Otmoor 27th Oct

Cormorant in flight, 2nd screen

Mute Swan, 2nd screen

Rook on the cattle pens

Fast fly-past of six Snipe, 2nd screen

Starling roost in front of Oddington church

Also three sightings of Hen Harrier at the 2nd screen. Photos here. All photos (c) Nigel Forrow.

Otmoor 27th

2 Hen Harriers today; an adult female and judging by its size, a juvenile male. These birds kept the local ducks unsettled. Merlin with prey over Greenways.

Hen Harrier adult female

Hen Harrier adult female

Hen Harrier juv 

Teal

Wigeon with Gadwall

Merlin

Otmoor this evening (per Oz)

Starling roost tonight
Circa 15000 birds
two Hen Harriers
Two Sparrowhawks
one Red Kite

Whooper Swan Greenaways this morning only

Also
Goosander: fm. 2nd screen.
2 Hen Harrier: juvs.
Peregrine
4 Siskin
15 Lesser Redpoll
30 Snipe: 30 plus.
6 Redwing
100 Fieldfare: 100 plus.

Peter Barker, Peter Coombes et al.

Henley Road GPs: 26th October

Henley Road GPs
Mediterranean Gull: 1w.

Marek Walford

Farmoor 26th October

 

(c) Terry Sherlock

Female Red-breasted Merganser on F2 ( per Dai John)
and still present late afternoon (per Andy Last)
+ 2 Rock Pipit

(c) Terry Sherlock

More from the Res at The Insomniac Birder
 

 

Possible Stork Sighting

My wife saw what looked like two storks flying east over Long Wittenham heading in the direction of Day's Lock/ Dorchester at about 17:15 this afternoon (Friday).

Port Meadow 26th October

No sign of Barnacle Geese at 9 a.m. this morning
6 Dunlin
1 Yellow-legged Gull Video here
~1000 Golden Plover
20 Fieldfares over
+ usual ducks

Black Redstart 25th October

(c) Terry Sherlock

 

Black Redstart today at an undisclosed working Farm.

 

Port Meadow 25th October

6 Dunlin
1000+ Golden Plover
1 Curlew
Short-eared Owl in Burgess Field again
~20 Barnacle Geese came in to roost at last light

Gnome & the Wickster

Otmoor. A.M. 25th. October.

1 Hen Harrier
1 Bittern
18+ Fieldfare
C.50 Snipe (1 flock).
11 Golden Plover
1 Water Rail
1 Peregrine
C. 12 Redpoll.

Otmoor Birding

(c) Derek Woodard



Radley 25th October

Bearded Tit 2 (m/f) still at Radley GP's in small patch of reeds
east of H/I (between H/Iand the railway line) at 10:47a.m and occasionally
showing well (per Barry Batchelor)

Egyptian Goose on Thrupp lake (per Christopher Ellis)
 
Map Here

Port Meadow: 24th October

Port Meadow
6 Dunlin
1200 Golden Plover
100 Snipe
1 Peregrine

Adam Hartley

Otmoor 24th Otmoor

(c) Terry Sherlock

Hen Harrier (juv per Lew) still on Otmoor this afternoon over Ashgrave then later over the Closes per Bark and Terry Sherlock & Nick Suckling.

Otmoor Birding

Old News

I've just heard about the presence of a Yellow-browed Warbler in a garden on Five Mile Drive, North Oxford on 3rd October. It's probably long gone but might just be worth a look and listen around the area.
There was also a Hoopoe in a North Abingdon garden from 14th June - 21st July! Definitely long gone.
Also Sutton Courtenay football club reported 4 Storks joining them for a practice session about two weeks ago. This coincides with the departure of 4 White Storks from Dorset so may well be true. Where are they now?

Radley 24th October

Record shot of one of the Radders 'Ping Tits' courtesy of 'The Gun Slinger'

Bearded Tit 2 (m/f) still at Orchard Lake (Lake M) 10:00am tho elusive

then flew towards reeds between H/I (the large ash-pit) and the river.

Seen Briefly again in the reeds between H/I and the river at 15:45 but

no further sign by 17:30.

Map Here

A rubbish clip of the Radley Bearded Tits but this has typically been

the views over the last three days.

Farmoor 24th October

Rock Pipit 2 along causeway.
Water Rail 2 Pinkhill Reserve.

The Insomniac Birder

Port Meadow: 23rd October

Port Meadow
Curlew
100 Snipe: Approx count.
2 Dunlin
1000 Golden Plover
8 Common Gull: 7 x ad., 1 x 1w.
Great Black-backed Gull

Also Short-eared Owl seen a couple of times over the last few days

Adam Hartley

Otmoor 23rd October

Bearded Tit at least 3 (3 seen at the 1st screen this p.m by (Terry Tossel)
2 seen at the 2nd screen by Ron Louch this p.m)

Hen Harrier (ringtail) over Greenaways this p.m (per Terry Tossel)
Water Rail heard only in the reed beds
Raven over Big Otmoor (per Terry Tossel)
Redpoll 3 at feeders
Brambling (m) near cattle pens
Starling roost again exceeding 5000 birds

Otmoor Birding

Radley 23rd October

Bearded Tit 2 (m/f) Still at Orchard Lake (Lake M) at 17:45 tho elusive.

Still at Radley in N/W corner of H/I 9:20am then flew towards Orchard Lake.

Cetti's Warbler (heard only)
Siskin 2+ over
Water Rail
Raven 2
Goldeneye 2 (Thrupp Lake)

Map Here 

per Badger

Stonesfield: Stonesfield Common: 22nd October

Stonesfield: Stonesfield Common
11 Lesser Redpoll
Water Rail: Heard only.
7 Long-tailed Tit
32 Redwing
2 Marsh Tit

Paul Wren

Radley 22nd October

Jason Gosling has just seen two Bearded Tits at Radley GPs. They flew from beside the ash pit towards the river.

Picked up again by Roger Wyatt this afternoon at approx 16:40 in the reeds
around Orchard Lake(Lake M) and then later between H/I and the river.
We last saw the male & female at 17:10 again in the reeds between H/I
and the river.(Badger)

Map Here

Port Meadow: 22nd October

(c) Adam Hartley

Redshank
3 Dunlin
81 Snipe, at least
1000 Golden Plover: Approx count.

Adam Hartley

22nd October Farmoor

GREY PHALAROPE flying around Farmoor 1 presently (09:45 am)
being pursued by a gull. per Dai John

Still present 11:05 in South-East corner of F1.
per Badger

No further sign of the Phal by 13:30

Goosander 3 over heading west
Dunlin
Ringed Plover

The Insomniac Birder

Otmoor 22nd October

No sign of any Bearded Tit at Otmoor by 11am this morning.

(per Barry Bachelor)

Aston Rowant 21st October

Ring Ouzel 2 on Linkey Down at 11:30am though elusive (per RBA)

OTMOOR GULLS

Gull watchers may want to check out the flooded fields on the Islip to Merton Road and the Merton to Ambrosen Road.

Mega numbers as I drove to Buckingham yesterday around 5pm. although not so many at the latter.


wasatbird

Otmoor Sunday 21st October

1+ Bearded Tit still at Otmoor in northern reed bed at around 10am
then again briefly c1pm (per Andy Last)

Golden Plover c200 nr Pill
Sparrowhawk m
Redpoll c15
Brambling
Siskin 2 over
Stonechat 1m
Redwing small flock early am
Fieldfare small group early am
Kingfisher noke pond

Otmoor Birding

Caspian Gull 20th October

This adult Caspian Gull was loafing in a damp field beside the northern by-pass of Didcot at dusk.

 

Bearded Tits Saturday 20th

At 4.20pm, one flew up briefly near the "Conservation Area" sign just east of the first screen. Others thought they had 4 between there and screen around 5.30pm. No calls heard at any time, despite perfect calm listening conditions. Same time c5500 starlings had just gone to roost - too early for the Sparrowhawk and then another 500 came in afterwards! Good numbers of wildfowl on the shooting range where 3.55pm Peregrine pass seemed to be unsuccessful. Couple of Ravens perched in 'electrified field'.

Hempton: 20th October

Hempton
Merlin: being mobbed by corvids.

Chipping Norton
Peregrine

Michael Hunt

Grove: Airfield: 20th October

Grove: Airfield
Peregrine: juv.
32 Snipe

Leo Bateman

Otmoor 20th October

No sign of any Bearded Tits this morning
Brambling 1+
Green Sandpiper 1

(per Badger)

Woodstock 19th October

woodstock stratford bridge
14 Common Crossbill: flew off towards blenheim park. SP188443.

Paul Willis

Otmoor 19th October

Bearded Tit 6-7 Still in the northern reed bed this morning 09:10
then again from the 1st screen at 09:40 (per The Wickster)

Stonechat 7
Redwing c30

Both Photo's (c) Terry Sherlock

Blenheim Park 19th October

Mandarin 4 (2m) on the small pools near the Coombe Gate entrance
in to Blenheim Park.

(per The Wickster & Peter Law)

Male Kingfisher filmed at Bicester Wetlands Reserve by Jeff P more on JP Birds

Otmoor. 18th October.

1 Stonechat
15+ Snipe
1 Mistle Thrush
5+ Little Egret
1 Kingfisher
No sign of any Beardies, the wind blew quite
strongly after a while. No sign of Bittern either.

At least three Sparrowhawks working the Starling roost this evening (Badger)

Otmoor Kestrel (c) Derek Woodard
 

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill: 17th October

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
Raven
2 Chiffchaff
Wheatear

Cholsey: Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve
16 Siskin
Chiffchaff
3 Jay
3 Swallow

Paul Chandler Cholsey Wildlife

Otmoor Wednesday 17th October Beardy update

Picture from 15th Oct 2009

Bearded Tits are still present and visible from first screen but distant.
There are still approximately six or seven birds (per Badger)
Bark

Also seen from the 2nd screen this morning (per Peter Coombes)
Bittern also reported this morning (per RBA)
Fieldfare 6 (per Peter Coombes)
Stonechat 3 (per Peter Coombes)

Otmoor Birding

Otmoor 16th October

Bearded Tits still present this evening 18:10 in the northern end
of the reed bed (heard only)
(Badger)

No sign this morning 07:45-11:30 in very windy conditions (per Terry Sherlock)
Still no sign by 2p.m (per Barry Batchelor)

Belated news from the Otmoor RSPB team of six or seven
Bearded Tits in the southern end of the reedbeds yesterday (15th) in the afternoon.

Otmoor Teal (c) Mark Chivers

Dorchester: Dorchester complex: 15th October

Dorchester: Dorchester complex
4 Egyptian Goose

Thomas Stevenson

Farmoor Cormorant (c) David Hastings

 David Hastings Bird Images
 

Otmoor 15th October

Chiffchaff
11 Goldcrest
8 Lesser Redpoll
4 Siskin
5 Redwing
3 Yellow Wagtail: Over.
Stonechat
Treecreeper

Peter Coombes

The Otmoor Blogger

Devil's Punchbowl 14th October

Buzzards & Kite (c) Peter Law

Merlin 2 m (f per Leo Bateman)
Kestrel 4
Sprawk 1
Buzzard 4+
Red Kite 8
Harris Hawk 1
Linnet 300+
Redpoll
Brambling (Gramp's Hill car park per L.B)
Skylark 20+
Meadow Pipit 20+
Stonechat 2 (per Leo Bateman)

Devil's Punchbowl

Short-eared Owl 1 nr Segsbury Castle
(per Peter Law)


 

Harris Hawk & Friend

Otmoor 14th October

Otmoor Reed Bunting (c) Mark Chivers

Peregrine
Stonechat 4 behind hide
Redpoll (small groups over)

(per Bark & Andy Last)

More on Otmoor Birding






Mystery birder? It's elementary!

Rushy Common 14th October

Shelduck 2
Red-crested Pochard 11

Otmoor 13th October

Male Kingfisher at the 1st screen (c) Mark Chivers

Bittern again 17:50 over reedbeds (per Jeff jpbird's )
Lapwing c200
Little Egret 11
Redwing 30+ (over carpark field)
Stonechat 4 (2 behind the hide 2 nr Noke Farm)
Redpoll c32 (12 Oddington per Steve Roby)
Siskin 2 over
Raven
Kingfisher

More on Otmoor Birding

Farmoor Saturday 4.15 - 6.45pm

Rock Pipit 1 north of F1; Meadow Pipit 3 east grass bank of F1; Dunlin 1 on causeway; Med Gull adult in roost

Devil's Punchbowl: 13th October

2 Merlin 1m 1f. Raptor heaven at the punchbowl today. Merlin(s) seen on and off - always low and often scattering (previously unseen) passerines from scrub. Views always distant but clear. Always fascinating to watch birds of prey interact but special attention was given to the merlins - corvids, kites and buzzards all having a go as they went about their business. Male and female seen in flight together - size difference very apparent. Well worth two and a half hours spent freezing on a wet, windy and very exposed hillside!. About here
Peregrine

Mark Merritt 

Farmoor 13th October

Rock Pipit 1 (along the Causeway)
Dunlin 2
Siskin

(per The Wickster)

More from the Res at The Insomniac Birder

Abingdon 11th October

Two female / juvenile Marsh Harriers seen hunting over rushy meadows
below Oday Hill today. Seen by Bob Eeles, Jo Cartmell and David Guyoncourt.

Otmoor Kestrel (c) David Cuddon



Farmoor F1 circuit c13:20 - 15:40

5 Rock Pipit groups of 3 & 2 causeway 5 Meadow Pipit east grass bank 1 Dunlin causeway 1 Ringed Plover heard over F1 "Peep" call heard trice flying around F1 (not seen) 1 Common Sandpiper around area of F2 vegetation filter - east side. No passerines detected overhead or in bushes. Rain then stopped play on a dire day !

Farmoor 10th Oct

Black-tailed Godwit

Common Scoter

The drake being harassed by a Yellow-legged Gull

Rock Pipit (Badger)

3 Med Gull (1stw 2ndw adw Badger et al)
5 Dunlin
1 Merlin (per The Wickster)
1 Hobby (per Ian Smith)
3 Common Scoter still on FII at 11:10a.m til c2p.m then flew off
1 Black-tailed Godwit (on raft nr car park per RBA)
1 Ringed Plover
7 Egyptian Geese
4 Rock Pipit on causeway late morning per RBA)
30+ Redpoll

(Dai John) The Insomniac Birder

1st winter Med (Badger)

Otmoor: 10th October

2 Siskin
10 Snipe
Raven
15 Goldcrest: 15 plus.

Peter Coombes The Otmoor Blogger

Otmoor: 9th October

Stonechat (c) Peter Coombes

40+ Snipe flying from big Otmoor and landing in reed bed (1st screen).
25 Redwing
4 Stonechat nr Noke Farm
Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff

Peter Coombes The Otmoor Blogger

(c) David Cuddon



Farmoor 9th October

Marsh Harrier flew over heading S/E c14:23
Rock Pipit 2 along causeway
Meadow 1
Redpoll c30 Pinkhill
No sign of the R.T.Diver

(per Ian Smith)

More from the Res at The Insomniac Birder

Red-throated Diver Farmoor 8th October

 

Red-throated Diver on F1 c17:05 til 18:20 when it flew high north in to

the gloom found by Dai The Insomniac Birder

(c) Terry Sherlock

 

Farmoor 8th October

2 Rock Pipits causeway.

The Insomniac Birder

OOS Indoor Meeting at Stratfield Brake.

Wednesday 10th October 2012 at 7.45pm.
BTO Birdtracking - Migration and technology by Nick Moran.
Nick is the organiser of Birdtrack, the BTOs free online system for birdwatchers to analyse their records. His role includes the day to day running of Birdtrack, assisting and corresponding with county recorders and increasing participation in Birdtrack. He is particularly interested in how the data can be used for conservation and how it illustrates changes in population and migration timing.
Members free a donation (£2 suggested) from non-members is appreciated.
Any questions ? please call Barry Hudson (secretary) 01993 852028.

Farmoor 7th October

Stonechat 1
Redpoll 1
Wheatear  1
Raven 1
Hobby 1
Little Grebe 9
Coot 300+

The Insomniac Birder

Otmoor Bittern Again

Bittern seen briefly this a.m.from first screen. disappeared into reeds.
Also Stonechat also from screen.
250+ Lapwing
200+Teal
Otter

More on Otmoor Birding later

South Leigh: 7th October

South Leigh
Raven

Richard Catling

Grove 6th October

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker again at 1615; no luck with Stephen along Cow Lane, but heard calling along road that heads to Denchworth, in bushes at west end of first meadow past the cemetery.

Otmoor Bittern 6th October

1 seen briefly this morning flying low over the reedbed before landing in it.
Also:-

9 Little Egrets
3 Water Rail
1 Sedge warbler
5 Redpoll
2 Siskin

East Hendred: East Hendred Downs: 6th October

East Hendred: East Hendred Downs
2 Corn Bunting
5 Grey Partridge

Mark Merritt

Downs Churn/Blewbury 4th October

European Stonechat 1m
Common ChiffChaff 8+
Lesser Black Backed Gull 1000+ on newly following ploughed land
Swallow 2

Black Audi Birding

Otmoor.A.M. 4th October.

1 Peregrine
2 Raven

M.o.D. land

7 Stonechat ( all on one bush)
2 Whinchat.

Otmoor Birding

Chiffy

3 Stonechat still near Noke Farm
1 Wheatear Noke Farm
1 Pintail (Ashgrave)
1 Kingfisher Noke Pond

(per Peter Coombes)



Wheatear both Photos (c) Peter Coombes The Otmoor Blogger

Port Meadow: 4th October

Port Meadow
Black-tailed Godwit: juv.
Dunlin
300 Golden Plover

Adam Hartley

 

Farmoor Gulls



Grove: Airfield: 4th October

Grove: Airfield
Whinchat: juv.
Wheatear 2 (prob Greenland)

Leo Bateman

Oxon/Berks Compton Downs 3rd October

Ring Ouzel 2 Compton Downs by Ridgeway at 5:15p.m (per RBA)

: 3rd October

Scald Hill, Ewelme
8 Grey Partridge: SU636933.

Otmoor 2nd October

Pintail fem. Over.
Stonechat male.
Snipe Flock of forty plus, Big Otmoor.

Peter Coombes

The Otmoor Blogger

This morning I had the sad news that Laurence Thornton had peacefully passed away after a short illness.
Although I had known Laurence for only a few years, many of Oxford's leading birders would have known him from the days of their early youth when I understand Laurence was involved with RSPB trips.
When I first got to know him he was regularly doing the Thames on the south side of Oxford noting the increase in Cettis Warblers as they began to spread along the river. Mostly he would travel on his bicycle or with his wife driving, only learning to drive and buying a car just a few years ago when his wife died.
I birded Farmoor with him on several occasions and would meet him on the odd lunch hour as I walked through the covered market in Oxford , where he would park his bicycle, always he was full of enthusiasm and a joy to talk to.
Laurence will no longer need his bicycle , I'm sure, now having been equipped with a more suitable mode of transport with which to continue his birding.

Keith Clack


I remember Laurence fondly from the RSPB coach trips of the late 1980's.
Always enthusiastic about the birds he loved and was engaging and
welcoming to all those who shared his passion.
Laurence inspired and encouraged a generation of young Oxon birders
all of whom are still birding today.
Thank you Laurence.

Jason

Otmoor 1st October

Golden Plover over Otmoor (c) Peter Coombes

28 Golden Plover (Over Heading for big Otmoor)
2 Siskin (In with mixed Gold and Green finch flock. On path just before feeders Early a:m)
Hobby
Ringed Plover (flying over from 2nd screen direction then dropping into reed bed)
Stonechat 2 (Greenaways and along the fence line south of the hide)

Peter Coombes  The Otmoor Blogger