Oddington: 31st March

Oddington
2 Avocet: Still present on "Flood field" at 18:30. 18:33.
Wheatear: On "Flood field". 18:33.
2 Marsh Harrier: male and fem. 18:33.
3 Swallow 18:33.

Ian Elkins

Blenheim: Queen Elizabeth Island: 31st March

Blenheim: Queen Elizabeth Island
2 Oystercatcher
14 Grey Heron: 14 nests on the island, possibly a couple more.
3 Little Egret: 2 apparently nest building. Like many of the herons they've chosen to nest where the cattle egrets were last year.

Bob Pomfret

Ashbury: Waylands Smithy: 31st March

Ashbury: Waylands Smithy
40 Fieldfare
4 Corn Bunting

Bob Pomfret

Blenheim: Grand Bridge: 31st March

Blenheim: Grand Bridge
Brambling: Female under Beech trees. 09:30.

Michael Hunt

Radley GP: 31st March

Radley GP
Cattle Egret: In roost first thing. 05:00.
7 Little Egret 05:00.
Egyptian Goose 05:00.
2 Oystercatcher: pair. 05:00.

Ian Elkins

Grimsbury Reservoir 31st March

Little-ringed Plover 

Swallow 12

Sand Martin 6

Willow Warbler 

Otmoor 31st March

Avocet 2 still on the Flood field 12:37 viewable from bridleway east of Oddington. 

Black-tailedGodwit 3

Ringed Plover

(per Pete Roby, et al)

Sedge Warbler in the main reedbed 

(per Adam Lake).

White-fronted Goose 4 still on western side of Ashgrave yesterday.

One of the two Avocet on flood field.

Port Meadow: 31st March

Port Meadow
Swallow: 2 birds heading North. 08:52.

David Williams

Cote: 30th March

Cote
5 Willow Warbler: On a half mile walk I counted 5 singing males. Not there yesterday when I walked the same route. 23:53.

Mick Cunningham

Waterstock: River Thame: 30th March

Raven 07:45.
Grey Partridge 07:45.
Swallow 07:45.
2 Snipe 07:45.
19 Pintail 07:45.
27 Shoveler 07:45.
160 Teal 07:45.
18 Wigeon 07:45.

4 Gadwall 07:45.
2 Oystercatcher 07:45.
3 Lapwing 07:45.
11 Chiffchaff 07:45.
6 Blackcap 07:45.
Willow Warbler 07:45.
Grey Wagtail 07:45.
7 Reed Bunting 07:45.
2 Egyptian Goose 07:45.
5 Cormorant 07:45.

Nick Marriner

Blewbury 30th March

Churn:
Redstart (f)
3 Wheatear in ploughed field


Sent from my iPhone

Ardley ERF Lagoon: 30th March

Ardley ERF Lagoon
Peregrine: Sat on top of the main building. 16:52.

Graeme Porter

Bicester Wetland Reserve 30th March

2 Little Ringed Plover
13 Snipe
2 Cetti's Warbler

A Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Courtesy of Nick Truby.

Aston Upthorpe: 30th March

Aston Upthorpe
Ring Ouzel: male. Elusive in Juniper Valley. SU541831. 09:45 but no further sign.

Michael Pocock

Sarsgrove: 29th March

Sarsgrove
Wheatear: m. SP303245. 11:46.
Sparrowhawk: m. Flew through very, very low and fast over the field heading toward wood - thankfully no predation of the Wheatear. SP303245. 11:46.

Steve Akers

Little Owl courtesy of Edwin Barson.

 

Chipping Norton: 30th March

Chipping Norton
Blackcap: m. Singing male FOY - 41, The Leys. SP308267. 11:30.
Chiffchaff: m. SP308267. 11:30.
20 Siskin: m,f, juv. Present again in the Ash trees in The Leys - six birds came down to our feeders 4m, 2f. SP308267. 11:30.

Steve Akers

Bodicote/Bloxham Grove area Sat 30th March

 1 Black Redstart seen briefly sat on gate post before flying into bushes SP4558337331

 1 Little owl in the area

 1 Otter seen swimming in Sor Brook SP4622636190

Peep-o-Day Lane Abingdon 30th March

Cattle Egret

Great white Egret over

Brambling

Sand Martin 

(per Tom Wickens)

Aynho Upper Cherwell Valley 30th March

Cattle Egret just south of the Great Western Pub

Shelduck

Oystercatcher 2

Willow Warbler 

(JFT)

Radley GP: 30th March

Radley GP
Cattle Egret: Again in the roost this morning, but flew off at 5:39. 08:06.
10 Little Egret 08:06.
Egyptian Goose 08:06.
Water Rail: Heard. 08:06.

Ian Elkins

Widford: 29th March

Widford
Great White Egret: First one I've ever seen here. Looks like the shaggy breasted, yellow billed bird that frequents Pit 60 sometimes. In company with little Egret. Water level too high for waders, hence the GWE and a couple of shoveler. 20:18.

Mick Cunningham

Chinnor: Cement Works: 29th March

Chinnor: Cement Works
2 Oystercatcher: Lake 2b. 11:00.
5 Little Ringed Plover: Lake 2b. 11:00.

David Stracey

Abingdon 29th

Peep o day lane 4:30-6:30pm

Willow warbler
Sand Martin
2 blackcap
Peregrine falcon.

Sent from my iPhone

Blenheim: 29th March

Blenheim
8 Egyptian Goose: Pair with 6 young that can only be a few days old. Hopefully these ones have better luck than the early brood in February. There are three resident pairs this year. 13:30.
2 Oystercatcher 13:30.

Gareth Casburn

Farmoor Reservoir 29th March

Willow Warbler 5

Common Chiffchaff 16

Blackcap 12

all the above singing males 

Redpoll 2

Woodstock: Glyme valley: 29th March

Woodstock: Glyme valley
3 Marsh Tit: 3 birds doing territorial squabble. SP450183. 14:53.

David Williams

Iffley: Iffley Meadows: 29th March

Iffley: Iffley Meadows
Jack Snipe 11:30.

Steve Roby

Chipping Norton: 29th March

Chipping Norton
3 Siskin: 2f; 1m. On feeders in The Leys - three or four Siskin continuing to feed daily despite disappearance of larger flock. SP308267. 10:40.

Steve Akers

Hardwick Estate flood plane: 29th March

Hardwick Estate flood plane
Great White Egret: White and the size of a large heron. Wading in shallow floods flew away when it saw me. SU653777. 09:43.

Keiri Swann

Farmoor Reservoir 26th March

Sedge Warbler on Tuesday (D.J)

Farmoor Reservoir 28th March

 

Goosander 2 redheads

Willow Warbler 2 singing males by Pinkhill Hide

Cetti's Warbler 3

Blackcap 6 singing males

Wigeon 2

Gadwall 5

Otmoor Thursday 28 March

Peregrine 1 
Bittern 1 (booming at 2nd screen)
Oystercatcher 2
Willow Warbler 1
Blackcap 1 

Moulsford, Greenlands Farm: 27th March

Moulsford, Greenlands Farm
Raven: Calls heard. SU5883. 17:00.

Mike Amphlett

Radley GP: 27th March

Radley GP
Cattle Egret: Again in the roost this morning. 06:00.
5 Little Egret: In roost first thing. 06:00.
3 Egyptian Goose 06:00.
2 Oystercatcher: pair. 06:00.
Raven 06:00.

Ian Elkins

Port Meadow: 27th March

Port Meadow
Mediterranean Gull ad
Caspian Gull 1w
Great White Egret

Singing Willow Warbler this morning in Burgess Field

 
Steve Lavington.

Peep-o-Day Lane/Drayton flood 27th March

No sign of any Garganey 16:00-17:00 (Badger).

Henley-on-Thames 27th March

White Stork 2 flew low over Henley (per RBA)

Iffley Meadows Wed 27th March

1 Jack Snipe  

20 Snipe

Bicester Wetland Reserve: 27th March

Marsh Harrier: At far end of reserve. 08:45.
Little Ringed Plover 2 On rough ground to the right of entrance road to the reserve. 

(per Laurie Bryant et al)

Key holder reserve.

Grimsbury Reservoir 26th March

White Wagtail 2

Little-ringed Plover 

Willow Warbler 

Shoveler 5

(I.R)

Otmoor rspb 26th March

White-fronted Goose 4 reported on Noke Sides.

Sarsgrove: 26th March

Sarsgrove
Wheatear: fem. Appeared to be only one bird remaining today. 12:30.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 26th March

Chipping Norton
30 Siskin: Estimate thirty SISKIN present again feeding in the Ash trees and surrounding gardens in The Leys. SP308267. 10:00.

Steve Akers

Standlake Pit 60: 26th March

Standlake Pit 60
4 Great White Egret: Individual differences in soft parts colour and stage of aigrette growth. 20:23.
3 Goldeneye: 1 m 1 ad 1 fem type but with all dark bill. 2cy f? 20:23.
127 Pintail: Flock numbers reducing now. Also, incidence of peat stained individuals is reducing. Irish winter birds moved on or staining cleaned off by oxon waters? 20:23.

Mick Cunningham

Farmoor Reservoir 26th March

Great northern Diver (per RBA).

Port Meadow: 26 March

Black-tailed Godwit: a flock of 59 dropped in at 1240

Great White Egret - the usual single bird on the flood

Abingdon: Abingdon Abbey: 26th March

Abingdon: Abingdon Abbey
Swallow: One high over headed west, FOY for me. SU499972. 13:05.

Philip Chapman

Sutton Wick: Sutton Wick GP: 26th March

Sutton Wick: Sutton Wick GP
Green Sandpiper: Pit south of bridleway opposite active workings, also 2 Oystercatcher. SU486947. 09:09.

Philip Chapman

Abingdon: Peep-o-Day Lane: 26th March

Abingdon: Peep-o-Day Lane
2 Garganey: Pair, towards south end of floods c. 150 m north of Drayton Road on east side of lane. SU492943. 09:06.

Philip Chapman

Bicester Wetlands Reserve 26th March

Marsh Harrier quartering main pool 08:34 

(per JFT).

Key holder reserve.

Chinnor: Cement Works: 26th March

Chinnor: Cement Works
4 Oystercatcher: SU750996. 07:56.
5 Little Ringed Plover: SU750996. 07:56.

Jez March

Goosanders o the Thames at Port Meadow 
Courtesy of Russell O Allen.

 

Day's Lock Area : Monday 25th

3 Little Ringed Plover

Swallow

2 Oystercatcher

Goosander 

2 Raven

Standlake Pit 60: 25th March

Standlake Pit 60
Yellowhammer: Near hide. Quite scarce here, though small flock was present N end of Langley Lane this winter. 22:16.
3 Great White Egret: Each one with different patterns on soft parts. 2 sporting breeding colours of varying intensity. One still yellow bill, no aigrettes, pale legs still. I find literature on ageing very thin. Including manuals. 22:16.

Mick Cunningham

Port Meadow 25th March

Caspian Gull 2 both 1stw 18:16

Great white Egret 

Shelduck 6

(B.S et al)

Otmoor: The Flood: 25th March

Otmoor: The Flood
51 Black-tailed Godwit: Up from, and flying above Flood for minute or so, before dropping back down again. 16:55.

Rob Cadd

Blenheim 25th March

Cattle egret - 12. Initially on the lake edge before flying to the island. They then all left south west about 10 minutes later.

House martin - 1 with about a dozen sand martins around the Grand Bridge.

Sarsgrove: 25th March

Sarsgrove
4 Wheatear: 2m; 2f. Four still present in second field between fence and horse jumps down nr Sarsgrove Farm. Very active. (NB the three horses in field are very inquisitive and will come over to see you. The 'Grey' is especially friendly). SP303245. 11:00.
Green Woodpecker: SP303245. 11:00.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 25th March

Chipping Norton
15 Siskin: A group of Siskin back on the Ash trees in The Leys with four coming down to feeders. 08:45.

Steve Akers

Farmoor Reservoir 25th March

Osprey circling the reservoir 09:39-10:13 then left. 

(per Ewan Urquhart)

Otmoor: 24th March

Short-eared Owl (per RBA).
2 Crane: Flew W to E down Greenaways then beyond. 17:44.
Pintail: m. Big Otmoor with large numbers of Shoveler. 17:44.

Anthony Cheke

Warburg Reserve - Sunday 24th March 2024

 The Chiffchaff has arrived x 2, Bullfinch x 4 (2m 2f), Treecreeper, Coal Tit x 2, Marsh Tit x 3,

Siskin (m), Red legged Partridge x 6.

Bullfinch - male.

Chiffchaff

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill: 24th March

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
10 Wheatear: 6f 4m. 18:00.

Michael Pocock

Farmoor Reservoir: 24th March

Farmoor Reservoir
Willow Warbler: Heard singing in trees by the car park. 16:52.
Curlew Heard calling in fields on the other side of the Thames by shrike meadow. 16:52.
5 Blackcap: At least 5 singing in different areas along my route. 16:52.
8 Chiffchaff: At least 8 singing. 16:52.

Richard Parsons

Rushy Common: 24th March

Black-tailed Godwit 2, new quarry
Snipe 9
Oystercatcher 2
Shelduck 2
Sand Martin 2

Shennington 24th March

Wheatear 8 in stubble field at western side of old airstrip at Shenington airfield (per S.H).

Balscote Quarry Reserve 24th March

Brambling 2 m/f at feeders (S.H).

Grimsbury Reservoir 24th March

Swallow

Willow Warbler

(per JFT).

Wheatear courtesy of Alan Dawson.

 

Sarsgrove: 24th March

Sarsgrove
8 Wheatear: First of Spring migration. A mixed group with at least three striking looking males. In second equestrian field down toward Sarsgrove Farm next to horse jumps. Close by footpath between CN and Churchill. SP304246. 09:00.

Steve Akers

Ardley ERF Lagoon: 24th March

Ardley ERF Lagoon
2 Peregrine 09:15.
8 Wheatear: 4m 1f. In first field to the right of lagoon. Seen with Justin Taylor. 09:15.

Laurie Bryant

Lye Valley area, Oxford: 24th March

 

3 Mute Swan flew north, only the fourth record of this species here. Unfortunately, the kinked neck of the rear bird (a female) is indicative of lead poisoning. Thanks to Ben Sheldon for flagging this. 

White Horse Hill: 24th March

White Horse Hill
5 Wheatear
Brambling
2 Raven

Mark Merritt

Port Meadow 23rd March

Mediterranean Gull ad in roost (T.M).

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common: 23rd March

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common
15 Sand Martin: 4+11 heading NW direction. 14:00.
3 Goldeneye: 2m1f. On Rushy Common. 14:00.
Goosander: f. Surprise record on one of the fishing lakes. SP378065. 14:00.
3 Egyptian Goose: Mixed goose flock gathering in fields beyond Gill Mill. SP378065. 14:00.
2 Oystercatcher: Pair on flood opposite Rushy Common car park. 14:00.

Glen Pascoe

Day's Lock Area : Sat 23rd a.m.

Wheatear, 1

Sand Martin, 6

Cattle Egret, 2

Pintail, 1

Peregrine, 1

Little Stoke 23rd March

Swallow c15:09 (per Paul Rainsden).

Marston Meadows 23rd March

Willow Warbler 2 (per Tom Evans)

Otmoor rspb 23rd March

Grey Plover on Big Otmoor 

Black-tailed Godwit 60+ over Flood Field

Dunlin 15

Bittern c3

Marsh Harrier 3

Shelduck 2

Little Egret 6

Willow Warbler

(per Bark et al).

Marsh Harrier courtesy of Malcolm Bowey.

Farmoor March 23rd (am)

15 Sand Martin
2 Blackcap
8 Chiffchaff
1 Common Sandpiper

Chipping Norton: 23rd March

Chipping Norton
Siskin: ad male. On feeders in The Leys. SP308267. 09:00.

Steve Akers

Radley GP: 23rd March

Radley GP
Willow Warbler: In song along the old railway. FOY here. 08:21.
2 Sand Martin 08:21.
2 Oystercatcher: pair. 08:21.

Ian Elkins

Lesser Redpoll Cassington courtesy of Terry Godfrey.

 

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 22nd March

Osprey heading over Greenaways north persued by gulls 14:00 (per Fergus).

Otmoor: The Flood
43 Black-tailed Godwit: Up from, and flying above Flood for couple of minutes, before dropping back down again. 17:30.

(per Rob Cadd)

3 Grey Heron 16:00.
Redshank: Heard only. 16:00.
2 Water Rail: Heard only. 16:00.
2 Marsh Harrier: fem. 16:00.
Sparrowhawk: m. Hunting in lane nr wetlands hide. 16:00.

(per Steve Akers)

Chinnor: Cement Works: 22nd March

Chinnor: Cement Works
2 Oystercatcher: Lake 2b. 12:00.
Little Ringed Plover: Lake 2b. 12:00.

David Stracey

Grimsbury Reservoir: 22nd March

Grimsbury Reservoir
Little Ringed Plover: m, found earlier by Ian Rowe.

Gareth Blockley

Sarsgrove: 21st March

Sarsgrove
100 Golden Plover: At least 100 circling over in classic arrow formation - also seen here in the morning - first observations this year. 16:00.

Steve Akers

Abingdon: Peep-o-Day Lane: 22nd March

2 Green Sandpiper 10:00.
Common Sandpiper 10:00.
2 Egyptian Goose 10:00.

(per Martin Clutterbuck).

3 Oystercatcher: Three circling high over STW and calling incessantly, seen from bike on my morning commute. SU491949. 08:50.

(per Philip Chapman).

Cassington GP’s 22nd March

Scaup f on Worton Pit  viewable from the public footpath 11:40

Goldeneye 2 drk

(per Glen Pascoe).

Abingdon 22nd March

Waxwing 10 on Gibson Close 08:10 briefly then flew west (per Andy Last).

South Leigh 21st March

House Martin (per RBA).

Otmoor rspb 21st March

 

Bitterns courtesy of Malcolm Bowey.

Farmoor Reservoir 21st March

0700-0900hrs

Willow Warbler 1 only singing occasionally and then only quietly

Blackcap 8 singing males

Cetti's Warbler 2

Little Ringed Plover 1 

Common Sandpiper 1

Lapwing 1

Warneford Meadow, Oxford: 20th March

One Willow Warbler, singing occasionally. The earliest bird here by 10 days. 

Otmoor rspb Flood Field 20th March

Hen Harrier r/t

Merlin

Little-ringed Plover 

Grey Plover

(per Ollie Metcalfe)

Viewable from the bridleway east from Oddington.

Chipping Norton: 20th March

Chipping Norton
30 Siskin: At least thirty here again in the tops of the trees in the small wood between The Leys and Webb Crescent. Many coming down to feed on garden feeders. SP308267. 10:30.

Steve Akers

Wheatear Sparsholt Firs courtesy of Geoff Dymott.

 

Chipping Norton: 19th March

Chipping Norton
2 Chiffchaff: Two singing males. SP283268. 16:00.
5 Snipe: All put up from the marsh. SP283268. 16:00.
2 Grey Heron: SP283268. 16:00.
5 Moorhen: Having a big fight presumably territorial. SP283268. 16:00.
Reed Bunting: SP283268. 16:00.
Possible Grey Wagtail: SP283268. 16:00.
Green Woodpecker: SP283268. 16:00.
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker: SP283268. 16:00.

Steve Akers

Port Meadow 20th March

Avocet: mid morning until mid afternoon

Black-tailed Godwit c80
Great White Egret
Dunlin 2

Goosander: a few on the river
Common Gull: good numbers again this evening

Mathew Lloyd, Gnome, Jacek, Steve Lavington, Thomas Miller, Pam Parsons 

Farmoor Reservoir 20th March

Willow Warbler Pinkhill Reserve (per Paul Butler).

Blenheim 20th March

Pochard - 1

Egyptian goose - 5 adults. No sign of the young seen in early Feb so I would have to assume they were predated.

Great white egret - 1 adult in breeding plumage. I think only the second time I've seen one in this condition here. Pity it was distant.

Oystercatcher - 2

Sand martin - 6

Cote: 19th March

Cote
5 Shelduck: but no waders or any gulls save a handful of LBBs. 23:56.

Mick Cunningham

Port Meadow: 19th March

Port Meadow
80 Black-tailed Godwit
2 Dunlin
Grey Plover
5 Goosander
2 Pintail

Adam Hartley, Steve Lavington

Abingdon: Peep-o-Day Lane: 19th March

Abingdon: Peep-o-Day Lane
Cattle Egret: Still. 11:30.
6 Lapwing 11:30.
2 Oystercatcher 11:30.
8 Reed Bunting 11:30.
15 Teal 11:30.
35 Wigeon: Minimum. 11:30.
5 Shoveler 11:30.

J Blunt

Sonning Eye GPs: 19th March

Sonning Eye GPs
8 Little Egret: Seen in flooded field. 15:15.
5 Egyptian Goose: In flooded field. Near Egrets. 15:15.
2 Mandarin Duck: m. Same field. 15:15.

Ralph Watts

Chipping Norton: 19th March

Chipping Norton
3 Siskin: 3m, 3f. At least six Siskin in the Ash Trees in The Leys this morning. SP308267. 11:00.

Steve Akers

Blenheim: 19th March

Blenheim
4 Sand Martin 09:32.

Gareth Casburn

Farmoor Reservoir 19th March

Little-ringed Plover 

Common Sandpiper 

Great white Egret 

Chiffchaff 3

(per Johnny Eclipse).

Radley GP: 19th March

Radley GP
Cattle Egret: Again in the roost this morning. 06:00.
11 Little Egret 06:00.
Egyptian Goose 06:00.
Peregrine 06:00.
Oystercatcher 06:00.
3 Sand Martin: FOY here. 06:00.
Common Gull 06:00.

Ian Elkins

Compton Downs - Monday 18th March 2024

 Stonechat x 3 (2m 1f), Reed Bunting x 2 (m & f), Yellowhammer x 10 (m & f), Buzzard x 2

Corn Bunting x 15, Meadow Pipit x 2, Skylark x 20+, Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge x 8.

Lapwing, Chaffinch (m), Linnet x 5 (m & f)

Stonechat -male

Corn Bunting.

Port Meadow - 18 March

Grey Plover: 1 with Golden Plover flock came in ~1710. Assume this is the same as the Otmoor bird and that they are commuting between the two sites

Golden Plover: ~400

Common Gull: c. 250 - a good count for here

Otmoor: Central: 18th March

Otmoor: Central
70 Black-tailed Godwit: SP560134. 18:15.
2 Marsh Harrier: SP560134. 18:15.

Matthew Lloyd

Otmoor: 18th March

4 Crane reported on Greenaways c08:00
59 Black-tailed Godwit 16:15.
4 Oystercatcher 16:15.
 Ruff 16:18.
Grey Plover 16:18.
20 Dunlin 16:18.

Pete Roby

Blackcap Bicester courtesy of Sarah-Jayne Truby.

 

Wayside Green: 18th March

Wayside Green
5 Mealy Redpoll: SU640819. 13:30.

Heather Wright

17th March, Peep-O-Day Lane

Little Ringed Plover still
9 Snipe
Meadow Pipit
Egyptian geese with young

Steve Sansom

Courtesy of Steve Sansom

 

Otmoor rspb 17th March

Hen Harrier r/t

Garganey m still on Flood Field 17:00 though distant.

Little-ringed Plover 

Red-crested Pochard 1st screen

Bittern 2+ booming

(per Ben Sheldon,Simon Bradfield, Bark).

Bitterns courtesy of Michael Enticott.

Milton Common: 17th March

Milton Common
Corn Bunting 22:35.

Mick Cunningham

Sarsgrove: 17th March

Sarsgrove
Chiffchaff: m. Singing male in valley next to Sars Brook. 14:30.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 17th March

Chipping Norton
31 Siskin: m, f, juv. The flock of Siskin again frequenting the top of the Ash trees in The Leys. Very vocal and active with small groups flying in and out and others flying down to feed in gardens. Stayed all morning. SP308267. 10:30.

Steve Akers

Dean Wood: 17th March

Dean Wood
4 Marsh Tit: SU636825. 16:30.

Heather Wright

Great crested Grebe courtship Otmoor rspb.
Courtesy of Paul Torevell.

 

Ardley ERF Lagoon: 17th March

Ardley ERF Lagoon
2 Peregrine: On the roof. One had a kill. 12:45.
Raven: Over cronking. 12:45.

Laurie Bryant

Dix Pit 17th March

Sand Martin c10:33 (per SNT).

Balscote Quarry Reserve 17th March

Brambling 2 at feeders (D.B).

Raven Otmoor rspb courtesy of Malcolm Bowey.

 

Dorchester on Thames, John Allen Pit : Sunday

Sand Martin 12 

Cetti's Warbler

Curlew

Cattle Egret - around the Bishop's Court Farm paddocks.

Woodstock: 17th March

Woodstock
9 Siskin: 5 male & 4 female siskins in my garden in woodstock this morning. SP447170. 10:06.

Paul Willis

Port Meadow 17th March

Grey Plover 

Golden Plover c500

Dunlin,

Oystercatcher 2

Great white Egret 

Shellduck 11

Pintail 20+

Goosander r/h

(S.J et al)

Chipping Norton: 16th March

Chipping Norton
40 Siskin: An amazing 40 Siskin arrived this afternoon and frequented the tops of the Ash trees in The Leys behind our garden for the next two hours filling the air with their song and calls to each other. Many came down to the feeders. A wonderful spectacle. SP308267. 13:11.
Sparrowhawk: male. Circling high up. SP308267. 13:11.

Steve Akers

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 16th March

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
4 White-fronted Goose 16:00.
Peregrine 16:00.
2 Oystercatcher 16:00.

Bittern 2 booming  
2 Cattle Egret 16:00.
2 Marsh Harrier 16:00.
2 Shelduck 16:00.

Simon Myers

Rissinghurst Oxford 16th March

Mealy Redpoll reported by the pond at the C.S Lewis NR (per Birdguides).

Sparsholt firs 16th March

Devils punchbowl:

1 Wheatear

2 stonechat

Raven

Sent from my iPhone

Rushy Common/Tar Lakes 16th March

Great White Egret 1

Little Egret 2

Common Pochard 6  4m/2f

Common Goldeneye 2 pair

Oystercatcher 3

Common Snipe 5

Common Chiffchaff 10 singing males

Cetti's Warbler 4

Chipping Norton: 16th March

Chipping Norton
4 Siskin: 2m, 2f. Two pairs visiting to feed regularly now on our garden feeders in The Leys. The males are especially striking. SP308267. 11:30.

Steve Akers

Bicester Wetland Reserve 16th March

1 Jack Snipe
28 Snipe
1 Green Sandpiper
22 Gadwall
60 Teal
3 Cetti's Warbler
2 Chiffchaff

A Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Radley GPs 16th March

No sign of the Black-necked Grebe by 10:34.

Goosander 

(per Ewan Urquhart)

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill: 16th March

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
Wheatear: male. On main slope. 09:00.

Michael Pocock

Ardley ERF Lagoon: 16th March

Ardley ERF Lagoon
Peregrine 08:00.
2 Green Sandpiper 08:00.
Corn Bunting 08:00.

Gareth Casburn

Dix Pit Stanton Harcourt 16th March

Goldeneye 11 (7m) per Adam Lake.

Otmoor: The Flood: 16th March

Otmoor: The Flood
Garganey: male. 08:42.
2 Black-tailed Godwit 08:42.
20 Dunlin 08:42.

Pete Roby

Eynsham 15th March

Black Redstart in garden (N.T)

Courtesy of Nick Tasker.

Scary Hill: 15th March

Scary Hill
Wheatear: male. 14:45.
2 Stonechat: Pair. 14:45.

Jed Cleeter

Courtesan of Jed Cleeter.

Rushy Common 15th March

Little Ringed Plover 2

Oystercatcher 4

Common Chiffchaff 2 singing males 

Thrupp Lake Radley GPs 15th March

Black-necked Grebe still present 16:18.

(per Colm Ó Caomhanaigh, et al).

Courtesy of BryanManston 14/3.


Courtesy of Badger.

Chipping Norton: 15th March

Chipping Norton
3 Siskin: 2m, 1f. At feeders in The Leys. SP308267. 11:40.

Steve Akers

Eynsham: Chil Brook: 15th March

Eynsham: Chil Brook
2 Chiffchaff: Two singing birds. First of the year. 11:00.

Allen Stevens

Farmoor Reservoir 15th March

2 Sand Martin

1 Scaup

1 Common Sand 

90 Snow Geese

30 Barnacle Geese

(per Johnny Eclipse)

Radley village: 14th March

Radley village
Negative news Whitethroat: FoS. Nocmig. 04:45.

Paul Parrish

Balscote Quarry Reserve 15th March

Brambling 3 at feeders

Sand Martin

(per Edwin Barson, et al).

Standlake Pit 60: 14th March

Standlake Pit 60
Marsh Harrier: cream crown. seen briefly. Looked pretty lightly built. Ann imm male? JED will know from his wanderings/photos. 22:25.
380 Pintail 22:25.

Mick Cunningham

Balscote Quarry Reserve 14th March

 

Brambling courtesy of Wally Warburton.

Farmoor Reservoir 14th March

Scaup 2 both f still on F2.

Courtesy of John Workman.

Radley Lakes 14th March

Black-necked Grebe on Thrupp Lake and still present at 16:12

Goosander r/h
Cattle Egret until c06:40

Water Rail

Oystercatcher 2

Cetti's Warbler 

Siskin

(Per Ben Carpenter, et al).

Courtesy of Badger.

Thrupp Lake Radley 14th March

Black necked Grebe 1 still present 16:12

Goosander 1f

Oystercatcher 2

Common Chiffchaff 2 singing males

Cetti's Warbler 1

Peep-O-Day Lane: 14th March

Plenty of birds on show this morning inc:

1 Cattle Egret

1 Little Ringed Plover (Displaying Male approx here SU487948 on North side of Stonehill Rd).

2 Oystercatcher

4 Egyptian Goose (Inc two very fresh goslings)

5 Siskin

5 Reed Bunting

Full list of species heard or seen: https://app.bto.org/birdtrack/pubcon/shared?subId=SUB48175118

Many thanks.

Oystercatcher, Cattle Egret, Little Ringed Plover from today.

 

Radley GPs 14th March

 

Black-necked Grebe, Thrupp Lake, Radley 14 March 2024

footpath between the b4027 & a4260: 14th March

footpath between the b4027 & a4260
3 Corn Bunting: male. all singing from overhead wires. SP455192. 13:28.

Paul Willis

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 14th March

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
2 Oystercatcher: On the island.
4 Little Egret: On the island, not yet nesting I think.
17 Grey Heron: At least 13 occupied nests on the island. They appear to have taken over the area where the cattle egrets nested last year. Wonder what will happen if they try again this summer.
2 Pochard
84 Tufted Duck
10 Gadwall
3 Egyptian Goose
2 Raven: Possibly nest building in a cedar close to the Harry Potter tree.

Bob Pomfret

Chipping Norton: 14th March

Chipping Norton
5 Chiffchaff: All feeding by Chipping Norton Brook at Swailsford Bridge nr Cornwell - two now in song. SP283265. 10:00.
22 Meadow Pipit: SP283265. 10:00.
2 Pied Wagtail: SP283265. 10:00.

Steve Akers

Peep-o-Day Lane

Shelduck - 2 

M40 Junction 9: 14th March

M40 Junction 9
Great White Egret: Flew SW over Bicester junction of M40. 07:50.

Jed Cleeter

Chipping Norton: 13th March

Chipping Norton
4 Chiffchaff: A rise in number to four today in the same bushes by the brook at Swalesford Bridge nr Cornwell. SP283268. 13:00.
8 Pied Wagtail: Bathing and drinking in the fast flowing re-directed Chipping Norton Brook together with Meadow Pippits. SP283268. 13:00.
30 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 13:00.
8 Redwing: SP283268. 13:00.
9 Fieldfare: SP283268. 13:00.
2 Raven: pair. Flew through. SP283268. 13:00.
Green Woodpecker: SP283268. 13:00.
Great Spotted Woodpecker: SP283268. 13:00.
Kestrel: ad fem. SP283268. 13:00.

Steve Akers

Chinnor: Cement Works: 13th March

Chinnor: Cement Works
2 Oystercatcher: Lake 2b. 12:00.

David Stracey

Chiselhampton: 13th March

Chiselhampton
Great White Egret: On the River Thame floodplain. SU597996. 10:00.

David Stracey

Otmoor: 13th March

Otmoor
2 Oystercatcher 12:24.
4 Black-tailed Godwit 12:24.
c100 Dunlin. 12:24.
Grey Plover 12:24.

Pete Roby

Peep-o-Day Lane

Jack Snipe 

Little Ringed Plover 

Cattle Egret

Redshank

Oystercatcher - 4

Snipe - 12

Grimsbury Reservoir: 13th March

Grimsbury Reservoir
Rock Pipit

Gareth Blockley

Radley GP: 13th March

Radley GP
Cattle Egret: Again in the roost this morning. 06:32.
6 Little Egret 06:32.
2 Egyptian Goose: pair. 06:32.
2 Oystercatcher: pair. 06:32.

Ian Elkins

Kennington: 9th March

Kennington
4 Lesser Redpoll: 2m, 2f. 15:00.

Nick Suckling

Marsh Baldon: 12th March

Marsh Baldon
2 Siskin: 1 male 1 fem. Male and female Siskin visiting garden feeder. SU565999. 16:11.

Paul Torevell

Siskin Bicester courtesy of Nick Truby.

 

Grimsbury Reservoir: 12th March

Grimsbury Reservoir
Peregrine: over, mobbing Buzzards.
5 Chiffchaff: min 5, 3 singing.

Gareth Blockley

Port Meadow: 12th March

Port Meadow
Grey Plover: One on the floods this morning per Phil Barnett.

Caspian Gull 1stw in the pre-roost yesterday.

Adam Hartley

Chipping Norton: 12th March

Chipping Norton
Chiffchaff: FOY at Swalesford Bridge. SP283268. 12:30.
Sparrowhawk: ad male. SP283268. 12:30.
14 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 12:30.
Green Woodpecker: SP283268. 12:30.
Teal: drk. On the small lake. SP283268. 12:30.
Grey Heron: SP283268. 12:30.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 12th March

Chipping Norton
2 Siskin: m, f. A pair again feeding in The Leys. SP308267. 10:40.

Steve Akers

Woodstock: 12th March

Woodstock
2 Lesser Redpoll: on my bird feeders. SP447170. 10:40.

Paul Willis

Dix Pit Stanton Harcourt 11th March

Mediterranean Gull 1stw reported in the roost this evening.

North Cross Valley Way nr Witney

Marsh Harrier 13:22 (per Glen Pascoe).

Otmoor rspb 11th March

Hen Harrier r/t this afternoon 

Marsh Harrier 

Bittern 2

Grey Plover on the Flood Field 15:06 

(per Adam Lake,et al).

Chipping Norton: 11th March

Chipping Norton
Peregrine: Flew in from W over the small lake and marsh near Cornwell along the valley before circling in the distance nr CN. SP283268. 13:30.
Kestrel: ad fem. Dive bombing Buzzard. SP283268. 13:30.
5 Buzzard: SP283268. 13:30.
4 Snipe: Four individual birds put up from the marsh. SP283268. 13:30.
11 Teal: SP283268. 13:30.
Reed Bunting: SP283268. 13:30.
Grey Heron: SP283268. 13:30.

Steve Akers

Appleford GPs

Great White Egret - flew over pits towards Long Wittenham

Red-crested Pochard - Drake on pit closest Appleford

Pintail - 4 

Pochard - 23 

Bicester Wetland Reserve Monday 11th March

 Quiet at first sight but plenty after checking

39 Snipe
80 Teal (old redundant lagoons)
13 Gadwall
Little Grebe displaying
3 Little Egret
2 Cetti's Warblers
1 Chiffchaff singing
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker chasing each other

A Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Chipping Norton: 11th March

Chipping Norton
4 Siskin: 2m, 2f. Two pairs this morning - in The Leys. SP308267. 11:00.

Steve Akers

Witney Lake 11th March

Cattle Egret again in tree on the island 10:25 

(per Mark Pidgeon).

Water Rails Otmoor rspb 
Courtesy of Luke O'Byrne.

 

Dix Pit: 10th March

Dix Pit
9 Goldeneye 10:39.
5 Lesser Redpoll 10:39.

Simon Bradfield

Witney Lake 10th March

Cattle Egret 1

Common Chiffchaff 4 (3 singing males)

Tree Creeper 1

Rushy Common 10th March

Great White Egret 1

Egyptian Goose 2

Common Shelduck 2

Red crested Pochard 2m

Oystercatcher 3

Common Redshank 1

Curbridge: 10th March

Curbridge
2 Green Sandpiper: Very flighty. 13:04.

Mick Cunningham

Red Kite preparing for spring.
Courtesy of Jim Bennett.

 

Standlake Pit 60: 10th March

Standlake Pit 60
3 Black-tailed Godwit: Same birds as yesterday. Strangely, left when rain started. Maybe feeding Thames fields? 13:02.
2 Shelduck: m n f. Circled pit. Left south. 13:02.

Mick Cunningham

Port Meadow 10th March

Siberian Chiffchaff still present near the Burgess Field gate (per RBA).

Day's Lock Area: 10th - a m

 Day's Lock/Bishop's Court Farm Scrape

10 Black-tailed Godwits

3 Shelduck

Farmoor March 10th (a.m.)

Chiffchaff - 4 singing birds, clearly new arrivals 

Wigeon - pair 

Scaup - 2 females still on F1

Common Sandpiper - 1 

Radley GP: 10th March

Cattle Egret: In the roost; flew off at 06:40. 06:42.
Red-crested Pochard: drk. Still present on Thrupp Lake this morning. 06:55.

Ian Elkins

Cattle Egret courtesy of Ian Elkins.

Otmoor rspb 10th March

White-fronted Goose 4 on Ashgrave from the Wetlands Watch hide 11:09

Bittern 2 booming.

Crane on Greenaways c08:00 

(per Luke O'Byrne, et al).

Peep-o-Day Lane - 9th March

Little Ringed Plover - Back on usual pit

Cattle Egret - One in field east of Tuckwells Pit

Green Sandpiper - 2

Snipe - 8

Kidlington 9th March

Short-eared Owl north of Kidlington at Barton Abbey flushed from gane cover at 15:00 

(per RBA).

Chimney: 9th March

Chimney
2 Shelduck: m & f. The long-staying pair which wanders between Chimney and Cote. No waders at Cote all month, apart from a single curlew last week. 20:01.

Mick Cunningham

Peep-o-day Lane - 9 March

 

Little Ringed Plover, Peep-o-Day Lane, 9 March 2024

Little Ringed Plover: 1

Green Sandpiper: 1

Oystercatcher: 1

Cattle Egret: 1

Northmoor: 9th March

Northmoor
25 Snipe 18:23.

Mick Cunningham

Otmoor: Otmoor Lane: 9th March

Otmoor: Otmoor Lane
227 Dunlin 12:00.
6 Oystercatcher 12:00.
Ringed Plover 12:00.
250 Pintail: 250+ 12:00.
5 Black-tailed Godwit 12:00.
2 Peregrine 12:00.
2 Ruff 12:00.

Pete Roby

Buzzard & Red Kite.
Courtesy of Michael Enticott.

Port Meadow: 9th March

Port Meadow
Goosander 16:00.
3 Shelduck 16:00.
6 Pintail 16:00.
Probable 12 Golden Plover 16:00.
3 Chiffchaff: The probable Siberian Chiffchaff with ring and two common Chiffchaff. 16:00.

Steve Akers

Waterstock: River Thame: 9th March

Waterstock: River Thame
2 Pintail 09:00.
4 Lapwing 09:00.
2 Goosander: Pair. 09:00.
87 Snipe 09:00.
125 Teal 09:00.
10 Reed Bunting 09:00.
2 Raven 09:00.
Dunlin 09:00.
2 Shelduck: Assume same two birds from 2 weeks ago. 09:00.
20 Gadwall 09:00.
125 Wigeon 09:00.
3 Chiffchaff 09:00.
3 Grey Wagtail 09:00.
9 Little Egret 09:00.
31 Meadow Pipit 09:00.
345 Redwing 09:00.
450 Fieldfare 09:00.
Yellow-legged Gull 09:00.
4 Great Black-backed Gull 09:00.

610 Black-headed Gull 09:00.
405 Common Gull: Approx. 09:00.
370 Lesser Black-backed Gull: Approx. 09:00.
215 Herring Gull 09:00.
4 Great Black-backed Gull: Approx. 09:00.

Nick Marriner

Standlake Pit 60: 9th March

Standlake Pit 60
643 Pintail: Possibly an under count. 15:45.
3 Black-tailed Godwit: 1 wp 1, seemingly full sp, 1 moulting into sp. Mostly hidden in sleeping duck flock. Seemed to leave west mid pm. 15:45.
597 Teal 15:45.
2624 Black-headed Gull: Combined on water and draining SSSI. 15:45.
3 Great White Egret 15:45.
Marsh Harrier: cc. Too brief to age or sex. 15:45.
7 Goosander 15:45.
5 Oystercatcher 15:45.
2 Goldeneye: f. 15:45.

Mick Cunningham

Witney Lake: 9th March

Witney Lake
Cattle Egret: Individual still in the horse paddock to the West of site. 15:25.

Glen Pascoe

Otmoor rspb 9th March

White-fronted Goose 4 on Ashgrave 11:42 

(per Jacek). 

Day's Lock Area : Saturday a.m.

Day's Lock/Bishop's Court Farm Scrape

Black-tailed Godwit 8

Shelduck 3

Curlew 1

Cattle Egret 2, around the Alpaca paddocks.

Church Farm Backwaters

Dunlin 1

Blenheim: 9th March

Blenheim
2 Brambling: With Chaffinch above benches just to the right inside the town gate. SP441167. 11:51.

Colm O Caomhanaigh

Chipping Norton: 9th March

Chipping Norton
2 Siskin: ad pair. In top of Ash trees in The Leys. 07:45.

Steve Akers

Port Meadow 9th March

Great white  Egret, 

1 Redshank, 

a rh Goosander, 

male and female Peregrine, 

6 Shelduck

No sign of any Black-tailed Godwit 

(Per Phil Barnett).

Weston on the green south: 9th March

Weston on the green south
3 Stonechat: SP527176. 08:42.

David Williams

Port Meadow: 8th March

 (Probable) Siberian Chiffchaff today near Burgess field gate. Ringed on right leg with silver ring. Bird unfortunately not calling for confirmation - anyone who knows please confirm!

Radley GP: 8th March

Cattle Egret 2 on small island until c10:00

(per Wayne Bull).

Red-crested Pochard: drk. On Thrupp Lake. 18:00.
Egyptian Goose 18:00.
2 Oystercatcher: pair. 18:00.

Ian Elkins

Otmoor rspb 8th March

Hen Harrier r/t flew over Big Otmoor 17:13

Black-tailed Godwit 51 over Flood Field 12:05

Bittern

Marsh Harrier 

(per Pete Roby et al)

Peep-o-Day Lane

Cattle Egret - 3 including one in summer plumage. 

Green Sandpiper 

Snipe - 3 

Bicester Wetlands Reserve 8th March

Cattle Egret this morning - was feeding on pool to right of entrance road, just before stream & reserve.

Little Egret 2

(per JFT)

Key holder reserve.

Courtesy of Nick Truby.