Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 11th January

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
3 Wigeon: 2 male plus fem. Left early morning. SP3942.

Roger Evans

Northbrook, 11th January

15:30

28 corn bunting in one flock by entrance road into Northbrook. Birds are feeding in stubble field

19 of the 28 corn buntings

Old Caley's Diary

Otmoor: 11th January

Otmoor
Hen Harrier: A very smart male seen hunting from the first screen. 16:00.
2 Marsh Harrier: At least hunting over the reedbeds. 16:00.
Merlin: Flying fairly high in an attempt to take a Starling. 16:00.

Jim Rose

Standlake Common: am 11th January

Pit 26 11 Goosander
Pit 27 7 Goosander

Farmoor Reservoir: 10th January

Farmoor Reservoir
Caspian Gull: first winter in roost.

Nic Hallam

Farmoor Roost - 10th January

A first winter Caspian Gull roosted on F.2 this evening. Unfortunately found right on 'chucking out' time so only enjoyed rather briefly. No sign of the Iceland Gull.

Port Meadow: 10th January

Port Meadow
Stonechat: The usual over-wintering bird.
100 Barnacle Goose: At least 100.
9 White-fronted Goose
2 Bar-headed Goose
6 Pintail
Goosander: red-head.
Yellow-legged Gull: 2w.

Adam Hartley

Blenheim Park 10th January

6 hawfinches again in tall trees in walled gardens near Bladon Bridge @13:00

(Per Joanna Harding)

Standlake pit 60 10th January

>84 Pintail
2 Goldeneye
4 Goosander

JD & JDH

Northmoor Church 10th January

at least 9 Hawfinch

JD & JDH

Seven of Nine (with apologies to Jeri Ryan!)

Ardington Hawfinches

Still in good numbers around the village (becoming rather impossible to count accurately).

Received a polite request today for birders not to walk down the turning to the Lockinge Estate office.

Otmoor.A.M. 10th January.

3 Bittern
3 Marsh Harrier
1 Hen Harrier (m)
2 Peregrine (m/f)
4 Pochard
3 Stonechat
1 Chiffchaff (singing)
1 Coal Tit
1 Marsh Tit.

per  NM.  PG.   et al.

Wooton, Wednesday 10th January

9+ Hawfinches over at Wooton, by Woodstock this morning

per Dave Doherty

Grimsbury Reservoir: 10th January

Grimsbury Reservoir
2 Goosander: male and fem. 10:20.

Graeme Porter

Freeland: 9th January

Freeland
Hawfinch: Joined group of Redwing in birch trees behind my parents house in Wroslyn Rd. Hopped up to the very top and though the light was awful I could clearly see the size of it's bill. On view for circa 50 secs before flying off south. A nice moment.
Hawfinch

David Cleal

Farmoor Roost - 9th January

The juv' Iceland Gull from 15.50
Brent Goose 1 on F.2.

Port Meadow: 9th January

Port Meadow
2 Redshank
2 Goosander
2 Chiffchaff
3 White-fronted Goose
5 Pintail
200 Lapwing

Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park
2 Woodcock

Adam Hartley

Oxford Airport: 9th January

Oxford Airport
Merlin: fem. Chasing a fieldfare and a redwing backwards and forwards across the A44 - unknown outcome.

Jeremy Dexter

Standlake Common: am 9th January

Pit 26 7 Goosander
Pit 28 Goosander, 38 Red Crested Pochard
Pit 60 58 Pintail, Great White Egret

Headington 9th January

1 Hawfinch flew over Headington Hill this morning

per Dave Doherty

Farmoor. 9th. January.

Avocet, (presumed escapee) still present this morning, F.2., west end of causeway.

Per. Dai.

Port Meadow: 8th January

Port Meadow
The floods have quite quickly gone back to a more standard size so the huge gull roost is sadly no more.
4 White-fronted Goose: the usual feral birds.
6 Pintail
150 Lapwing: Huge count for the Meadow.
3 Common Gull: in a rather modest gull roost tonight.

Adam Hartley

Witney 8th January

1 Hawfinch feeding on spilt Sunflower seeds on my lawn at Valence Crescent, Witney at 1.15 p.m. today.

Dave Doherty

Farmoor. 8th. January.

Avocet.

Detail of leg rings.

Avocet, found by Dai on east bank of F2. at 12.45pm., and still present at 2.pm.

: 8th January

Ardington
10 Hawfinch: At least. Cracking views down to 10m. SU431884. 13:00.

Leo Bateman

Peregrines on Magdalen Tower, Oxford

Two peregrines sitting on gargoyles on Magdalen tower at 10.30 a.m. courtesy of Thomas Miller

Otmoor.A.M. 8th January.

1 Bittern (briefly)
2 Marsh Harrier
1 Coal Tit
1 Marsh Tit
1 Nuthatch (reported)
2 Treecreeper (reported)
1 Brambling (reported).

Fyfield Wick: 7th January

Fyfield Wick
Hawfinch: Landed on tree top by River Ock.
Merlin: fem. Hunting towards River Ock near dusk.
Raven: Calling near dusk.
250 Yellowhammer: c250+ Put up by something. A sky full & Largest flock I've seen anywhere.
100 Lapwing: Put up at dusk.

Garford
120 Golden Plover: With Lapwing by A417.
100 Lapwing: By A417.

Jed Cleeter

Water Eaton : 7th January

Adult Peregrine - (probably male)

6th January Bicester Wetland Reserve

1 Cetti's Warbler
1 Water Rail
3 Little Egret
3 Heron
150 Teal
14 Gadwall
8 Shoveler
1 Sparrowhawk

Key Holder Reserve
Alan Peters, Bill Foley

Chimney: 7th January

Chimney
Stonechat: m. Fields between Chimney and Buckland. There are 100s of winter thrushes in flooded fields here along with small numbers of lapwing.
Stonechat

Mick Cunningham

Ardington 7th January

4+ Hawfinch - very elusive
4 Siskin

Port Meadow - 7th January

80 Wigeon
4 Pintail
18 Teal
30 Lapwing
1 GSW
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Treecreeper
1 Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

George Best

Otmoor: 7th January

Otmoor
2 Marsh Harrier
2 Pintail: pair. On Big Otmoor.
Peregrine
Ruff
Kingfisher: in the middle of Big Otmoor.
2 Stock Dove: on Ashgrave.
Cetti's Warbler: heard in song.
Nuthatch: on feeders.
Marsh Tit: on feeders.

Ian Elkins

Chipping Norton: 7th January

Chipping Norton
Siskin: m. On sunflower heart feeder - first records this winter. SP308265. 14:00.

Steve Akers

Otmoor 7th

Ruff in fields between Noke and Oddington

Kiddington: 7th January

Kiddington
Hawfinch: Single bird perched right at top of tallest non-conifer tree behind church - called briefly - dropped down out of sight when pair of Raven passed close overhead. 12:00.
2 Raven: Possibly a resident pair - very active and cronking from atop a Scots Pine. 12:00.

Steve Akers

Otmoor. 7th. January.

Hawfinch.  Long Meadow.  Per. Andy Last.
Ruff.  m.
Many thousands of Golden Plover and Lapwing.
5. Mistle Thrush.
4. Stonechat.
Hen Harrier.  2nd. winter male.

Per.  A.L.  Bark. T.S.  et al.

2nd. winter male Hen Harrier.

Henley Road GPs: 7th January

Henley Road GPs
Smew: rh. Jetski Pit. 12:15.

Marek Walford

Yelford 7th January

Again no sign of the Kumlien's Gull in flooded field west of Yelford by 11:27

(Per Dave Lowe)

Blenheim 7th January

6 hawfinch in tallest trees at southern end of walled garden 400 yards from Bladon Bridge at 10:45-11:15

Distant record shot showing the 6 hawfinches

Good numbers of fieldfare & redwing

Old Caley's Diary

Northmoor Churchyard Jan 7th

4 Hawfinch showing well (10am)

Northmoor Hawfinch courtesy of John Workman

...and one from Eddie McLaughlin

Grimsbury Reservoir: 6th January

Grimsbury Reservoir
Stonechat: Along field fence on western side of reservoir. 15:00.

Mark Ribbons

Kiddington: 6th January

at least 13 Hawfinches in and around churchyard about 9:30am but very wary.  Found during BOS short day count.

Kingston Bagpuize: Trading Estate: 6th January

Kingston Bagpuize: Trading Estate
Barn Owl: On fence post by A415 opposite Trading Estate. 19:25.

Jed Cleeter

Northmoor Church: 6th January

Hawfinch

Scary Hill: 6th January

6th January

Scary Hill
Merlin: fem. Flew from bush top and hunted low towards Ridgeway. 15:35.

Fyfield Wick
21 Grey Partridge: Flew low across field at dusk calling. 16:20.

Jed Cleeter

Northmoor Church: 6 January

One of about 9 birds around the churchyard this morning:

(c) Stephen Burch

Goto this page on my website for a larger image

Northmoor Church 6th January; Hawfinches

At least 9 hawfinches seen 09:30-11:30, possibly more (9 maximum seen perched together)

www.oldcaley.blogspot.co.uk

Farmoor Reservoir 6th January

Iceland Gull (imm) again until 15:50 then flew off over Wytham towards Port Meadow.

(per Nic Hallam, George Best).

Yelford 6th January

No sign of any Gulls in flooded fields west of village by late afternoon.

A329 near Moulsford: 6th January

A329 near Moulsford
Brambling: Flew into tree with my feeders; immediately disturbed and flew. Back again 2 mins later, on lawns with <20> Chaffinches. Winter male. SU5985. 14:50.

Mike Amphlett

Northmoor 6th January

Hawfinch 9 again in and around the church yard.
Please don't park opposite garage or block
residents access.

(per Nic Truby, Mick Cunningham et al).

Chipping Norton: 6th January

Chipping Norton
14 Golden Plover: Present again in centre of their favoured field W of CN. 12:00.

Steve Akers

Sarsgrove: 6th January

Sarsgrove
Raven: juv. 11:00.

Steve Akers

Ardington 6th January

9+ Hawfinch (perhaps up to 16 this morning)
4 Bullfinch
5 GSW

Farmoor. 6th. January.

Water Pipit.  Seen from causeway at 10.15am., though mobile (Per Dai) 
Great Scaup (f) on F1 13:00
Aythya Hybrid F1

(per Nick Truby)

Sarsgrove: 5th January

Sarsgrove
2 Raven: One in flight; one on top of telegraph pole. 09:00.

Steve Akers

Northmoor: 5th January

Northmoor
7 Hawfinch: Minimum 7 in village churchyard. Occasionally landing in tops of bare tree and firs and yews but often flying into grounds of houses behind church. Closer views than Barnard gate I'd say.

Mick Cunningham

Standlake Pit 60:am 5th December

48 Pintail
4 Egyptian Goose
Great White Egret still

The whole area around the LL hide is flooded with 1 -2 ft of standing water on the access path. The North hide is still OK.

The path to the LL hide

Standlake: 5th January

Standlake
3 Red Kite

Antony Collieu

Ardington 5th January

3+ Hawfinch (c25 reported as present in the usual spot (near Estate Office) on the 3rd)
2 Raven

Stratfield Brake 5th January

Goosander 6 (2m) 10:30

Northmoor 5th December

Hawfinch 7 again 14:10 (per Mick Cunningham)
8+ flying over Northmoor Church 10:30 (per Jon Prowse)

Kumlien's Gull - Yelford. 4th January

A short "record-shot" video of the (rather distant) Kumlien's Gull at Yelford today. The regular Farmoor roosting Iceland Gull was also present very briefly but not filmed.

 

Baulking Pit: 4th January

An influx of exotic ducks - well, exotic for Baulking at least...

    Goosander, probably adult female

    Mandarin Duck

    Shelducks

Chinnor: Cement Works: 4th January

Chinnor: Cement Works
Peregrine: Flew over heading south.

David Stracey

Port Meadow: 4th January

Port Meadow
No sign of the Whooper Swan this morning (nor the Black Swan)
2 Pochard: male. patch rarity!.
20 Pintail
150 Barnacle Goose: approx count.
9 White-fronted Goose: usual feral birds.
2 Bar-headed Goose

Adam Hartley

Otmoor.A.M. 4th January.

1 Peregrine
1 Merlin
2 Marsh Harrier
Masses of Goldies and Lapwing.

Yelford 4th January

KUMLIEN'S GULL (imm)
Iceland Gull (imm)

Both again in flooded field west of Yelford at 10:50 (per Nic Hallam).

Sarsgrove: 4th January

Sarsgrove
2 Raven: pair. 09:00.
150 Fieldfare 09:00.

Steve Akers

Port Meadow: 3rd January

Port Meadow
Whooper Swan
Black Swan
160 Barnacle Goose
6 White-fronted Goose: The usual feral flock.
10 Pintail: very approx count.
Yellow-legged Gull: ad. at least one in a massive gull roost.

Adam Hartley

The Whooper Swan

Otmoor: 3rd January

Otmoor
Woodcock: Flying towards the Closes from Moorley's, dusk.
2 Marsh Harrier
Peregrine
Pochard
Cetti's Warbler

Simon Myers

Farmoor Reservoir: 3rd January

Farmoor Reservoir
Mediterranean Gull: ad. in roost.

Nic Hallam

Yelford 3rd January

Kumlien's Gull (imm) again In flooded field west of Yelford 15:40 (per Dave Doherty).

Bicester Wetlands

Adult Yellow Legged Gull at 11.15am in field next to access road.
Green Sandpiper
Grey Wagtail

Standlake Pit 60:am 3rd December

6 Pintail
3 Goldeneye

Preston Crowmarsh 3rd January

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER still present at Benson Sewage Works along northern perimeter fence although elusive 11:30
(per Paul Chandler)

Access this afternoon is now being denied by Agrivert staff.
There is no public right of way.

Both photos courtesy of Paul Chandler Cholsey Wildlife

Oxford 3rd January

Hawfinch behind St Catherine's College by the Merton Sports ground this morning (per Tommaso Pizzari).

Witney 3rd January

Hawfinch in tree in Valence Crescent 09:15 (per Dave Doherty).

Chipping Norton: 2nd January

Chipping Norton
49 Golden Plover: Present again in favoured large field W of CN. 09:30.

Steve Akers

December Higlights and 2017 Video Montage

The Kumlien's Gull at Yelford

Headline Birds

So that's 2017 final put to bed and here in God's Own County we actually ended on quite a high note with a few choice birds slipping in right at the death of the year. A Great Grey Shrike was found on West Ginge Down on on the last day of the year - a good bird to finish off on.

Great Grey Shrike courtesy of Badger

We also had an exciting gull discovery when a reported Iceland Gull on 30th at Yelford was reidentified as a Kumlien's Gull by our esteemed county recorder. This is in addition to a juvenile Iceland Gull which has been roosting all month at Farmoor. Indeed we got both white-wingers this month as it was joined on the 1st by a Glaucous Gull in the roost as well.

Iceland Gull courtesy of Nic Hallam

Other noteworthy birds this month included a belated report of a Slavonian Grebe at Farmoor Reservoir on the 24th and we had plenty of Great White Egret action with regular birds at Pit 60, Dix Pit and Glyme Meadows in Woodstock.

The Best of the Rest

6 Bewick's Swans arrived at Stanlakes Pit 60 on the afternoon 11th with what was likely to have been the same group, seen earlier over the Otmoor RSPB reserve. Numbers of these beautiful winter swans have plummeted not only in Oxfordshire but nationally with their status globally a conservation concern. 2 Whooper Swans were seen midway along the Cherwell Valley on the 31st.

Bewick's Swans courtesy of Badger

Scaup and Aythya hybrid courtesy of Moth 

Two female Scaup were a welcome discovery at Farmoor from the 28th and were at times keeping company with the Lesser Scaupesque  Aythya hybrid. A female Common Scoter at Farmoor Reservoir was reported sporadically through December. Goosanders were reported from Pit 60 with 4 redheads at Stratfield Brake on the 5th with another 4 seen on the Thames at Port Meadow.

Pulses certainly quickened on the 18th with the discovery of a female Bufflehead found amongst the

regular wildfowl at the Otmoor RSPB reserve. It was presumed to be the escaped female seen the previous day at Staines Reservoir and was carrying the same metal ring on the right leg also suggesting a captive origin.

Escaped Bufflehead courtesy of Tezzer

A Kittiwake was at Farmoor Reservoir on the 9th in what has been a good month for scarce gulls within the county. The notable exception has been Caspian Gulls with only three records: one from Cassington GPs, an adult seen at Sonning Eye GPs on the 17th and at Farmoor on the 18th.

Wader-wise Golden Plovers were evident with numbers increasing on the RSPB Otmoor reserve to over 2000 and in the north of the county at Over Norton with numbers reaching 600.

In terms of raptors, the long staying male Hen Harrier on Otmoor (present since last winter) was joined by a second male from the 17th. 4 Marsh Harriers were counted on the reserve on the 8th with a single Marsh Harrier seen at Toot Baldon on the 9th. A Goshawk was seen briefly hunting over Scary Hill on the 18th.

Peregrines were ranging widely over the county, and away from Otmoor, were encountered at the Bicester Wetlands Reserve and with what looks like a female bird, regularly terrorising the pigeons in Oxford City and utilising Magdalen Colleges tower as a handy vantage and launch point. Single Peregrines were also seen at Grove Airfield, Ardington at Kingham, Bablockhythe, Water Eaton and several times at the B.O.S Balscote Quarry Reserve over the month. Merlin were being seen at Fyfield Wick on the 29th and at Chimney Meadows on the 31st with a  bird being seen sporadically on the Otmoor reserve over December.

Short-eared Owl courtesy of Tezzer

A Short-eared Owl was a superb find on Otmoor RSPB on the 31st in what has so far been a poor winter in Oxfordshire for these enigmatic Owls.

Hawfinches continued to dominate the county's bird news for another month with many folk able to catch up with this usually-difficult species. Up to 30 birds were regularly seen at Barnard Gate as well as at Kingston Bagpuize, Swyncombe and Ardington with small groups and individuals also encountered at Sonning Eye, Over Norton, Lower Assendon and on the Downs the Chilterns and in Witney.

Brambling courtesy of Nick Truby

Brambling numbers were once again fairly low throughout the county with birds noted at Kingston Bagpuize, Kennington, on Otmoor and at the Bicester Wetlands Reserve from the 22nd.

A Firecrest was seen at Swyncombe on the 8th no doubt able to brighten up the dullest of winter days.

Review of 2017

Here is the traditional Gnome montage of birds from the last year. In the past the video's have been pushing towards a progressively more and more extreme "pumped-up" rock sound track but this year there's been a change of direction. After all when you're switching photos every second to Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" there's not really anywhere you can go after that. So something more low key this year, in keeping with the "soul crushing reality that is Oxon birding" (Badger's words!).

In terms of the year list we reached 217 (??) this year, a pretty average total compared to the past few years. The Badger & Gnome bird of the year award has quite a few contenders with Little Bunting, Richard's Pipit, Bonaparte's Gull, Black-winged Stilt, White-winged Black Tern and Red-necked Phalarope all short-listed. However, this year the award goes to the Little Bunting, in no small part because it was a county tick for so many people this year.

So it only remains for us to wish you all a very Happy and Bird-filled New Year. See you at the next big one!

Badger & Gnome.

: 2nd January

Ardington
5 Hawfinch: At least. One bird making a reasonable attempt to sing!. SU432883. 13:30.

Leo Bateman

Standlake Pit 60: am 2nd December

09:00 Great White Egret still

Otmoor: 1st January

Otmoor
3 Marsh Harrier: An immature male and two separate females. 12:00.
4 Pintail: At least but probably more as seen in the distance. 12:00.

Jim Rose

Preston Crowmarsh 1st January

A YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER found by Tom Stevenson was still present this afternoon feeding along the northern perimeter fence of Benson sewage works although elusive.

Chiffchaff 6+
Goldcrest 4+

Benson sewage works is accessed from the A4074 south of Benson and is adjacent to the Agrivert
Recycling Centre OX10 6SQ please don't block access to Agrivert.

Mid Cherwell Valley 1 Jan PM

Wildfowl numbers increasing on floodwaters:
Pintail drake
250+ Wigeon
500+ Lapwing
but no sign of yesterday's Whooper Swans

Farmoor Roost - 1st January

Juvenile Iceland Gull
Adult Mediterranean Gull

Some rather poor video of the Iceland Gull. Came in early, very few large gulls present.

Yelford 1st January

KUMLIEN'S GULL (imm) again In flooded field to the west of Yelford 15:10

Baltic Gull present yesterday.

(per Ian Smith)

Male Goldeneye Farmoor Reservoir courtesy of John Workman

Kingston Bagpuize: 1st January

Kingston Bagpuize
6 Brambling: With Chaffinch still east end of old Oxford Road.

Jed Cleeter

Brambling courtesy of Jed Cleeter.

Ardington 1st January

3 Hawfinch
Redpoll (over)

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 1st January

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Stonechat: SP3942.
8 Teal: SP3942.
2 Meadow Pipit: SP3942.
5 Mistle Thrush: SP3942.

Roger Evans

West Ginge Down 9-11am 1st Jan

No sign of great grey shrike this morning

Generally fairly birdy though

2 hawfinch

1 brambling

20 redpoll

3 stonchat

Raven

Tom

Chinnor Old Cement Works Quarry 1st January

Male & female Pochard courtesy of Jez March

12 Pochard
200 Teal

(per Jez March) SU754994.

Otmoor.AM. 1st January.

3 Marsh Harrier
2 Peregrine
1 Merlin
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Bittern
2500+ Golden Plover
2500+ Lapwing
2 Barnacle Goose
1 Raven (over calling)
1 Stonechat.

per  J.U.  P.G.  et al.

Preston Crowmarsh: Sewage Farm: 1st January

Preston Crowmarsh: Sewage Farm
Yellow-browed Warbler: Small warbler with bright eye stripe and strong wing bar - probably Y-b W.

Thomas Stevenson

Kingston Bagpuize: 1st January

Kingston Bagpuize
Hawfinch: Landed on tree top to rear of Oxford Close for a few minutes then flew towards Church. 11:32.

Jed Cleeter

Yelford 1st January

No sign of the imm Kumlien's Gull in flooded field west of Yelford 08:45-11:00 (per Tom Bedford, SNT,NH,EU).

Lower Radley: 1st January

Lower Radley
Blackcap: male. in my garden again this morning. Happy New Year!.

Ian Elkins