Otmoor 23rd October

Merlin (f)

Peregrine(f)

Sprawk

Jack Snipe (pil)

43 Golden Plover

100+Lapwing

2 Little Egret

1+Water Rail

180+Fieldfare

4+Cetti's

2 Tree Sparrow (rep)

More info, pictures, plus the complete weekend round up on the superb Otmoor Blog http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding

Farmoor (2:30-5pm)

GC Grebe - 72 (no sign of RN Grebe)
"Aythya" hybrid - male still
Goldeneye - 4

Blenheim (Combe Gate) 13:30

Mandarin - approx 18 mainly drakes
Nuthatch - 2
Marsh Tit - 1

23rd October

Yellow legs still on the Meadow at Midday + Jack Snipe.
No sign of the Red necked Grebe at Farmoor today.

"Twitchers: A very British Obsession"

Message from Garry Bagnell which may be of interest to a few.

BBC4 programme "Twitchers: A very British Obsession" will be shown on Monday 1st November 2010 at 9pm to 10pm. This date & time WILL not change, the details have gone to the Radio Times and more importantly the Daily Express article has got the correct date and time etc.

Lapland Bunting.

Lapland Bunting yesterday flew south over Churn.
(per Roger Wyatt)

Stanlake Common 22nd October

1 Little Egret
1 Red Crested Pochard
2 Missle Thrush
60+ Fieldfare
6+ Redwing
1 Blackcap
Kingfisher
2 Bullfinch

per Keith Clack.

Farmoor 22nd October

Red-necked Grebe 1
Goldeneye 5
Rock Pipit 2
Long-tailed Tit 29
Cetti's 2

Still on F2 at 17:25

Nice 1 Dai.

Badger.

Sonning Eye GP

Mandarin - 1m 2f
Water Rail - calling

Port Meadow (Oct 22nd 1-2pm)

As well as the Lesser Yellowlegs mentioned earlier

Golden Plover - 400
Dunlin - 4
Ruff - 2

Large numbers of Wigeon and Teal with some Shovelar.

The meadow is looking good, keep checking those ducks and goldies!

Eynsham Oct 22nd (afternoon)

Merlin - 1 male
Tree Sparrow - 5+
Yellowhammer - 3

Red Necked Grebe Farmoor F2

currently
Per Badger

Witney 22nd October - Dipper not dipped!

Finally caught up with the Dipper today. Present from 10.30 - 10.45 at least.

Lesser legs 22nd October

Now in to its second week the Lesser Yellow-legs is still on the Meadow
this afternoon at 13:10 (per Dave Lowe).

Port Meadow 21st October 3:30pm

Lesser Yellow-legs
2 Ruff
1 Redshank
2 Dunlin
100+ Golden Plover
Red Kite
3 Fieldfare
(per Jon Prowse)

Farmoor 21st October

Shelduck 1
Greenshank 1
Redshank 1
Dunlin 1
Jack Snipe 3
Red Kite 1
Siskin 5

Cholsey, 21st Oct

5 Siskin
50+ Goldfinch
2+ Jay
1 Chiffchaff
5 Buzzard
8 Red Kite
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Green Woodpecker
8 Skylark
18 Grey Partridge
4 Meadow Pipit
2 Yellowhammer
2 Reed Bunting
1 Grey Heron
14 Lesser Black backs
88 Black-headed Gull
fem Common Darter

Radley Gravel Pits 21st October

Wigeon,Teal,Gadwall,Shoveler,Pochard,Tufted duck.
3 Buzzard
1 Red kite
28 lapwing
1 Snipe
1 Green Sandpiper
2 Common Gull
1 Grt blk backed Gull
6 Skylark
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Cetti's Warbler
5 Siskin

2 Common darter. 1 Small Copper.

Lesser Legs still 21st October

Still on Port Meadow at 1:49p.m (per R.B.A)

Lesser Yellowlegs on Port Meadow

The Lesser Yellowlegs was associating with a Ruff and first seen in the area known as South Tail before moving north along East Shore around 3pm.

There were 2 Ruff present

Port Meadow 20th October: Lesser Yellowlegs still

1 lesser yellowlegs
1 or 2 ruff
1 redshank
4 dunlin
12 snipe
lots of golden plover

per Steve Roby

Gargany at 1066

Gargany with about 100 Teal at 1066 this afternoon.

Whinchat still on Otmoor today near 1st screen.

Port Meadow Tuesday 19th October: Lesser Yellowlegs still

The lesser yellowlegs showed well on the Meadow all day.

Also
1 ruff,
1 redshank
3 dunlin
c. 300 golden plover
1 common gull


Gnome

Lesser Yellow-legs still this P.M 18th Oct

Lesser legs back on Port Meadow at 17:14 (per Gnome)

Also
1 ruff
2 leucistic egyptian geese
c. 400 golden plover
3 dunlin

Gnome

Radley Gravel Pits,18th October.Whooper Swan!

Usual ducks:-
Wigeon,Teal,Gadwall,Shoveler,Pochard,Tufted duck.
1 WHOOPER SWAN
4 Red Kite
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Red legged partridge
3 Snipe
3 Green Sandpiper
11 Skylark
12 Meadow Pipit
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Cetti's Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
4 Fieldfare
3 Redwing
5 Siskin
1 Lesser Redpoll

Whooper swan, Thrupp Lake, Radley

Perhaps the Otmoor bird, it's presently on Thrupp lake at Radley, found by Wayne Bull and Ian Smith. It's currently behind the islands so perhaps best viewed from the road.

per Badger (still there at 18:00 per the Wickster).

Port Meadow 18th October: Lesser Yellowlegs fly-over

The yellowlegs flew low over the floods at 08:55 before circling off high to the South so it's still kicking around the county somewhere. I've also had more news on the sighting yesterday evening which appears to be genuine.

Also
3 dunlin
c. 100 golden plover
good numbers of wigeon, teal and shoveler

Appleford 17th October

1 Med Gull (1st W)
15+ Skylark

Cassington G.P's 17th October

2 Green Sand
4 Snipe
1 Raven
1 Kingfisher

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