286. 13:45.
5 Redwing: SP256286. 13:45.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 30th December

Chipping Norton
6 Grey Heron: 5 perched in the old oak tree; 1 feeding by Brook - NO SIGN OF GREAT WHITE EGRET. SP283268. 13:00.
Kestrel: SP283268. 13:00.

Steve Akers

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 30th December

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
40 Dunlin 09:00.
Woodcock 09:00.
3 Marsh Harrier 09:00.

Isaac West

Farmoor Reservoir 30th December

Great northern Diver juv still on F2 (per RBA).

Farmoor Reservoir 29th December

Great northern Diver juv F2 08:35 (per RBA).

Otmoor rspb 29th December

Hen Harrier rt still present c16:02 

(per Ben Sheldon).

Blenheim 29th December

Great white egret - 2

Brambling - c10 in beech trees near palace

Chipping Norton: 29th December

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: Feeding in marsh grass in field beside small lake near Cornwell - more wary now - flew up into old oak tree to join the Herons. SP283268. 13:00.
5 Grey Heron: SP283268. 13:00.
Stonechat: ad male. SP283268. 13:00.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 29th December

Chipping Norton
Blackcap: ad male. Present for several days feeding on berries in o garden The Leys. 10:30.

Steve Akers

Bicester Wetland reserve 29th December

Cattle Egret c16:00 (JFT)

30 Snipe
2 Jack Snipe
3 Green Sandpiper   (Cattle Bridge Pool)
8 Gadwall
4 Shoveler
150 plus Teal

Key Holder Reserve
A Peters

Jack Snipe courtesy of Nick Truby.

Farmoor Reservoir 28th December

Great northern Diver juv

Common Sandpiper 

(O.J)

Chipping Norton: 27th December

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: In marshy field close to the small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 12:00.

Steve Akers

Bicester Wetlands Reserve; Thursday 28th December

14:45-15:30

Common Snipe 10+

Teal 100+

Sparrowhawk

Little Egret 2

(No sign of Cattle Egret)

Key-holder only reserve

Old Caley's Diary

Dix Pit: 28th December

Dix Pit
3 Pintail 15:56.
7 Goldeneye 15:56.
47 Red-crested Pochard 15:56.
77 Cormorant 15:56.
4 Lesser Redpoll 15:56.
2 Siskin 15:56.

Simon Bradfield

Farmoor Reservoir 28th December

Scaup f on F1

Caspian Gull 1w

(per RBA).

Port Meadow: 28th December

Port Meadow
2 Egyptian Goose: On river. 11:51.
Pintail: On floods amongst many wigeon, teal and shoveler. 11:51.
8 Shelduck: On floods. 11:51.
2 Stonechat: 1m/1f. Showing well by footpath on bank at the southern end of the floods near marina. 11:51.

Andrew Siantonas

Bicester Wetland Reserve: 28th December

Bicester Wetland Reserve
Cattle Egret: On cow pool but mobile. 10:25.

Laurie Bryant

Farmoor Village 27th December

Cattle Egret 20+ again in field between Botley and Farmoor village north of the B4044. (S.B).

Bicester Wetlands Reserve 27th December

Cattle Egret 14:50 (J.T).

Key holder reserve.

Warneford Meadow, Oxford: 27th December

 1 Jack Snipe - flushed twice from the damp area then flew north, second site record. 

https://ebird.org/checklist/S157211412

Port Meadow: 26th December

Port Meadow
2 Crane: Flying westwards, towards Wytham Wood. SP493084. 15:15.
3 Stonechat
2 Shelduck

Steve Goddard, Gnome

Lower Radley: 26th December

26th December

Lower Radley
Goosander: drk. On River Thames. 15:30.
Kingfisher 15:30.
Lesser Redpoll 15:30.

Radley village
Blackcap: fem. Feeding on flowers of Oregon Grape. 10:30.

Ian Elkins

Chipping Norton: 26th December

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: On newly created wetland close to Swailesford Bridge - being given a hard time by the Grey Herons. SP281265. 15:40.
3 Grey Heron: SP281265. 15:40.
Stonechat: ad male. SP281265. 15:40.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 26th December

Chipping Norton
2 Stonechat: ad pair. On Addlestrop Hill. SP256286. 14:00.
4 Brambling: In beech wood beside small road to Chastleton House. SP256286. 14:00.
2 Raven: Pair constantly calling to each other deep in the wood. SP256286. 14:00.
Song Thrush: SP256286. 14:00.
17 Great Tit: SP256286. 14:00.
2 Nuthatch: SP256286. 14:00.
Kestrel: SP256286. 14:00.

Steve Akers

Blenheim: 26th December

Blenheim
3 Great White Egret 09:30.
2 Egyptian Goose 09:30.
Brambling 09:30.
2 Raven 09:30.

Michael Hunt

Bicester Wetland Reserve 26th December

 2 Green Sandpiper
190 Teal
3 Little Grebe
2 Grey Wagtail

Keyholder Reserve
A Peters

Radley GP: 25th December

Radley GP
2 Goosander: m. 14:00.

Beryl Tillin

Chipping Norton: 25th December

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: Present still in marshy field beside small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 12:00.
3 Grey Heron: SP283268. 12:00.

Steve Akers

Radley GP: 24th December

Radley GP
Goosander: rh. Still present on Thrupp Lake this afternoon. 15:30.

Ian Elkins

Newbridge: 24th December

Newbridge
Great White Egret: From Maybush pub garden. SP403013. 07:20.

Tadpole Bridge
6 Egyptian Goose: In flight over north calling. SP329002. 07:20.

Richard Barnard

Warburg - Saturday 23rd December 2023.

 Red Legged Partridge x 11, Fieldfare x 20+, Redwing x 20+, Bullfinch x 3 (2m 1f) Goldcrest,

Great Spotted Woodpecker x 2 (m & f), Marsh Tit x 4, Coal Tit x 2, Long Tailed Tit x 5, Wren,

Lesser Redpoll x 8 (m & f), Chaffinch x 2 (m & f).

Marsh Tit - down to the pond for a drink.

Bullfinch - male taking a bath at the pond.

Chipping Norton: 23rd December

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: Flew in from the marsh to its favoured location in the marshy field beside the small lake where it joined two Grey Heron which heralded a great evenings birding in great company. SP283268. 16:00.
Barn Owl: Spotted hunting the marsh simultaneously with arrival of GWE before dropping sharply onto prey. SP283268. 16:00.
3 Grey Heron: SP283268. 16:00.
2 Stonechat: ad pair. Still present in vegetation beside the small lake. SP283268. 16:00.

Steve Akers

Standlake: 23rd December

Standlake
Great White Egret: At Pit 60. 16:00.
5 Egyptian Goose 16:00.
185 Pintail: On Pit 60. 16:00.
43 Red-crested Pochard: On Pit 28. 16:00.
2 Goldeneye: pair. On Pit 60. 16:00.
8 Goosander: 6 drk and 2 rh. On 3Ts Pit. 16:00.
Marsh Harrier: At Pit 60. 16:00.
Cetti's Warbler: Heard in song. 16:00.
Chiffchaff: At north end of Pit 60. 16:00.

Ian Elkins

Shiplake: 23rd December

Shiplake
10 Egyptian Goose: Same place each time we go past on. A415 main road near farm and pub. SU760780. 14:15.
2 Egyptian Goose: In field Mill Lane . SU775789. 14:15.
15 Ring-necked Parakeet: Over Mill Lane. SU775789. 14:15.

Ralph Watts

Pinkhill Reserve 23rd December

Great white Egret again this morning 

(per Brian Walker).

Fyfield Wick: 23rd December

Fyfield Wick
8 Corn Bunting: Flew low SW calling. 08:15.
9 Siskin: Flew W calling. 08:15.

Jed Cleeter

A4074 nr Braziers Park turning: 21st December

A4074 nr Braziers Park turning
20 Egyptian Goose: Seen late from the car, but def <20> birds in the field adjacent the A4074. SU629843. 12:15.

Mike Amphlett

Otmoor Starling Murmuration

We ask you to please avoid visiting RSPB Otmoor for the murmuration during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, including New Year’s Day.

The increase in visitors flocking to see the starling murmuration causes significant traffic issues on our access road and in neighbouring villages, and makes parking difficult. This is particularly problematic during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, resulting in damage to the soft road verges and car park edges, cars getting stuck and gateways being blocked, preventing emergency vehicle access.

Remember, the starlings often stay well into the New Year and even through to February, so we would encourage you to visit once the peak visitor numbers drop, after the holiday period.

Many thanks for your co-operation and patience in this matter, during what is a very difficult time for the reserve.

The RSPB Otmoor Team

 

Blenheim: 22nd December

Blenheim
2 Goosander: Pair on Great Lake. 13:30.

Gareth Casburn

Oxford: 22nd December

Waxwings - 3-4 flying low over Rusty Bike, Hurst st, East Oxford. 

T. Pizzari

Chipping Norton: 22nd December

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: Still present feeding on marshy pasture on Cornwell Estate nr small lake - then in flight over to newly created wetland area beside Chipping Norton Brook. SP283268. 13:13.
2 Stonechat: ad pair. Perched on bullrushes near the small lake. SP283268. 13:13.
4 Mute Swan: 3 adult; 1 juv. Over. SP283268. 13:13.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 22nd December

Chipping Norton
Stonechat: ad male. SP256286. 12:00.
2 Brambling: fem. In the Beech wood beside Addlestrop Hill - in with Chaffinch and Great Tits. SP256286. 12:00.
Nuthatch: SP256286. 12:00.

Steve Akers

Bicester Wetland Reserve 22nd December

1 Peregrine: flyover
1 Cattle Egret
5 Little Egret
5 Heron
1 Stonechat
1 Cetti's Warbler
200+ Teal
4 Gadwall

Key Holder Reserve
A Peters C Oram

Chipping Norton: 21st December

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: Present for a third day - sheltering in the high winds in cover in margins of small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 12:30.
3 Grey Heron: SP283268. 12:30.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 20th December

20th December

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: Present for second day close to small lake and then beside Brook near Cornwell. SP283268. 13:57.
Stonechat: male. SP283268. 13:00.
50 Linnet: SP283268. 13:00.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 19th December

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: In margins of small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 15:00.
Peregrine: juv. Came in very fast and made several spectacular stoops and dives in pursuit of prey. SP283268. 15:00.

Steve Akers

Pinkhill Reserve 21st December

Great white Egret (per John Workman).

Bicester Wetland Reserve 21st December

1 Cattle Egret: only second record at this site
6 Little Egret
1 Green Sandpiper
230 Teal
2 Shoveler
3 Gadwall

Key Holder reserve
A Peters

Mapledurham - Wednesday 20th December 2023

 Stonechat x 3 (2m 1f), Egyptian Goose x 9 (together in field m & f), Little Grebe (m & f - Golf Course pond), Blackcap (m), Pied Wagtail x 3, Wren x 2, Jay x 2, Buzzard x 2, Fieldfare x 9, Redwing x 2.

Dix Pit: Thursday 20 December

Wigeon 300
Shoveler 160
Pochard 2
Tuftie 20
Red Crested Pochard 26
Goldeneye 3
Pintail 2
Great Crested Grebe 15
Heron 1
Cormorant 80
Lesser Black Backed Gull 17
Black Headed Gull 1000+

Shiplake: 20th December

Shiplake
10 Egyptian Goose: Plus birds seen driving on left hand side from pub and farm back to Caversham normal place for last few weeks.A4155. SU757779. 14:10.

Ralph Watts

Bishops Court Farm/Allen Pit: 20th December

Great White Egret: SU573945. 16:26.
Cattle Egret: SU571946. 13:21.

Steve Curnock

Great white Egret courtesy of Steve Curnock.

Cattle Egret courtesy of Steve Curnock.

Port Meadow: 20th December

Port Meadow
Caspian Gull: 3w.
2 Yellow-legged Gull
3 Shelduck

19th December
Siberian Chiffchaff: Ringed bird by Burgess Field gate late afternoon.

16th December
Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park
Siberian Chiffchaff: Unringed bird in Burgess Field (heard to call).
 

Thomas Miller, Steve Lavington

Charlton-on-Otmoor: 20th December

Charlton-on-Otmoor
Peregrine: On Church Tower. 15:08.

Barry Batchelor

Barn Owl.

Barn Owl.
All photos courtesy of Neil Brailsford. 

 

Bablockhythe: 18th December

Bablockhythe
Merlin: 2nd hand report of a bird near the floods by the Ferryman Inn. 10:00.

Jed Cleeter

Childrey: 19th December

Childrey
Great Bustard: Great Bustard seen again in the Childrey Field area and again seem to be sticking close to a herd of Roe Deer. 13:45.

Steve Violette

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 19th December

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
4 Great White Egret
Little Egret
8 Grey Heron
3 Little Grebe
19 Great Crested Grebe
16 Cormorant
245 Mallard
38 Coot
10 Moorhen
7 Mute Swan
20 Mandarin Duck: 13m 7f, close to the Grand Bridge looking south.
50 Pochard
38 Tufted Duck
13 Wigeon
50 Gadwall

Bob Pomfret

South Oxon: 18th December

Great Bustard today

 

RSPB Otmoor WeBS 18th December

Black-headed gull - 180

Canada goose - 779

Coot - 27

Gadwall - 183

Golden plover - 4100

Greylag goose - 256

Lapwing - 5573

Mallard - 158

Pintail - 250

Pochard - 26

Shoveler - 516

Teal - 5772

Wigeon - 2912

Shiplake: 18th December

Shiplake
30 Egyptian Goose: Estimated number of birds seen from road driving. SU757780. 13:26.

Ralph Watts

Farmoor Village 18th December

Cattle Egrets 21 in field north of the B4044 between Botley and Farmoor village until 13:05 then flew off (per Paul Butler, Ewan Urquhart).

Childrey: Childrey Field: 18th December

Childrey: Childrey Field
Great Bustard: Associating with 5 Roe Deer in Childrey Field. Just flown SE low over B4001. No pics. 11:58.

J Blunt

Farmoor Reservoir 18th December

Great northern Diver 10:15

Scaup f (per RBA)

Redshank 2 along causeway 

(per Mark Pidgeon)

Linky Down: 18th December

Linky Down
2 Stonechat: Male and female. 07:04.

Jez March

Otmoor rspb 17th December

Hen Harrier rt over the Flood Field 09:32 (C.FM)

Compton Downs - Sunday 17th December 2023

 Hen Harrier - female (Hunting across downs 0930 am), Stonechat x2 (m & f), Corn Bunting x 5,

Yellowhammer x 2, Linnet x 20+ (m & f), Meadow Pipit x 20+, Redwing x 9, Fieldfare x 100 +,

Buzzard.

Rycote: 17th December

Rycote
Kingfisher: No waders at all in 2+ hours this am and none on a visit 3pm. A peregrine chased all waders off late Saturday, but I wouldn't think that is the reason for absence today. . 19:10.

Mick Cunningham

Radley GP: 17th December

Radley GP
Great White Egret 16:00.
Goosander: rh. 16:00.
Chiffchaff 16:00.
2 Raven 16:00.

Ian Elkins

Farmoor Reservoir 17th December

Great Northern Diver 1

Greater Scaup 1f

Common Sandpiper 1

Common Redshank 2

Common Snipe 10

Siskin 30+

Oxford 17th December

Waxwing on St Giles - then flew towards University Parks c14:00 (per Jørgen Søraker).

Chipping Norton: 17th December

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: Hunting stealthily in rough pasture at small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 10:30.
2 Stonechat: pair. On posts near Swailes Bridge. SP283268. 10:30.
5 Long-tailed Tit: SP283268. 10:30.
7 Redwing: SP283268. 10:30.
Kestrel: SP283268. 10:30.
Jay: SP283268. 10:30.
Goldcrest: SP283268. 10:30.

Steve Akers

Otmoor rspb 17th December

Bewick's Swan 2 again briefly this morning at the 1st screen.

Marsh Harrier 3

Merlin

(per Bark et al).

Marsh Harrier courtesy of Malcolm Bowey.

Waterstock: River Thame: 15th December

Waterstock: River Thame
Little Egret 09:30.
Siskin 09:30.
2 Chiffchaff 09:30.
5 Mandarin Duck 09:30.
Great White Egret 09:30.
570 Wigeon 09:30.
450 Teal 09:30.
13 Pintail 09:30.
14 Gadwall 09:30.
19 Shoveler 09:30.
Raven 09:30.
2 Grey Wagtail 09:30.
24 Meadow Pipit 09:30.
17 Lesser Redpoll 09:30.
4 Snipe 09:30.
2 Reed Bunting 09:30.
5 Common Gull 09:30.
145 Black-headed Gull 09:30.
75 Lesser Black-backed Gull 09:30.
2 Great Black-backed Gull 09:30.

Nick Marriner

Otmoor rspb 16th December

Hen Harrier rt again over Greenaways and seen most evenings between 15:00-16:00.

(et al).

Farmoor village: 16th December

10 Cattle Egret: On the roof of Woodend Farm. 11:48.

(per Denise Harper)

Farmoor: 16th December

GN Diver 1, F2
Scaup 1f, F1

(SNT)

Great White Egret: By Pinkhill hide. 11:00.
Redshank 2

(Denise Harper)

Ardley ERF Lagoon: 16th December

Ardley ERF Lagoon
5 Grey Partridge: In field other side of B430 from site entrance. 10:30.
2 Green Sandpiper: On lagoon. 10:30.

Gareth Casburn

Cote: 16th December

Cote
Grey Plover: Distant. Redshank heard. 11:47.

Mick Cunningham

Appleford GPs: 16th December

Marsh Harrier 1
Pintail 6

Blenheim: 16th December

Blenheim
Barn Owl: 1, possibly 2, near newly planted saplings near Oxfordshire Way door. SP432181. 09:47.

David Watkinson

Otmoor rspb 15th December

Bewick's Swan 2 at the 1st screen this morning.

(per Malcolm Bowey).

Courtesy of Malcolm Bowey.

Farmoor Reservoir 15th December

Great northern Diver F2 from the causeway near the bird hide early afternoon

Scaup f

Redshank 2

 

Also

Cattle Egret flock still in field north of B4044 near Woodend Farm

per Ewan Urquhart, Gnome

 

Record shot in rather difficult lighting courtesy of Gnome

 

Cote: 15th December

Cote
Ruff: My second quick visit. Ruff now with 3 redshank. Going on size and leg colour I think the ruff is a bird I've seen here before. Ditto the redshanks. Where are all these birds inc lots of goldies when they're not at Cote? 14:07.
246 Dunlin 14:07.

Mick Cunningham

Somerton Flood 15th December

Wigeon 300

Teal 78

Pintail 5

Shoveler 10

Chiffchaff 

Cetti's Warbler 

(S.B).

Fieldfare courtesy of Edwin Barson.

 

Cote: 15th December

Cote
Grey Plover: On a brief look this am. 09:55.

Ruff  
Redshank 3 09:55.

Mick Cunningham

Port Meadow 14th December 2023

Ringed Siberian Chiffchaff this afternoon by Burgess Field NR gate with Chiffchaffs.

Thomas Miller

Farmoor Reservoir 14th December

Great Northern Diver 1

Common Sandpiper 1

Greater Scaup 1f

Little Grebe 9

Farmoor Village 14th December

19 Cattle Egret in field north of B4044 between Botley and Farmoor village 13:35.

The field is beside a very busy road with no pathway or parking.Best to park by the old Farmoor Stores and then walk along the grass verge to view the fields on the left

Cote: 14th December

Cote
2 Grey Plover: Distantly with 1500 golden plover. 16:11.
1500 Golden Plover: Approx. Hard to count as distant. 16:11.
12 Dunlin: 200. Hard to count as distant. 16:11.
2 Redshank 16:11.

Mick Cunningham

Farmoor Reservoir 14th December

Great northern Diver still present at the northern end of F2 12:26 

Scaup f

Common Sandpiper 

(per Ewan Urquhart).

Courtesy of John Workman.

Cholsey 14th December

Waxwing 2 in garden briefly this morning  

(Per Richard James).

Chipping Norton: 13th December

Chipping Norton
Brambling: male. In Beech Wood on Addlestrop Hill W of CN. 21:25.
Probable Woodcock 21:25.
Sparrowhawk: Hunting over tree canopy. 21:25.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 21:25.
5 Long-tailed Tit: In flock of 40+ Great, Blue and Coal Tits. 21:25.
40 Fieldfare 21:25.

Steve Akers

Port Meadow: 13th December

Port Meadow
2 Caspian Gull: ad & 1w.
2 Yellow-legged Gull: 2 x 2w.
Shelduck
2 Dunlin

Adam Hartley, Thomas Miller

Adult Caspian Gull courtesy of Thomas Miller

 

Oxford: Rose Hill: 13th December

Oxford: Rose Hill
43 Ring-necked Parakeet: In tree on downhill side of Rose Hill. Still there when I left at 16:07. 15:33.

Peter Law

Courtesy of Peter Law.

Kidlington 13th December

Ring-necked Parakeet 2 flew along the treeline between Sainsbury's and Bicester Road heading north c09:30.

Farmoor Reservoir 13th December

Great northern Diver still on F2 16:14

(per Ewan Urquhart, et al). 

Courtesy of John Workman.

Headington: 10th December

Belated news of a v. likely waxwing over Margaret Rd recreation ground at ~11am. Single bird first picked by call then spotted flying but without bins.  

Tom Pizzari

Cowley Parakeet Roost: 12th December

56 Ring-necked Parakeets in their pre-roost tree on Henley Avenue this evening. A record count for this species in Oxfordshire? 

Farmoor Reservoir 12th December

Great Northern Diver 1 juvenile still present 15:25 on F2 off eastern bank just south of the sailing club.

Common Redshank 2

Farmoor

Great Northern Diver - Juv on F2 

Common Sandpiper - on western side of causeway 

Cattle Egret - 15 feeding in field between Eynsham Road and Wytham Wood just east of Farmoor village. 

Chinnor Cement Works 12th December

Black Redstart 2 on rooftops behind fishing lake 

(per D.Stracey).

Courtesy of David Stracey.

Bicester Wetland Reserve 12th December

1 Jack Snipe first of winter at BWR
21 Common Snipe
2 Cetti's Warbler
2 Grey Wagtail
2 Bullfinch
240 Teal
1 Sparrowhawk

key Holder reserve
A Peters C Oram

Farmoor Reservoir 12th December

Great northern Diver still present off S/E bank of F2 10:25 (per Ewan Urquhart,et al).

Otmoor rspb 11th December

Hen Harrier rt againl present late afternoon over the reedbed and Greenaways.

Cattle Egret 9

(et al).

Farmoor Reservoir, 11 December

Great Northern Diver: 1 on F2 late afternoon (Ewan Urquhart et al.)

Scaup f off of S/E bank F1.

Church Cowley Road, Oxford: 11th December

A pre-roost gathering of at least 42 Ring-necked Parakeets in a tree on Church Cowley Road. 

Hinksey Lake 11th December

Goosander 2 (D.L).

Standlake Pit 60: 10th December

Standlake Pit 60
236 Pintail: Quick visit. Path to Langley hide starting to flood. 13:08.

Mick Cunningham

Reed Bunting Otmoor rspb.
Courtesy of Mark Chivers.

 

Sandford-on-Thames: 10th December

Sandford-on-Thames
13 Siskin 11:00.
Little Egret 11:00.

Hinksey Lake
2 Goosander 11:00.

D Moden

Chipping Norton: 9th December

Chipping Norton
3 Stonechat: 2m, 1f. Male on marsh grass close to small lake; Pair perched on posts next to Brook nr Swailes Bridge. SP283268. 12:00.
2 Grey Heron: SP283268. 12:00.
120 Fieldfare: SP283268. 12:00.
2 Redwing: Gorging on red berries. SP283268. 12:00.
Pied Wagtail: SP283268. 12:00.

Steve Akers

Port Meadow: 9th December

Port Meadow
16 Dunlin
Caspian Gull: 1w.
3 Stonechat
400 Golden Plover
5 Snipe

Yesterday
Marsh Harrier over the floods at 9:30 putting everything up

Steve Lavington, Matthew Lloyd

Marsh Harrier (a Port Meadow Mega!) courtesy of Matthew Lloyd

 

Grimsbury Reservoir 9th December

 

Peregrine Grimsbury Reservoir 
Both photos courtesy of Edwin Barson.

Graven Hill 9th December

Great white Egret on scrape.

Boarstall Decoy: 9th December

Boarstall Decoy
11 Woodcock: Minimum count around local woods and hedgerows. SP618150. 12:00.

Colin Oram

Cote: 9th December

No sign of the Dotterel all day.
150 Dunlin

The golden plover flock gone awol. 

Grey plover intermittently ... last seen c3pm. 16:07.
Grey Plover 16:07.
3 Redshank: Until mid am. Water gone up. 

Most waders gone. 16:07.
200 Teal: Influx on higher water level. 16:07.
25 Wigeon 16:07.
3 Shelduck 16:07.
Ruff: Left wiry golden plover. 16:07.

Mick Cunningham

Please park in Cote village and walk north to view flood from minor road, please don't park in gateway or block access.

Mid-Cherwell Valley 9th December

A walk along the canal from the Great Western Arms towards Somerton. Not a huge number of ducks or geese on the floods. Not many gulls either. A remarkable number of Fieldfares.

Teal - c100

Wigeon - c50

Shoveler - c20

Gadwall - c10

Lapwing - single flock of 128.

Sparrowhawk - 1

Fieldfare - hard to estimate but over a thousand. Constantly in the air and in almost every hawthorn bush. Far outnumbering Redwings. Quite a spectacle.

Reed bunting - 2

East Hanney: 9th December

East Hanney
Peregrine: imm fem. 15:00.

Leo Bateman

Mapledurham - Friday 8th December 2023

 Stonechat x 2 (f & m), Egyptian Geese x 4 (2m & 2f in fields), Meadow Pipit x 6, Goldcrest, Wren,

Pied Wagtail x 5, Long Tailed Tits x 5, Buzzard x 2, Little Grebe x 2 (1m & 1f at Golf Course pond)

Stonechat - male

Stonechat - female

Farmoor Reservoir: 8th December

Farmoor Reservoir
Caspian Gull: ad. 15:45.
Yellow-legged Gull: 1w. Probable - very low light. 15:45.
15 Common Gull: Minimum. 15:45.
50 Herring Gull: Minimum. 15:45.
2 Great Black-backed Gull 15:45.
100 Lesser Black-backed Gull: Minimum. 15:45.
500 Black-headed Gull: Minimum. 15:45.
Common Sandpiper 15:45.
2 Teal: In the centre of F2 strangely. 15:45.
Snow Goose 15:45.

J Blunt

Cote: 8th December

Cote
280 Dunlin: The flock was dispersed by peregrine. Late pm away from the floods, I had 60 -80 between Cote and Chimney NR in roadside flood. 16:57.

Mick Cunningham

Farmoor Reservoir 8th December

Greater Scaup 1f

Common Sandpiper 1

Common Chiffchaff 1

Blenheim: 8th December

Blenheim
6 Brambling: Several with +100 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch at the sunflower patch. Two other males seen along footpath around Great Lake. 09:20.
Kingfisher 09:20.
7 Nuthatch: High count. 09:20.
7 Raven: Very vocal. 09:20.
7 Mandarin Duck: Beside bridge between Great Lake and Queen Pool. 09:20.
Great White Egret 09:20.

Glen Pascoe

Cote 8th December

Dotterel again briefly late morning but no further sign by 14:14.

The birds were very flighty in the several hours spent watching with Mick and Ewan, and didn't settle often. When they did we couldn't find it again. 
2 Grey Plover: Possibly more. 
Ruff: Very brief view before the flock took flight and not seen again.
Peregrine: chased through through flock one point. 
Yellow-legged Gull: 1st winter.

(per Gareth Casburn Mick Cunningham et al)

Please park in Cote village and walk north to view flood from minor road, please don't park in gateway or block access.

Lambridge Wood: 8th December

Lambridge Wood
Brambling: male. A number of Bramblings heard calling high up in beech trees. One male seen (winter plumage). SU725844. 12:30.

Steve Violette

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 8th December

8th December

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Goosander: fem. Seen from second screen. 10:00.
11 Cattle Egret: Seen roosting from first screen. 07:30.

Pete Roby

Bicester Wetland Reserve 8th December

 2 Green Sandpiper
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Cetti's Warbler
240 Teal

Key Holder Reserve
A Peters

Blenheim 6th December

 Great White Egret