Identification Articles

Tree/Meadow Pipit
The owner of the excellent Manchester Birding website has very kindly allowed me to use a link to an article he wrote: Tree Pipit vs. Meadow Pipit

Gulls
Immature Caspian & Yellow-legged: Rudy's Gull Index
Good ID articles about all the main gull species: Gulls in the West Midlands
Good ID articles about all the main gull species: Birder's Playground
Yellow-legged Gulls: More than Just a Mantle

Chinnor Quarry

Location

The site is easy to find by taking Hill Road out of Chinnor up towards Bledlow. Old Kiln Lakes is signposted from the new roundabout just over the railway bridge. Park at The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway for a longer walk around the whole site or on one of the streets in the housing development for quicker access to the Lakes and a shorter walk. 

A: Parking (Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway). The car park can get full when trains are running - check C&PR Railway website for timetable

B: Parking (Ridgeway - limited spaces and off road)

C: Parking (Roadside, please be considerate of residents)

Background

The decommissioned Rugby Cement quarry has recently been developed by Taylor Wimpey homes and has been left as an open access community facility and nature reserve and is developing into a great local wetland site. Taylor Wimpey still own the site and carry out a basic management plan. The deeper ‘Blue Lagoon’ lake houses a Geological SSSI - this lake is not accessible but is viewable down from the BBOWT Oakley Hill Reserve.

The site offers many add ons for a longer day out or family visit. It is located next to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Heritage Railway that run regular services to Princes Risborough and back (www.chinnorrailway.co.uk). The Ridgeway National Trail runs through the site offers many options for longer walks and there are two BBOWT Nature Reserves in close proximity (Chinnor Hill and Oakley Hill - www.bbowt.org.uk/nature -reserves) offering additional Butterfly, Woodland and Chalk Grassland interest. Chinnor offers a range of cafes and pubs. Note there are no toilet facilities on site.

Nestled between the village of Chinnor and the foot of the Chiltern escarpment the site holds a range of habitat from a complex of lakes with varying depth, muddy and stony ‘beaches’ to Chiltern woodland, grassland and large areas of scrub. A compact site that works perfectly both for a short lunch time birding walk for an hour or a longer morning or afternoon trip.

Frustratingly the site is popular with local dog walkers and the lack of signage means they will often cause disturbance to birds using the lakes - visitors are kindly asked to walk at a respectful distance from the waters edge.

Red Route

Walk from the station car park around the edge of the chalk cliff - interest in the chalk grassland reversion, geology of the chalk and towards the first seasonal pool. Walk up, along and over the scrubby ‘shoulder’ towards the fishing lake on your right and seasonally wet willow and birch scrub on your left. Carry on and turn left along the broken concrete track between hawthorn scrub and sycamore copse. Turn right at the end of the fence line and walk through bramble scrub and to the first of two viewing screens over the lakes. Please do not pass here to avoid disturbance of birds on the water.

Blue Route

Double back along the concrete track and turn left taking the concrete track down through more hawthorn (and Juniper) scrub and sycamore copse to the second viewing screen with views across the water and the muddy/stony beaches. Carry on along the fence line for views across the chalk grassland reversion and scrub to the corner with good higher views along the lakes and escarpment ridge and woodland. Keep right and walk back along the woodland edge of the site back to the fishing lake.

Green Route
Either take a short drive up and park off the hill in the car park on the Ridgeway or take a longer walk from the end of the site up on to the Ridgeway and walk onto the BBOWT Oakley Hill reserve (good site for Butterflies) for good views down over the deeper ‘Blue Lagoon’ lake with it’s steep cliffs of exposed chalk (take your scope for better views of the water.) The Reserve is linear and doesn’t offer a round trip so double back onto the Ridgeway.

The Site

Winter

The main winter interest lies on the water (A) with large numbers Teal, Pochard, Little Grebe and Tufted Duck overwintering with occasional records of Gadwall, Shoveler and Wigeon. Winter Thrushes are common but in small numbers. The site attracts a good number of Gulls with Common Gull often recorded. Marsh Tit have been recorded venturing down from the Chiltern woodland (B) and a scan of the ridge line will often bring Raven and the occasional Peregrine amongst the Buzzards and Red Kites. Tawny Owl can frequently be heard calling. Meadow Pipits and Linnet will often be recorded in the grassland reversion (C) areas.

Spring
The wide range of scrub (D) and woodland brings good selection of warblers to the site including Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler. Peregrine and Hobby can often be seen hunting and hawking. At least one pair of Little Ringed Plover (E) have bred on the stony islands in recent years. Other waders such as Lapwing and Oystercatcher have looked like establishing territory but frequent disturbance from dog walkers has prevented any attempts.

Passage Migrants
The site attracts a good number of both spring and autumn migrants on passage. Common Sandpiper are the highlight with birds often long staying (E). Green Sandpiper are regular visitors as are Lapwing and Oystercatcher with Wood Sandpiper being a highlight in recent years. Wheatear, Redstart, Yellow Wagtail and Spotted Flycatcher have been recorded in the Autumn along with Sand Martin and longer staying Stonechats often seen favouring the larger areas of bramble scrub (F).

Lower Windrush Valley Gravel Pits Complex

This is a complex of gravel excavation pits located to the west of Oxford along the Windrush Valley. The most well known pits are Dix Pit and Pit 60. For more detailed information on some of the pits see the Lower Windrush Valley Project blog or the OOS LWV site page

Map courtesy of David Dunford

Otmoor Site Guide

Blogs: Otmoor Birding, The Otmoor Blogger

Introduction

The Otmoor basin forms the floodplain of the River Ray. It is a natural wetland that in the past flooded during the winter and then gradually dried out during the spring and summer to sedge, reed beds and water meadows. The people in the surrounding villages harvested wildfowl and fish and during the summer they grazed and hayed the meadows. More recently the land was drained and fields were given over to arable farming. A large area was owned by the Ministry of Defence and this area remained as wet rough grazing.

The RSPB has acquired almost one thousand acres in the area and have set about returning this to lowland wet grassland, which is the preferred breeding habitat for Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank and Curlew. In addition they have created a fifty five acre reed bed, encouraged scrub in some areas and developed scrapes and wet features throughout the site. There is a car park, a large hide, two viewing screens and several permissive footpaths. It forms a very extensive reserve. The list of species recorded here is well over two hundred and includes some notable rarities including: Glossy Ibis, Lesser Yellowlegs, Purple Heron, Great White Egret, Marsh Warbler, Red Footed Falcon and Spoonbill. In a normal year we would expect to see over one hundred and fifty different species. The seasonal sections below give an indication of what one might expect to see during the year.

Access Instructions

From the Headington roundabout on the ring road on the east side of Oxford (SP555074) take the minor turn-off signposted for Barton, just before the turn off that heads towards the M40. Follow this road for about 3km until you come to a cross-roads. Here turn left and then immediately right, signposted for Beckley village. Keep straight along this road and at the church follow the road round to the right.  Just past the Abingdon Arms pub keep straight on when the road bends round to the right. This will be Otmoor Lane which should be followed all the way down to the end where it turns to the left and the car park entrance is immediately on the right (SP569126 ).

 Map of the Field Names - original (c) Dave Dunford

Specialities

Spring and Summer

From late March onwards the focus is on arriving migrants that stay and breed and on passage birds. During this period and throughout the summer it should be possible to both see and hear ten species of warbler, amongst them: Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat, as well as the commoner species, and all of them breed on the reserve. Cuckoos parasitise Reed Warbler nests and are frequent here. This is one of the last reliable sites in Oxfordshire for Turtle Doves and there are usually at least two pairs present. At the very beginning of May there is normally a large influx of Hobbies and for a week or so just after they have arrived there can be up to twenty birds feeding over the fields before eventually dispersing to breed. There are usually a couple of pairs that breed here and remain throughout the summer. They can be seen most days hawking dragonflies over the fields and ditches from mid morning onwards. Marsh Harriers visit throughout this period but as yet have not stayed to breed.

From early March Lapwings will be holding territory and displaying and they will be joined by Redshank, Curlew and Snipe. Snipe can be heard drumming right through to July. Little ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers usually attempt to breed on the moor in most years, with occasional success. Garganey is present in good numbers although confirming breeding is difficult with such a secretive duck. Other regular breeding species are large numbers of Skylarks, Reed Buntings, Bullfinches and the commoner hedgerow birds.

On passage there will be Wheatears, Whinchats, Redstarts and the occasional Ring Ousel. In addition we always expect to see a number of different passage waders although these are much more weather dependent. Quail are heard most years but seldom seen. Hirundines and Swifts are always noticeable taking advantages of the hatches of flies from over the water bodies and the insects around the cattle, that are brought on to graze the fields once the Lapwing breeding season is over.

Whooper Swans (c) Badger

Autumn and Winter
Another passage takes place in early autumn and birds seem to have much more time to feed up and improve their condition before moving on, now that the breeding imperative has gone. As our breeding migrants leave their place is taken by winter visitors, notably Redwings and Fieldfares. It is at this time that we have a major influx of wildfowl most noticeable amongst them very large numbers of Wigeon and Teal. At the height of the winter there will be well over a thousand of each of those species present. There will also be large numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard and Pintail. Water Rails that are present all through the year become easier to see at this time of the year. Large flocks of Lapwings and Golden Plovers can be seen over the moor during the winter often in flocks of over a thousand. A Starling roost will usually develop in the first winter period and numbers have been as high as fifty thousand birds. They roost in the reed bed and can put on the most spectacular displays. The roost and its display can disappear in a matter of days as the flocks move on. Bitterns have been present during the last six winters and Bearded Tits are becoming a regular autumn attraction.

Male Hen Harrier (c) Roger Wyatt

Whitefronted Geese are a regular visitor in the late winter period often in company with the resident Greylags and Canada Geese. Winter swans are also possible but less regular and less reliable.
Merlin, Hen Harriers and Short Eared Owls are regular winter visitors and join Peregrines, Common Buzzards, Kestrels and Red Kites as the raptors to be seen. Ravens, present throughout the year are much more likely to be seen at this time.

Conclusion

A visit at any time of year will be interesting. As well as the birds there are a wide range of different Butterflies and Dragonflies. They are often present in very large numbers when compared to the countryside at large.

There are many mammal species that are regularly seen here most notably Brown Hares and Otters.
I hope that you enjoy your visit at whatever time you choose to come.

Peter Barker

Radley Lakes

Radley Lakes

The "Ash Pit" is the water on the right-hand side above "Thrupp Green"

Thrupp Lake is good for wintering waterfowl, including Smew occasionally & roosting gulls

The Ash Pit is unfortunately more or less dried up now

The whole area is good for dragonflies and damselflies

Farmoor Site Guide

Map (c) Dave Dunford

Access

Farmoor reservoir is located just south of Farmoor village which is due west of Oxford city. The B4044 will take you to Farmoor village and at the roundabout turn onto the B4017 towards Cumnor. The main access is at Gate 3 on the right-hand side after about 500 yards which is located at about here. Park in the main car park and walk up the ramp to the reservoir. From 2013 onwards parking charges are enforced of £2 per day or £20 for a season ticket, the latter can be bought from the on-site wardens. From the reservoir bank one can walk around the perimeter of both reservoirs or along the Cauesway between them.

Hides

There are serveral hides which are now all free to access (they used to be locked by a key). There is one on the Causeway, and one overlooking Farmoor II and the Shrike Meadow scrapes.

Typical Species

Winter: Possible Diver species, chance of Slavonian or Black-necked Grebes, Goosander, Goldeneye, Smew, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull, Caspian Gull,Med Gull  Bittern, Jack Snipe, chance of Water Pipit.

Slavonian Grebe (c) The Paranoid Birder

Spring/Autumn: Passage Terns inc Black, Sandwich and Little Terns, Little Gull, Garganey, passage waders including Bar & Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Rock Pipt, occasional Snow Bunting.

Little Gull (c) Matt Prior

Port Meadow Site Guide

Blogs: Port Meadow Birding 

General     

Port Meadow is a large area of common grassland to the west of Oxford which is bordered by the Thames to the west, the railway line to the East and Wolvercote village to the north. Its main attraction from a birding point of view is when it floods in the winter. A large number of duck over-winter on the floods and depending on the amount of water present, at times there can be attractive mud flats which attract over-wintering and passage waders. To the north-east of the Meadow lies Burgess Field Nature Reserve, built on an old rubbish tip, which consists of scrub land and specially planted hedgerows.

Grid Reference     Access from SP501072 or SP501078.

Map
Below is a Google Map of the Patch with the various key locations labelled.

View Port Meadow Birding Patch Boundaries in a larger map

Directions and parking    

The main access point to the Meadow is from Walton Well Road, at the end of which is a car park. From the Walton Well Road car park there are a couple of paths across the Meadow, one heading west towards the river and one heading north along a part-metalled track. Taking this latter path leads north to the main flood area. The entrance gate into Burgess Field NR is at the end of this track. There is also a second access point via Aristotle Lane which enters the Meadow by the Trap Ground allotments. However parking is limited here and at peak access times (school start and end times) vehicular access over the canal bridge is restricted by rising bollards.

From the West: coming into Oxford along the Botley road, keep straight on past the station passing the Royal Oxford Hotel on your right. The road then bends round to the left. At the traffic lights turn left into Walton Street. Continue down Walton Street for a few minutes until you come to a mini-roundabout with the Victoria pub on the right and "Peppers Burgers" on the left. Turn left here into Walton Well road. Go over the canal bridge and immediately afterwards as the road bends right turn off left over the railway bridge. At the bottom of the road is a carpark on the left.

From the North: take the Woodstock road south from the ring-road until you come to St. Margaret's Road on your right. Turn right here and at the other end is a mini-roundabout. Turn left here into Kingston Road. Follow this road for a couple of minutes until you come to a second mini-roundabout. Turn right here into Walton Well Road and follow the instructions above.

Public transport    

From the centre of Oxford take the 17, 17A or 17C bus and alight at the Longworth Road stop (by the "Grog Shop"). Walk down Longworth road and at the bottom turn right into Walton Well Road and go over the canal bridge. Follow the instructions for driving from there on.

Specialities    

Winter: Over-wintering ducks include: Widgeon and Teal in large numbers, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pintail, Common Shelduck and occasionally Ruddy Shelduck. There is a large resident flock of Canada Geese and feral Greylag Geese which occasionally entices various other geese such as pink foot, bean and barnacle geese to drop in. Over-wintering waders can include Ruff, Redshank, Dunlin, Lapwing, Snipe and often large numbers of Golden Plover. There's usually a reasonable number of over-wintering gulls which can occasionally throw up a rarity. There's always the possibility of a Peregrine flying over, attracted by the large numbers of other birds. On Burgess Field Redwing, Fieldfare, Siskin, Stonechat, Snipe and occasionally Jack Snipe can all be seen.

Port Meadow attracts its fair share of rarities: this Lesser Yellowlegs 

spent nearly a month on the floods in October 2010

Spring/Autumn: Stopping briefly on passage one might expect Ruff, Redshank, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Black and Bar-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Little Stint, Whimbrel and Greenshank though it's possible for anything to turn up. Garganey can be seen in March and April. Common and Arctic Tern can pass through as can Little Gull. Yellow and White wagtail and Wheatear are also possible in the surrounding fields. In Burgess Field Barn Owls can be seen hunting at dusk.

Another rarity was this American Golden Plover in November 2012

Summer: if the floods all dry up then there is relatively little of interest on the Meadow itself. However whilst the floods remain there is always the possibility of something interesting dropping in. In Burgess Field there are a variety of warblers including Grasshopper Warbler.

Residents in Burgess Field include Skylark, Green Woodpecker, Reed Bunting and a variety of common finches.

On the river Thames itself especially amongst the back waters are Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher.