Radley Gravel Pits 23rd August

1 Little Egret
7 Little Grebe
8 Teal
22 Lapwing

W.P.Bull

Aston Rowant: Aston Rowant NNR: 23rd August

Aston Rowant: Aston Rowant NNR
5 Spotted Flycatcher: family party.
Redstart: juv.

Neil Hammatt

Port Meadow: 23rd August

Port Meadow
7 Black-tailed Godwit: 1 ad 6 juv. Adult is ringed.
2 Ruff
3 Greenshank
Redshank
9 Ringed Plover
3 Little Ringed Plover
Green Sandpiper
6 Common Sandpiper

Adam Hartley

Farmoor Roost

Adult Caspian Gull showed pretty well on F.1 from 20.19.....
2 Mediterranean Gulls ( Ad & 1stw).

Otmoor 22nd August

Ringtail Harrier reported on RSPB Otmoor today.

1066 22nd August

Garganey ecl drake



Lark Hill 22nd August

2 Whinchat
4 Redstart
2 Wheatear
3 Swift

Rushy Common 22nd August

Peregrine
Hobby (juv)
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Sand Martin 30+

(per Clackers)

Port Meadow: 22nd August

Port Meadow
7 Black-tailed Godwit: 1 adult (ringed) + 6 juvs.
2 Greenshank: Didn't see the 3rd one but it was probably still around.
Redshank
9 Ringed Plover
3 Little Ringed Plover
6 Common Sandpiper: Minimum count.

Adam Hartley

Otmoor. A.M. 22nd. August.

12 L. Egret
5 Swift
2 Raven
100+ Lapwing
3 Kestrel.

Juv Yellow-legged Gull Farmoor (c) B.B

The Paranoid Birder

ID pointers courtesy of Lew

Port Meadow: 21st August

Port Meadow
3 Greenshank
2 Redshank
5 Ringed Plover
3 Little Ringed Plover
9 Common Sandpiper
Golden Plover

Adam Hartley

Otmoor 21st August

Green Sandpiper (1st sn)
Peregrine (Ashgrave)
Hobby 2-3
Little Egret 8

(per Terry Tossel)

Lark Hill, Wantage 21st August

4 Whinchat
2 Wheatear
White Wagtail
3 Yellow Wagtail
Hobby
4 Grey Partridge
Corn Bunting
Willow Warbler

Port Meadow

4 Black-tailed Godwit
3 Greenshank
11 Common Sandpiper
5 Ringed Plover
3 Little-ringed Plover
1 Redshank
1 Snipe
1 Swift
11 Little Egret
Hirundine movement

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill: 20th August

3 Redstart: one with the Spot Flys, one in the western hedge and another on the north side.
6 Spotted Flycatcher: near manor house.
Willow Warbler

Paul Chandler

Cholsey Wildlife

19 August Kidlington

2 swifts over the north of the village during the evening.

Port Meadow: 18th August

Port Meadow
16 Black-tailed Godwit

Cherry Robertson

Grimsbury Reservoir: 19th August

Grimsbury Reservoir
3 Little Ringed Plover: juvs.
3 Common Sandpiper
Kingfisher

Gareth Blockley

Farmoor 19th August

1 Sandwich Tern a.m
3 Common Tern
4 Common Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
2 Redstart
1 Sandwich Tern p.m

Terry Sherlock Dave Daniels and Dai.

2 Arctic Tern
1 Med Gull (1st S)

(per Ewan)

Rare dragonfly alert!

Crookham and Greenham Common, only just to the south of the County yesterday (18th) had  the following rare species:

Red-veined Darter (4-5 terneral males)
Lesser Emperor 1
Small-red eyed Damselfly 10+

So those looking for dragons and damsels in Oxon should keep an eye out for these!

Of the above, there are fully document records of Lesser Emperor in Oxon, most recently from Pit 60 and Radley Lakes. Shellingford Pit even had one in 2008. They are quite easy to identify - small dark hawkers with a vivid blue "rump".

Red-veined Darters are more elusive, but there are some not well documented records from Otmoor in 2006 and Radley in 2007 so you never know! Incidentally, the last time any were seen at Crookham was also in 2007. Immature males are not that easy to identify but the blue lower half to the eyes is diagnostic. Mature males are vivid red - brighter than Common Darters and hence stand out more.

SRE Damsels do occur regularly at a small number of sites in Oxon, with a few records this year from Shellingford Pit and Didcot.

 Immature male Red-veined Darter at Crookham Common Berks (c) Stephen Burch

Small red eyed Damselfly at Crookham Common Berks (c) Stephen Burch

For more info on dragonflies in Oxon, see http://www.stephenburch.com/dragonflies/OxonDragons.htm

Whitecross Green Wood 19th August

1 Crossbill
 W.P.Bull

Farmoor Res 18th August

Further to Adam's post there were also

Kingfisher 3
Canada Goose 537
Greylag Goose 353
Hybrids of the above two species 3
Sparrowhawk 1 f
Red Kite 1

Also the cafe in the yacht club is available for refreshments to birders when open.They do tea, bacon, sausage and cheese baps and also more substantial meals at very reasonable prices. All they ask is that you donate £1.00 to the RNLI above the cost of your purchases. The very nice lady I spoke to said she does not bite, would welcome our presence and also does breakfasts when they are open for early birds!

Burnwood Silver washed Fritillery (2) Purple Hairstreak

Rushy Common 18th August

Red-crested Pochard 10
Egyptian Goose 2
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
  


Farmoor 18th August

The collective sightings of Ewan, Gnome, the Wickster & Dave Daniels:

3 Common Tern
4 Common Sandpiper
a few Yellow Wagtails
1 Med. gull
1 Egyptian Goose
1 Wheatear moulting into 1w
1 Common Redstart to the west of F2.
A vast hoard of geese along the causeway

Also a couple of Grass Snakes, one of which needed to be rescued when it got trapped in a concrete bunker.

Port Meadow: 18th August

Port Meadow
Dunlin
14 Snipe
3 Greenshank
6 Ringed Plover
8 Common Sandpiper

Sydney Penner

Farmoor 17th Aug

2 ad Little Terns at 1400hrs for 5mins on F2. 1 Black Tern, and an interesting looking Common Tern showing signs of injury on right wing.

Black Tern

Common Tern

Common Tern

Turnstone

Rushy Common :16th August.

Knot (juv)
In vegetation on shoreline to left of the hide.

Lollingdon Hill 17th August

Redstart again on the north side of the hill (per Paul Chandler)

More at Cholsey Wildlife

Farmoor 17th August

1 Sandwich Tern
1 Arctic Tern (juv)
5 Common Tern
2 Turnstone
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
1 Redstart

 Egyptian Goose

The Insomniac Birder

Port Meadow: 17th August

3 Greenshank
6 Ringed Plover
6 Common Sandpiper
Golden Plover
Redshank
Dunlin

John Edwards

Port Meadow: 16th August

Port Meadow
Black-tailed Godwit
3 Greenshank
Redshank
6 Ringed Plover
Dunlin
8 Common Sandpiper
Yellow Wagtail

Adam Hartley

14 Snipe: Feeding near the entrance to Burgess Field.

Sydney Penner

Ringed Plover (c) Rober Wyatt

More at Port Meadow Birding

Grimsbury Reservoir 2012 list hits 101!

Some of you may recall I set a target at the beginning of the year to get a Grimsbury Reservoir year list of over 100 species. Well today was the day! The year list stands at 101 today with Yellow-legged Gull, Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover added to the list. Personally I've only seen 98 species so I'm hoping to get over 100 myself. Yellow-legged Gull could be a patch first (and is certainly a patch tick for me) and Little Ringed Plover is a patch tick for me.

Happy birding!
Gareth

Grimsbury Reservoir: 16th August

Grimsbury Reservoir
Yellow-legged Gull: adult or near adult.
4 Little Ringed Plover: juv.
Ringed Plover: ad.
Common Sandpiper
2 Yellow Wagtail

Gareth Blockley

Linky Down: 16th August

Linky Down
Redstart: fem.

Peter Law

Radley 16th August

3 probable Wood Sandpipers at Radley on the small ash pit this afternoon

per John Hilsdon

Otmoor.A.M. 16th. August.

9 L. Egret
6+  Swift
1 Sparrowhawk (F)
1 Cuckoo (J)  Noke End.

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill: 16th August

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
Redstart: north side.

Paul Chandler

Port Meadow: 15th August

Port Meadow
3 Greenshank
Redshank
Dunlin
6 Ringed Plover
5 Common Sandpiper

Adam Hartley

Farmoor Res 15 August 2012

Between 1730-1900hrs

Turnstone 2 juveniles
Common Sandpiper 2
Mediterranean Gull 1 juvenile
Common Tern 5
Common Swift 16
Yellow Wagtail 7

Farmoor 7.10 - 10.50

Easterly blowing throughout.

1 Scaup: F1 very probable f/imm flew to NW but not relocated.
2 Med Gull: 2y (IDS) and juv on causeway (Terry Sherlock).
4 Common San
1+ Ringed Plover: (heard only)
2 Yellow Wagtail: F2
2 Grey Wagtail
8 Sandwich Tern: sighted in SW corner at 9:15 a.m. immediately before spiralling up high to SW. Terry thought he had heard one earlier near Pumping Station.
2 Turnstone (Dai John).
Swift building to c35 with Sand, House and Swallow.

Turnstone (c) Mike Flemming

Wantage 15th August

Great "House Martin pass" between ad & juv Hobbies over Adkin Way; flock of 13 Mistle Thrush on the airfield.

Abingdon midday Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher in hedgerow with many vertical dead thin branches, around half mile upstream of Abingdon Lock on left bank. Map link on 'hedgerow' word.

Spot Flys in Lollingdon

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill: 14th August

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
6 Spotted Flycatcher: 500m north of hill.
Spotted Flycatcher: on north side of hill.
3 Willow Warbler: field north of hill.
Yellow Wagtail: flew north.
Hobby: catching dragonflies north of hill.

Paul Chandler

Port Meadow: 14th August

Port Meadow
8 Ringed Plover
5 Common Sandpiper
3 Greenshank
Redshank
Dunlin

Adam Hartley

Port Meadow: 13th August

Port Meadow
3 Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
6 Common Sandpiper
2 Ringed Plover
Dunlin

Adam Hartley

Farmoor 13th August

Black Tern (c) Terry Sherlock

F2 Black Tern 73 minimum at 13:00 and 59 min at 14:20 Swift 10 minimum but possible light passage ? Turnstone 1 F1 Common Sandpiper 4 Canada Goose 280 min GC Grebe 40 Yellow Wagtail 2 Wheatear 1 Juv Gulls 6 species (no Med)

Juv Med Gull (c) Badger

c100 Black Terns 16:40 (per Dai) Still 50+ Black Tern at 19:45 then flew high S/W
Med Gull (juv) in roost also Turnstone & Ringed Plover a.m (per Dai)

Black Terns (c) Terry Sherlock

More from the Res at The Insomniac Birder

Port Meadow: 12th August

(c) Gnome

3 Greenshank
Redshank
8 Common Sandpiper
2 Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Sanderling
Common Gull: juv.

Adam Hartley

Balscote Quarry 12th August

1 Common Sandpiper

Recorded in the log book within the last week - 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Redstart (fem) trapped and ringed during a ringing session and 3 Barn Owls regularly.

Otmoor RSPB reserve 12th August

Marsh Harrier female/juv. Hunting low over Greenaways. Seen twice between 15:00 and 15:30 HRS. Very dark bird so probably a Juv.
3 Hobby also around.
No waders .

John Edwards

Rushy Common: 12th August

Rushy Common
2 Egyptian Goose
5 Red-crested Pochard: 1f 4juv.
Hobby

Simon Bradfield

Standlake: 12th August

Marsh Harrier 1 imm male, pit 60 bathing along southern shore 12.30 - 13.00 then flew low west towards pit 38
Redstart 1 male, Windrush path E of Langley Lane
Greenshank 1, pit 60
Green Sand 1
Common Tern 16
Little Egret 2

Grimsbury Reservoir: 12th August

Grimsbury Reservoir
Tree Pipit: One over. Flight call heard.
3 Common Sandpiper

Gareth Blockley

Watlington Hill 11th August Silver Spotted Skippers

Port Meadow Saturday 11 August

Peregrine - red plastic ring with letters 'LB'. Does anyone know what that means?
Greenshank 3
Green Sandpiper 1+
Snipe 7
Common Sandpiper 3+
Little Egret

 Little Egret

Peregrine - click here to enlarge

(c) Stephen Burch

Otmoor 11th August

Black-wit in flight courtesy of Pat

2 Black-tailed Godwit: 2nd screen.
Green Sandpiper: 1st screen.
3 Greenshank: 1) 1st screen, 1) 2nd screen, 1) Ashgrave.
40 Snipe: At least 40. Thirty in one flock flying to 1st screen. several
smaller flocks flying around 1st screen area.
4 Redstart possibly 5.

Peter Coombes

Abingdon - Gainsborough Green: 11th August

Abingdon - Gainsborough Green
Raven

Dave Godfrey

Port Meadow: 10th August

Port Meadow
5 Redshank
5 Common Sandpiper
4 Greenshank
3 Green Sandpiper
Dunlin

Adam Hartley

Henley Road GPs: 10th August

Henley Road GPs
Egyptian Goose

Marek Walford

Otmoor.A.M. 10th August.

18 Snipe
1 Whinchat

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill: 10th August

6 Spotted Flycatcher: in garden of manor house.
5 Willow Warbler: in field 500m north of hill.
Redstart: in wooded area on north side.
Grey Partridge
Peregrine
Hobby 3

Paul Chandler

Cholsey Wildlife

Rushy Common 10th August

Marsh Harrier (f/imm m) drifting high west at 10a.m
Egyptian Geese 2
Red-crested Pochard 2+
Raven

(per Jon Prowse)

West Ginge: West Ginge Down: 9th August

West Ginge: West Ginge Down
Spotted Flycatcher

Mark Merritt

Churn: Railway bridge: 9th August

Churn: Railway bridge
Redstart
2 Willow Warbler

Paul Chandler

Radley 9th August 2012

Hobby Food (Unfortunately!)
W.P.Bull

Cholsey: Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve: 9th August

Cholsey: Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve
Grasshopper Warbler
Willow Warbler

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
Redstart: in hedge to the west.
Spotted Flycatcher: in field 500m north of hill.
Willow Warbler: in field 500m north of hill.
Reed Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat

Paul Chandler

Cholsey Wildlife

Kingham 9th August

Whilst emptying my moth trap a Wood Sandpiper calling and flying West over my garden at 0715

Port Meadow: 8th August

Port Meadow
2 Teal
Turnstone
Black-tailed Godwit
4 Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
8 Common Sandpiper: at least.
2 Dunlin
5 Ringed Plover
4 Redshank
6 Snipe

Gareth Blockley

4 Dunlin and only 2 Greenshank a bit later when I visited, other counts the same.

Adam

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill: 8th August

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
Spotted Flycatcher: in the small wood on the north side.

Paul Chandler

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill: 8th August

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
5 Spotted Flycatcher: 500m north of the hill.
Redstart: 500m north of hill.
Willow Warbler: 500m north of hill.
Willow Warbler: on the hill.
Garden Warbler: in the hedgerow to the west.

Cholsey
Hobby

Paul Chandler

Otmoor.A.M. 8th August.

1 Sparrowhawk (juv)
2 Common Tern
1 Raven
1 Cuckoo (juv)
2 Turtle Doves

Farmoor 7th August

8 Ringed Plover
2 Turnstone
2 Dunlin
1 Sanderling
1 Greenshank

The Insomniac Birder

Port Meadow: Aristotle Lane: 7th August

Port Meadow: Aristotle Lane
Marsh Tit: Seen and heard. In railside vegetation with tit flock seen from the bridge.

Port Meadow
Wood Sandpiper: NEGATIVE NEWS - no sign this morning so maybe they left last night? Only a quick look though.
Turnstone
Black-tailed Godwit
3 Greenshank: possibly four.
4 Redshank
8 Ringed Plover
2 Dunlin
7 Common Sandpiper
5 Snipe: Flushed by dogs. 

Gareth Blockley

I can confirm still no sign of Wood Sands this lunch-time though Turnstone still there (usually a rarer bird than Wood Sand on the Meadow!).

Adam

Port Meadow: 6th August

Port Meadow
2 Wood Sandpiper: Flying around calling loudly.
Black-tailed Godwit
3 Greenshank
2 Redshank
3 Green Sandpiper: Approx count.
5 Common Sandpiper: approx count.
4 Dunlin: Approx count.
Mediterranean Gull: juv.

Adam Hartley

Farmoor 5th August

 Egyptian Geese

1 Little Egret
1 Kingfisher
2 Egyptian Goose
1 Wheatear
8 Yellow Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
4 Green Woodpecker
4 Turnstone
3 Ringed Plover
3 Dunlin
1 Redshank
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Snipe
10 Common Sandpiper

 Green Woodpecker

 
Matt Prior and Dai.



The Insomniac Birder

Port Meadow 5th August

2   Wood Sand
3+ Green Sand
8+ Common Sand
1   Turnstone
5   Greenshank (per R.C Watts)
3   Redshank
4   Dunlin
11 Ringed Plover
1+ Golden Plover (per Clackers)
20 Snipe
1   Yellow Wagtail (juv)

Port Meadow Birding

Islip: 4th August

Islip
Woodcock: Flyover over A34 near Islip turn.

Nick Truby

Otmoor: 5th August

Otmoor
Turtle Dove

Peter Coombes

Port Meadow (Aug 4th) 9-10:40

Turnstone - 1
Greenshank - 3
Green Sand - 3
Wood Sand - 2
Dunlin - 5
Common Sand - 12 (Badger)
Ringed Plover - 1
(little ringed plover - pos 1 distant)
Redshank - 2
Snipe - 1
Little Egret - 16
Yellow wagtail - 1
White Wagtail (per Ewan)

This evening additions from this morning:
5 Green Sand
7 Ringed Plover
6 Snipe

Gnome

Mystery Birder? #2 (c) Badger

Port Meadow Birding

Stanton Harcourt 4th August

Med Gull  (1st Sum)

Med Gull (red ringed bird)
Yellow-legged Gull 30+
Oystercatcher 2
Green Sandpiper
Lapwing c300
Kingfisher

(Badger & Two Eyes)

Farmoor (Aug 4th) 7-8:30

Yellow Wag - 6
Tufted Duck - 84
Swift - 100+
Common Sand - 1
Dunlin - 1
Yellow Legged Gull - 4

Rushy Common 4th August

Red-crested Pochard ecl male

Red-crested Pochard Adult female and 3 young
Also a second brood nearby 1 Adult female with 5 juv.
+2 Egyptian Geese

Port Meadow 3rd August (evening)

Gnome & Badger
Wood Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper c10
Greenshank 3
Dunlin 4
Little ringed Plover 2
Med Gull 2 (both juv)

Milton (Banbury): 3rd August

Milton (Banbury)
Peregrine: over the road from Bloxham looked to be heading to the airfield.

Michael Hunt

Sonning Eye GPs: 3rd August

Sonning Eye GPs
5 Common Sandpiper: f flying across the jet-ski pit and 4 on a boat on the rowing course.

Marek Walford

Farmoor 3rd August

Turnstone 1
Common Sandpiper 3
Wheatear 1
Yellow Wagtail 6
Grey Wagtail 1

 Turnstone

The Insomniac Birder

Friday 3rd August Port Meadow

Wood Sandpiper still on Port Meadow (per RBA)

Port Meadow Birding

Port Meadow: 2nd August

Port Meadow
2 Wood Sandpiper
3 Greenshank: 1 ad 2 juv.
2 Redshank
10 Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
44 Snipe
Ringed Plover
2 Little Ringed Plover
Mediterranean Gull: juv.

Adam Hartley

Otmoor 2nd Aug

Cuckoo

Cuckoo and Reed Warbler

Radley 2nd August

Green Sandpiper 3   Oystercatcher 3   Lapwing 20+         

Port Meadow: 1st August

Port Meadow
Wood Sandpiper
7 Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Ringed Plover
2 Redshank
14 Dunlin
3 Little Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher
Snipe
Yellow Wagtail
2 Med. Gull juv.s

Adam Hartley, Steve Jennings & Paul Jepsom

Otmoor: 1st August

Cuckoo: juv. Another Cuckoo being fed by Reed Warblers. At times the warblers were standing on the Cuckoo's back and feeding it from above.
3 Redstart: At least 3. Two seperate males found close by and a female also close to them. With contact calls being heard at the same time. further away. sounded like from two seperate places.
OTHER SPECIES: Peacock perched on roof Otmoor lane. Is this a new bird for Otmoor? (hehe).

Peter Coombes more here