Lap Bunt just outside Henley

Bird Guides reporting: "One with skylarks at Rememen Hill at 17:30, S of A4130". I presume they mean Remenham Hill which unfortunately is actually in Berkshire :-(

Balscote Quarry Sunday am

Tree Sparrow 5+

Bullfinch 2

Yellowhammer 20+

Linnet 15+

Meadow Pipit 10+

Skylark 30+

Meadow Pipit (c) Mike Shurmer

Port Meadow 15.00 - 16.15

Ruff 1

Dunlin 3

Redshank 1

Snipe 10+

I did not see the 'legs and assumed it had gone, but see comment to this post.

Otmoor Sunday Morning 7 - 11am

1 Whinchat
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Chetties
c20 Lapwing
c30 Golden Plover
1 Kingfisher
1 Green Sand
65 Fieldfare

Ring Ouzel at Days Lock

One reported on OOS (BJWy)
No Sign at 15:40 (Badger)

Muswell Hill

Redwing 14+ over
Skylark 2 over
Meadow Pipit 2 over
Treecreeper
Bullfinch 5
G S Woodpecker 2
Sparrowhawk

Witney 17th October

Dipper still this morning 08:20 at least (per Dave Lowe).
+ Jack Snipe again at Farmoor this morning.

Yellowlegs departed?

Bird Guides reporting at 08:05 a.m.: "juvenile still then flew north"

Portmeadow & Dix Pit, Sat 16 October

Portmeadow:
Lesser Yellowlegs to 11.30 at least
Lesser Whitethroat in the hedge between the Meadow and the allotments

Dix:
1 Brambling over
1 Pintail
1 Goldeneye
1 YL Gull

PORT MEADOW
Up to 1100 am

Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Common Redshank 1
Little Stint 1
Dunlin 3
Golden Plover 27
Ruff 1
Common Snipe 3
Lapwing 35
Wigeon 454
Shoveler 7
Teal n/c
ChiffChaff 1

Port Meadow 'legs still

It's still there this morning (per Bird Guides)
Still there at midday (per R.B.A) + 2 Little Stints.
Still there this evening (per Bird Guides)

A proper SLR photo of the bird at last courtesy of Steve Burch

Winter Thrushes

Approx 50 Redwing & Fieldfare NW over Didcot today.

Radley 16th October

40 Wigeon
54 Shoveler
1 Green Sand
c6 Redpoll (over)

(per Ewan U)

Otmoor RSPB 16th Oct

Tree Sparrow J Taylor (photos by Badger)
(Also seen by Pete Barker, Jason Coppock, Pete Roby and Jon Uren)

23 Golden Plover
1 Whinchat
2 Stonechat
1 Chiffy
1 Marsh Tit

Farmoor 15th Oct

Jack Snipe
Lesser Redpoll
2 Rock Pipit
Raven
Barn Owl

(per Dai J)

Otmoor (evening) 15th October.

2 Sparrowhawk
2 Water rail (calling)
5 Snipe
1 Green sandpiper
14 Meadow pipit
3000+ Starling (going to roost)
4 Cetti's warbler
1 Chiffchaff
1 Whinchat
2 Stonechat
2 Yellowhammer

Dead water shrew on path by 1st screen.

Grove Airfield 15 Oct

Some big numbers this lunchtime...

200+ Yellowhammer
c100 Skylark
c40 Meadow Pipit
c15 Reed Bunting
2 Fieldfare
10 Redwing
1 Brambling
3 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaff

Lesser Legs 15th October

Still there at 14:10 (per Vic Wren).
Still there at 15:25 (per R.B.A)

Still there this evening.



Some more video footage of it today on the floods (c) Adam Hartley

Well done Adam!!

cracking find Adam, and thanks for getting the news out. cheers.

Bird still showing well at 08:10 at least along with Little Stint, Ruff, Dunlin(2) and Redshank, can be mobile around the flood though.

The lesser yellowlegs this morning. More photos on Port Meadow Birding. (c) Adam Hartley

Witney Dipper

Showing well on the river just below the weir (per Lee Evans)

Lesser-legs 15th October

Lesser Yellowlegs still there this morning 7:15a.m
per JT.



Some video footage taken last night (c) Adam Hartley

Port Meadow 14th October: Lesser Yellowlegs!

1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS
1 ruff
1 redshank
1 little stint
1 dunlin

The yellowlegs was still on the floods at dusk and looked like it was going to roost there. Worth a visit at first light tomorrow.

(c) Adam Hartley. More photos and some video on the Port Meadow Birding blog

Farmoor Reservoir 13th October

Goldeneye 2
Rock Pipit 1
Siskin 1
Swallow 3
Cetti's Warbler 1
Dunlin 1

Hen Harrier (ringtail) late morning (NJH)
2 Med Gull (1stW) (NJH)
Further info at: Farmoor Birding

Port Meadow 13th October

No sign of little stint
1 peregrine
1 ruff
1 redshank
1 dunlin

Whooper Swan

Unringed bird flew east at c12p.m

Otmoor 13th October Whooper Swan

Apparently (via Peter Barker) there's a whooper swan on the Ashgrave scrapes in front of the new hide presently (found by Paul Greenway).

Port Meadow 12th October

1 little stint
1 ruff
1 redshank
1 dunlin
c. 40 golden plover

(c) Adam Hartley

Radley Gravel Pits 12th October

Wigeon
Teal
Shoveler
Gadwall
6 Pochard
1 Water rail (calling)
25 Lapwing
1 Ruff
1 Snipe
3 Green sandpiper
1 Common gull (1stw)
1 Stock dove
2 Kingfisher
6 Skylark
8 Meadow pipit
1 Grey wagtail
1 Raven
4 Chiffchaff
80+ Redwing
1 Brambling (over calling)
1 Yellowhammer

Radley Kingfisher (c) Jason Coppock

Port Meadow 11th October: Little Stint

1 little stint
1 ruff
1 redshank
1 dunlin
c. 50 golden plover
wigeon
teal
shoveler

The Little Stint (c) Adam Hartley

Dix Pit 10 October

5 Red crested Pochard
1 Yellow legged Gull

Skutchhamer Knob (nr E.Hendred) 10th Oct

60+Redwing over

3 Corn Bunting

20+Yellowhammer

30+Meadow Pipit

25+Skylark

32 Red-legged Partridge

c20 Grey Partridge

1 Wheatear

2 Swallow

1 Chiffy

Muswell Hill 10th October

Redwing 70+ over
Lapwing 15 over
Skylark 2 over
Chiffy
G S Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Jay 2

Blenheim Palace (Combe Gate)

~50 Redwings flying S

2 Marsh Tit

Nuthatch

Drake Mandarin on pools

Farmoor Oct 10th (07:30-10am)

Dunlin - 1
Redwing - 20(n)
Yellowhammer - 1 (nw)
Swallow - 5 (e)
Chiffchaff - 2
Skylark - light passage (n)

3 siskin flying over Witney early Sunday morning

Port Meadow Oct 9th (15:15 - 17:30)

Rock Pipit - 1
Golden Plover - 71
Wigeon - 36
Teal - 45
Dunlin - 3
Redshank - 1
Ruff - 2 Juvs
ChiffChaff - 2
Yellow Wagtail - 1

Photo (c) Adam Hartley

Port Meadow

1 Ruff
1 Redshank
2 Dunlin
130 Golden Plover
1 Rock Pipit

Otmoor last night
1 Hobby
5 Stonechat
2 Green Sands
2 Little Egret
1 Curlew
1 Yellow wag
1200 Starlings in roost

Sydlings Copse 9th Oct

1 Buzzard
3 Red kite
1 Golden Plover (over)
300+ Woodpigeon
6 Swallow
15 Redwing
1 Marsh tit
1 Raven
3 Siskin

Saturday 9th Redwing

At least one redwing flew over the Jericho area this morning.

Redwings Banbury

Got my first Redwings of this Autumn over Banbury today (Friday). Several through this evening and into the night.

Port Meadow Friday 8th October

2 ruff
1 redshank
1 dunlin
1 egyptian goose (leucistic)
1 yellow wagtail
wigeon
teal
2 shoveler

Witney 06 October

Dipper 1
Grey Wagtail 1

Ewan Urquhart

Photo (c) Pete Styles

Farmoor 7th Oct

3 Rock Pipit
+ Aythya hybrid

Dave Lowe.

Radley Gravel Pits 7th October

Wigeon
Teal
Gadwall
Shoveler
4 Little grebe
31 Mute swan
1 Hobby (Juv)
4 Buzzard
2 Red-legged partridge
18 Lapwing
3 Green Sandpiper
1 Stock Dove
3 Chiffchaff

Otmoor Thursday 7th October

2 whinchat
2 stonechat
3 hobbies
1 little egret
1 sparrow hawk
1 red kite

Photo (c) Pete Styles

Port Meadow 6th October

2 dunlin
2 ruff
1 yellow wagtail
c. 80 golden plover

A ruff on the floods (c) Adam Hartley

Farmoor 5th Oct 5p.m

Black Tern
Rock Pipit
Common Sand

No sign of Stint along causeway
(per Dave Lowe)

Port Meadow 5th October

6 dunlin
1 little egret
75+ golden plover

Witney 4th Oct

No sign of the Dipper between 17:20 - 18:00. Best in the mornings?

Radley 4th Oct

c22 Wigeon

c20 Shoveler

c25 Teal

c20 Gadwall

28 Lapwing

2 Kingfisher

6 Chiff-chaff

Port Meadow 4th October

3 ruff
6 dunlin
35+ golden plover

Witney Dipper 4th October

Dipper showing well this morning at the weir between 9-30 and 11-00 (per Pete Styles)

(c) Pete Styles

Otmoor Sunday afternoon

1 Hobby
2 Ravens in the Closes.
2 Green Sands
Usual Buzzard, Red Kite, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk
25 Wigeon
30+ Teal

Dix Pit, 3rd October

1 Pintail
1 Goldeneye
1 Sand Martin
2 House Martin
15 Swallow
1 Chiffy

Farmoor 3rd October

Rock Pipit 3
Pintail 1

Oxfordshire County Life-list Totals.

Could everyone please send any amendments to their county list
e.g the Dipper and Baikal Teal to Justin at
jt.birder323@btinternet.com Cheers.

Witney 3rd Oct

Dipper showing c9.45a.m by the weir per Pete Barker.

...and still showing now 12:36 at the weir as Ian is departing.

...And still showing at the Weir 15.30 per the Gnome.

Dipper record shot using point & shoot camera (c) Adam Hartley

Standlake, 2 October

3 Little Egret - pit 60
1 Redpoll - over Shifford Lane
120 Wigeon
80 Gadwall
10 Chiffchaff
1 Blackcap
10 Swallow

"Standlake" is my name for the area S of the A415 comprising pits 27-29, 38 and 60. Pit 60 is the reserve also called Standlake Common NR. Standlake Common is also an old name still used by some for this general area

Muswell Hill 2nd October

2 Ravens

30+ Meadow Pipit

10+ Swallow

1 Chiffy

Witney Dipper

Dipper was feeding at the second weir around 4:15 today.
As the stepping stones are under water I crossed the lasher and walked through the undergrowth to the second weir. It's not much of a track but you can get through.

It was hidden underneath the bush to the right of the weir when I arrived and could easily be overlooked here.

Farmoor 2nd October

Pete Styles found a whinchat in Buckthorn Meadow today (c) Pete Styles

Crawley Weir 2nd Oct 1:15pm to 2:30pm - Dipper sighted

The Dipper was present at the weir when I arrived at 1:15pm giving great views on the right hand side of the channel by the rocks. It then ventured into the centre of the channel to feed by the rocks where it remained on and off until 2:30pm despite being disturbed several times by horses in the water. It hadn't returned by 3:00pm when I left.

Dipper having a stretch © Nigel Forrow

Dipper on the rocks © Nigel Forrow

Farmoor 2nd October

From Stephen Bell:

1 Rock Pipit

1 Northern Wheatear

1 Dunlin

1 Common Sandpiper

Also barnacle & bar-headed geese.

Farmoor plastic (c) Stephen Bell

Dipper Showing Now!

Dipper is showing now (13:45) at the weir per Nigel Forrow

Port Meadow Saturday 2nd October

3 ruff
11+ dunlin
6 ringed plover
40+ snipe

Ringed plover on the Meadow (c) Adam Hartley

Witney Dipper

No sign of the Dipper yesterday from 4:30pm

The water level is rising fast and the stepping stones are now under water. Still looks good at the lasher but more difficult to get to the other area now.

Farmoor 1st October

Snow Geese 39
Hobby 1

Port Meadow Friday 1st October

3 ruff
6 ringed plover
10+ dunlin
c. 250 assorted ducks (wigeon, teal & shoveler)







Two of the ruff on the floods (c) Adam Hartley

Witney Dipper

Dipper seen this morning between 10:00 - 10:30 when it was spooked by horses going into the stream below the weir.
Then flew off downstream.
Paul

Witney Dipper !

If you are not having any luck in catching up with the dipper at the weir it might
be worth going down stream about 200 metres to cross over it at the stepping stones and metal cage and walking straight ahead towards the sluice gates.It was seen there on sunday feeding quite happily!

Crawley Weir 30th Sept 12:30pm to 4:30pm

No sighting of the Dipper again. I did get a closer view of a single Grey Wagtail and the local Kingfisher put in a couple of appearances allowing a distant partly obscured shot.

Kingfisher © Nigel Forrow

Grey Wagtail © Nigel Forrow

Farmoor 30th September 6-7p.m

2 Rock Pipit on Causeway,

1 Ad Med Gull (NJH)

1 Curlew (NJH)

1 Wheatear a.m (DJ)

Dipper Apology and A Theory

Sorry about my earlier erroneous posting of Martin Brandon's sighting of the dipper which was of course yesterday and not today.

If I might extrapolate three days of dipper data into a theory: it seems that when it's not around it's not seen all day (e.g. today and Tuesday). On the other hand when it is around (yesterday) it's around for several hours (9-12:30 at least). It may therefore be if someone sees it early in the morning then it's worth rushing down there in the hope that it stays around. As I say, it's a bit of an extrapolation but perhaps worth bearing in mind.

Adam

Port Meadow 30th September: Rock Pipit

Late afternoon:
1 rock pipit (this is a good bird for the Meadow, last was seen autumn '07)
3 yellow wagtail
3 ruff
11 dunlin
6 ringed plover
c. 100 golden plover

What Dipper

No sign of the Dipper from dawn until 4ish. I didn't give it that long but together with coverage of others.

Radley Gravel Pits 30th Sept

Little grebe 9
Wigeon
Teal
Shoveler
Gadwall
Pochard
Red kite 3
Buzzard 14
Hobby 1 (Juv)
Peregrine falcon 1
Lapwing 300+
Snipe 4
Greenshank 1
Green sandpiper 2
Skylark 9
Chiffchaff 5

Still lots of common darter around,also Migrant hawker,Small copper.

Blog Header Image

I thought that it would be nice periodically to change the header image in order to add a little variety to the blog. I'd originally been thinking of having shots of different birding sites (hence the Port Meadow cows) but Jason has come up with the very witty banner above. Feel free to send in photos, either serious or silly for consideration for the header and we'll change it every couple of weeks or so.

Adam

Farmoor 29th September

Common Tern 3
Turnstone 3

Port Meadow Wednesday 29th September

15 ringed-plover
9+ dunlin
2 ruff
1 egyptian goose
20+ snipe

Witney 29thSept

copyright Roger Wyatt.

Dipper 11.30 to at least 12.30. Showing at the weir per Steve Roby.

Farmoor 29th Sept a.m

1 Grey Plover,
1 Turnstone,
2 Greenshank,
6 Dunlin,
Rock Pipit,
All fly-over only.

(per the Wickster)

Radley Gravel Pits 28th Sept

Wigeon
Teal
Shoveler
Gadwall
1 Hobby (Juv)
1 Sparrowhawk
80+ Lapwing
2 Snipe
1 Greenshank
1 Green sandpiper
7 Sand martin
2 Skylark
14 Meadow pipit
2 Grey wagtail
7 Chiffchaff
3 Siskin

Dipper Dipping!!!

No sign of the Dipper today from 09:30 till 15:30.

Also concur with previous comment regarding parking. I got a warning note from the police. They suggest parking on side roads.

Cheers

Paul

Crawley Weir 28th Sept - Dipper not seen 11:45am to 4pm

Grey Wagtail at Crawley Weir © Nigel Forrow

No Dipper

3 Grey Wagtails

1 Kingfisher

1 polite Police notice (no parking ticket):

"Please refrain from parking on the pavement at this location. We have received complaints regarding obstructions caused by vehicles. Future obstruction may result in a fixed penalty ticket."

As per Adam's & Paul's messages, advise not parking close to the footpath to the weir by 55 Crawley Road.

Dipper Dipping & Careful Parking

Spent an hour down at Witney dipping the dipper; one photographer down there had been there over three hours without luck.

Please note, residents have been complaining about birders parking by the start of the footpath on Crawley Road and even called out the police this lunch-time. It is suggested that people park a short distance away where the road is wider and there are pavements on both sides of the road.

Port Meadow Tuesday 28th September: barwit still

1 bar-tailed godwit
3 ruff
8 dunlin
25+ snipe
1 or 2 yellow wagtails
c. 100 wigeon
c. 50 teal


Some video of the barwit (taken yesterday) (c) Adam Hartley

Crawley Weir 27th Sept - Dipper not seen 11am to 1pm

Just a flying lunchtime visit for 30 mins. One other hopeful chap was already at the weir and had been there for over an hour when I arrived. No sighting of the Dipper during that time around immediate area of the weir.

Farmoor 27th September

Bar-tailed Godwit 8 early morning.

27th September Port Meadow - Bar-tailed Godwit

At midday on Port Meadow today:
1 bar-tailed godwit
1 ruff
7 dunlin
30+ snipe
98 golden plover
c. 100 wigeon
30+ teal

The barwit on the floods (c) Adam Hartley

Grimsbury reservoir - 27/09/10

1 Wheatear downed in the rain and 1 Willow tit across the river from the woodland. Also 2 House martin, 2 Swallow, 5 Grey wagtail and at least 4 Chiffchaff.

3 Dunlin - Grimsbury reservoir

3 juvenile Dunlin this morning at Grimsbury reservoir. Still roosting when I found them after circa 5 minutes they stretched, preened and flew south at 08:18.
Also seen were 5 Barn Swallow, 5 + Chiffchaff and 24 Meadow pipit (only 4 obviously migrating).

Witney 26th Sept

Dipper still there this morning 9.03a.m copyright Nic Hallam.

(still 12.45 and showing well near the Sluice gates per Wayne Bull)

Witney 25th Sept

The Dipper was again seen briefly this morning near the weir c10a.m
(per Stuart Thomson)

Otmoor 25th Sept

Gannet (juv) was seen flying over the Moor
c11.45a.m heading N/W
7 Were seen in Bucks at 2.45p.m

Dipper at Crawley Weir

Dipper still present at 12.10 - 12.40pm at small weir and then again at sluice nearer houses at 4.15pm

12.10pm sighting Justin Taylor

4.15pm Jason Coppock and Tom Wickens

Witney 24th Sept

Copyright Nic Hallam.

Further to Adams post.
Dipper along the Windrush
at c9a.m also photographed
by Roger Wyatt.
Otter seen closer to
Witney centre (near Sainsbury's)
and photographed by Nic Hallam

yesterday.

Dipper Success!

Roger Wyatt has just texted that he's seen the dipper at the weir off the Crawley Road at Witney

Farmoor 23rd September Little Stint

Bird Guides reported a little stint and 3 black terns at Farmoor mid afternoon. I went down and managed to locate the stint along the causeway with 5 dunlin. There were also now 4 black terns in the middle of F2.

Also:
1 common sandpiper
2 yellow wagtails

The little stint this afternoon (c) Adam Hartley

No Sign of Dipper

No sign of the Dipper this morning between 7.15 and 8.45am. Area looks very good for it though!!

Kingfisher 1
Grey Wagtail 1

JT.

Dipper Seen Yesterday

Pete Styles reports that he met the chap (Derek) who's been seeing the dipper and that it was seen yesterday morning at 8:30 a.m. on the weir. Pete failed to see it during the three hours that he was there.