Tar Lakes, Rushy Common: 25th February

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common
2 Oystercatcher 13:34.
Great White Egret 13:34.
Grey Heron 13:34.
2 Great Crested Grebe 13:34.
2 Cormorant 13:34.
Cetti's Warbler 13:34.
6 Long-tailed Tit 13:34.

Steve Akers

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common: 25th February

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common
Long-tailed Duck 13:34.
2 Goldeneye: drake; fem. 13:34.
8 Pintail: 5 drake; 3 fem. 13:34.
6 Gadwall: 3 pairs. 13:34.
116 Teal 13:34.
138 Shoveler 13:34.
77 Wigeon 13:34.
70 Tufted Duck 13:34.
5 Mallard 13:34.
21 Coot 13:34.

Steve Akers

Standlake Pit 60: 25th February

Standlake Pit 60
Scaup: fem type. Female type associating with 2 Drake Tufted Ducks. Also significant numbers of other ducks: Pintail, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted, Pochard, and x4 Red- Crested Pochard. SP387018. 14:00.

Steve Violette

Rushy Common 25th February

Long-tailed Duck male 16:00 from the car park (et al)

Key Holder Reserve 

OX29 6UN

Wellingtons advised for hide

Oxford 25th February

Black Redstart male still present on and around Christ Church college 13:28 (S.B)

Henley Road GPs: 25th February

Henley Road GPs
9 Pintail 13:27.

Marek Walford

Day's Lock/Bishop's Court Farm - Weds 25th

White-fronted Geese 9 on Bishop's Court Farm scrapes for second day. Plus an additional 7 flew over.

Cattle Egret 5

Ruddy Shelduck here briefly on Mon 23rd.

Church Farm Backwaters/River of life 2

Marsh Harrier 1 juv hunting over the flooded area.

Pintail 11 

Shoveler 6

Teal c200

Great White Egret 1 

Little Egret 4

Water Rail 1

Cetti's Warbler 1

Kennington: 24th February

Kennington
14 Lesser Redpoll 11:00.

Nick Suckling

Cornwell Marsh and Wetland: 25th February

Cornwell Marsh and Wetland
23 Redwing 08:33.
30 Fieldfare 08:33.
Mistle Thrush 08:33.
2 Song Thrush 08:33.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 08:33.
200 Jackdaw 08:33.
50 Rook 08:33.
3 Buzzard 08:33.
2 Red Kite 08:33.
Kestrel 08:33.

Steve Akers

Cornwell Marsh and Wetland: 25th February

Cornwell Marsh and Wetland
3 Stonechat: pair; ind male. 08:33.
2 Snipe 08:33.
4 Grey Heron 08:33.
38 Mallard 08:33.
2 Canada Goose 08:33.
2 Moorhen 08:33.
10 Reed Bunting: Males singing over territories. 08:33.
8 Meadow Pipit 08:33.
Grey Wagtail 08:33.
65 Starling 08:33.

Steve Akers

Oxford 24th February

Black Redstart male still present on and around Christ Church college (per Birdguides)

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I: 24th February

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I
Scaup: female?. north end of f1. 14:45.

Alan Horsley

Cornwell Marsh and Wetland: 24th February

Cornwell Marsh and Wetland
4 Stonechat: pair at wetland; 2 fem on marsh. 11:45.
24 Mallard 11:45.
Moorhen 11:45.
2 Grey Heron: One in old oak tree; one feeding on marsh. 11:45.
2 Skylark: Singing over territories. 11:45.
22 Starling 11:45.
100 Jackdaw 11:45.
Buzzard 11:45.

Steve Akers

Letcombe Regis: 24th February

Fieldfare in the trees alongside then cricket pitch

 

Rushy Common 24th February

Long-tailed Duck male 15:51 from the car park (per Kyle Smith et al)

Key Holder Reserve 

OX29 6UN

Wellingtons advised for hide

Henley Road GPs: 24th February

Henley Road GPs
6 Pintail: 3m+3f. 13:00.

Marek Walford

Eynsham: Chil Brook: 24th February

Eynsham: Chil Brook
2 Chiffchaff both birds singing. 1st of the year for me. 11:53.
Yellowhammer 11:53.

Richard Parsons

Farmoor Reservoir 24th February

Common Scoter imm male F1

Scaup f F1

Marsh Harrier Pinkhill

Stonechat 2 Pinkhill

(P.B et al)

Redpoll courtesy of Nick Truby

Chinnor: Cement Works: 23rd February

Chinnor: Cement Works
2 Oystercatcher: Still on Lake 2b. 11:30.

David Stracey

Pudlicote: 23rd February

Pudlicote
10 Teal 15:45.
9 Mallard: Also incredible to see 5 Brown Hare in adjacent field beginning to pair up. 15:45.
7 Canada Goose 15:45.
2 Moorhen 15:45.
Grey Heron 15:45.
Mistle Thrush 15:45.
Kestrel 15:45.

Steve Akers

Farmoor Reservoir 23rd February

Common Scoter - second calendar year male

Greater Scaup - female

Farmoor Reservoir 23rd February

Common Scoter imm male F1

Scaup f F1

11:46 (E.U)

Russian White-fronted Goose 10

Marsh Harrier f

Dunlin 20

Chiffchaff 6

13:13 (D.L)

Henley Road GPs: 23rd February

Henley Road GPs
6 Pintail: 3m+3f. 12:48.
2 Little Egret 12:48.
Ring-necked Parakeet: Heard. 12:48.

Marek Walford

Cornwell Marsh and Wetland: 23rd February

Cornwell Marsh and Wetland
4 Stonechat: 3 male; 1 fem. 09:41.
Water Rail 09:41.
55 Mallard 09:41.
Grey Heron 09:41.
Grey Wagtail 09:41.
Reed Bunting 09:41.
2 Meadow Pipit 09:41.
2 Kestrel 09:41.
6 Red Kite 09:41.

Steve Akers

Oxford 23rd February

Black Redstart male still present 12:05 on and around Christ Church college 

Peregrine over

(per Phil Barnett)

Rushy Common 23rd February

Long-tailed Duck male reported this morning from the car park.

Key Holder Reserve 

OX29 6UN

Wellingtons advised 

Oxford 22nd February

Black Redstart male still present 10:29 on and around Christ Church college (per Phil Barnett)

Standlake: 3T Pit: 22nd February

Standlake: 3T Pit
Great White Egret 14:30.
Egyptian Goose 14:30.
Goldeneye: drk. 14:30.
3 Goosander: 2 drk and 1 rh. 14:30.
2 Red-crested Pochard: drk. 14:30.
Chiffchaff: In song. 14:30.

Standlake Pit 60
100 White-fronted Goose: Over NW calling. 17:00.
4 Goldeneye: 2 pairs. 17:00.
4 Oystercatcher: Flying around noisily together. 17:00.

Aythya hybrid suggesting Ferruginous.

(per Ian Elkins)

Pit60 WeBs count

Teal 848

Wigeon 399

Pochard 316

Pintail 147

Tufted duck 99 

Golden plover 12

GWE 1. 

Langley lane totally inaccessible even in wellies.

(per Andy Last)

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I: 22nd February

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I
Common Scoter: Very close to Western rim, associating with group of great crested grebes. 16:45.
Scaup: Very close to Western rim. 16:45.

Matthew Lloyd

Scaup courtesy of Ian Stewart 

Stanton Harcourt 22nd February

No sign of any Smew on Pit 18/Linch Hill early afternoon 

Red-crested Pochard c20

Little Egret 2

Rushy Common 22nd February

Long-tailed duck from the screen mid-afternoon.

Long-tailed Duck male still present mid afternoon from screen and periodically from the car park 

Goldeneye 2 m/f
Marsh Harrier
Great white Egret
Little Egret 3
Stock Dove 2 

Key Holder Reserve 

OX29 6UN

Wellingtons advised 

Courtesy of Badger

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common
Long-tailed Duck 13:05.
2 Goldeneye: pair. 13:05.
7 Pintail 13:05.
91 Shoveler 13:05.
120 Wigeon: Estimate. 13:05.
80 Teal: Estimate. 13:05.
80 Tufted Duck: Estimate. 13:05.
9 Gadwall 13:05.
20 Coot 13:05.
4 Great Crested Grebe 13:05.

(per Steve Akers)

Brize Norton: 22nd February

Brize Norton
Skylark: SP295075. 15:48.
Stonechat: male. SP296075. 11:30.

Joanna Harding

Rushy Common, 22nd February

Long-tailed Duck from the car park © Stephen Burch

Otmoor Greenaways: 22nd February

Skein of 266 White-fronted Geese over Otmoor this afternoon (per Steve Sansom)

Otmoor Greenaways
12 White-fronted Goose: Flew out of Greenaways and headed East. SU526914. 07:15.

Beckley: Otmoor Lane
3 Marsh Harrier: Seen across reed beds; Greenaways, Screen1 and 2. SU526914. 08:15.
2 Bittern: At least males booming. SU526914. 08:15.

(per Steve Violette)

New Marston: New Marston Meadows: 22nd February

New Marston: New Marston Meadows
Brambling: Female. Last seen in hedge by Victoria Arms. 10:39.
2 Stonechat: Marston Hamms, still. 10:39.

Steve Jennings

Pudlicote Wetland, Chilson: 21st February

Pudlicote Wetland, Chilson
66 Teal: SP314202. 12:41.
13 Mallard: SP314202. 12:41.
28 Canada Goose: SP314202. 12:41.
Little Egret: SP314202. 12:41.
3 Grey Heron: SP314202. 12:41.
3 Moorhen: SP314202. 12:41.
Green Woodpecker: SP314202. 12:41.
19 Fieldfare: SP314202. 12:41.
4 Skylark: SP314202. 12:41.
Buzzard: SP314202. 12:41.

Steve Akers

Farmoor Reservoir: 21st February

Farmoor Reservoir
Scaup: Long-stay female showing well on SW side of F1 close to causeway. SP444066. 15:45.
Common Scoter: juv male. Long-stay duck on NW side of F1. SP444066. 15:45.

Steve Violette

Standlake, pit 60: 21st February

Scaup 1f
Pintail 488
Pochard 405
Aythya sp. - female type Ferruginous, but likely hybrid
Oystercatcher 2, pit 27

Rushy Common 21st February

Long-tailed Duck male 15:15 from hide or periodically from the car park (per Ian Elkins)

Key Holder Reserve 

OX29 6UN

Wellingtons advised 

Dean Grove: 21st February

Dean Grove
Hawfinch: Flew over calling. 14:26.

Yacky Morris

Blenheim: 21st February

Blenheim
2 Great White Egret 09:30.
2 Goosander: Pair. 09:30.
9 Common Crossbill: 2 nr coombe gate 7 just north of coombe gate in Pinus Nigra. 09:30.

Michael Hunt

Farmoor Reservoir: 21st February

Farmoor Reservoir
Scaup
Common Scoter

Adam Hartley 

Common Scoter videograb courtesy of Gnome

The Scaup courtesy of Gnome

 

New Marston: New Marston Meadows: 21st February

New Marston: New Marston Meadows
Great White Egret: Marston Hamms, over. Also little grebe still. Other species: otter. 08:10.

Steve Jennings

Oxford 21st February

Black Redstart male still present 10:06 on and around Christ Church college (per Phil Barnett)

Middle Assendon: 20th February

20th February

Middle Assendon
12 Brambling: Feeding on and under feeders in my mum's garden from 1pm-3pm then departed north. 13:00.
Raven: Over heading west towards Bix common. 14:30.

Ashley Stow

Blenheim 20th February

Goosander - 4 (2 pairs) engaged in courtship behaviour.

Great white egret - 2. One bird coming into breeding plumage.

Oystercatcher - 1

Caspian gull - 2nd winter bird again yesterday morning.

Cutteslowe: 20th February

For the past week my garden has been visited by up to 30 Redpolls which has been very instructive. The birds have shown significant variation in overall colour, whitish rumps, tramlines, red/pink breasts, flank streaks etc, two birds have had rings, two birds have shown no poll at all, and two birds have shown a 'yellow poll'. The ringing info for the photo above - 'BPJ0679'  a first year bird ringed at Thorpe Marsh, South Yorkshire on 27.9.25. The largest 'grey' Redpoll with white wing bars may have passed the ID test for a Mealy in the old days.

Henley Road GPs: 20th February

Henley Road GPs
4 Pintail: 2m+2f. 13:05.
4 Little Egret 13:05.

Marek Walford

Rushy Common; 20th February 2026

Long-tailed Duck (male) - at north end of pit from screen

Great Egret 3

Pintail 10+

Old Caley's Diary

Rushy Common 20th February

Long-tailed Duck male 10:29 viewable from hide and periodically from the car park (N.T)

Great white Egret 

Key Holder Reserve 

OX29 6UN

Wellingtons advised 

Farmoor Reservoir 20th February

Russian White-fronted Goose 10 still just south of Witley Farm 09:34 (P.B)

Pudlicote Wetland, Chilson: 19th February

Pudlicote Wetland, Chilson
2 Crane: Flew in from W and settled in field beside the Evenlode and fed before flying out in direction of Otmoor. SP315210. 12:21.
40 Snipe: Large flock put up by dog. SP315210. 12:21.
Grey Heron: SP315210. 12:21.
8 Teal: SP315210. 12:21.
7 Mallard: SP315210. 12:21.
Mute Swan: SP315210. 12:21.
25 Canada Goose: SP315210. 12:21.
105 Lesser Black-backed Gull: SP315210. 12:21.
3 Moorhen: SP315210. 12:21.
100 Fieldfare: SP315210. 12:21.
Green Woodpecker: SP314210. 12:21.
Kestrel: SP314210. 12:21.

Steve Akers

Otmoor rspb 19th February

Glossy Ibis 2 

Bittern booming

Marsh Harrier 

(per Jamie Mayall)

Courtesy of Jamie Mayall 

Courtesy of Jamie Mayall 

Farmoor Reservoir 19th February

Russian White-fronted Goose c8 south of Whitley Farm viewable distantly from the south bank of F2.

Great white Egret 

Common Scoter imm male F1

Scaup f F1

(per Dave Lowe)

Rushy Common 19th February

Long-tailed Duck male 13:00 viewable from hide and periodically from the car park (D.L J.T)

Great white Egret 

Key Holder Reserve 

OX29 6UN

Wellingtons advised 

Henley Road GPs: 19th February

Henley Road GPs
2 Pintail: m+f. 12:30.
2 Oystercatcher 12:30.

Marek Walford