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For questions you can contact Adam at: adamchartley "at" gmail "dot" com or Jason at: jasoncppk "at" yahoo "dot" co "dot" uk

Saturday 30 April 2011

GoingBirding: 30th April

Port Meadow
41 Bar-tailed Godwit: A different flock from this morning's birds. 40 of them flew off leaving just the one bird.
5 Greenshank
5 Ringed Plover
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Green Sandpiper
3 Garganey: 2m 1f.
Dunlin
2 Oystercatcher

Adam Hartley


Barwits galore on the Meadow (c) Adam Hartley

sub species

There seems to be a sub species of The Wickster cropping up at Port Meadow.
From a distance, even using bins you could assume it was Tom and even 50m away with the naked eye you could be decieved.

It is in fact Phil Chapman, a 2nd year student at St Johns.

From a distance the 2 ere easily confused......rucksack.....shorts...sun tan and a shock of tussled hair but on closer inspection...and I mean 10m away you can see Phil is younger, hair not so free and the clincher is that Phil has a bike.

Prize of a (cheap) bottle of wine if someone puts up Photo's of the 2 for comparison.


wab

GoingBirding: 30th April

Radley GP: ""Ash-fill pit"""
Oystercatcher
Black-tailed Godwit: Summer plumaged bird.
5 Bar-tailed Godwit

David Brown

GoingBirding: 30th April

Port Meadow
Peregrine: Flew in from river direction above south end of floods and hassled gulls before flying back over river.

Steve Goddard

Port Meadow @1200

A veritable waderfest
Bar tailed Godwit 20 (6f 14m)
Greenshank 5
Green Sandpiper 2
Ringed Plover 5
Little Ringed Plover 2
Dunlin 1
Oystercatcher 2
Garganey 3 (2m 1f)
Common Tern 2
Yellow Wagtail 6+

GoingBirding: 30th April

Grimsbury Reservoir
2 Black Tern
Common Sandpiper

Duncan Eames

Rough-legged Buzzard at Warborough

A rough-legged buzzard reported on OOS by "SRA" (Steve Ash) today at Warborough

Port Meadow Saturday 30th April

The Meadow is on top form today. So far we've had:
21 bar-tailed godwits
5 greenshank
2 ringed plover
2 green sandpipers
2 common terns
3 garganey

Radley 30th April

1100:

2 Wood Sandpiper
1 Green Sandpiper
5 Bar-tailed Godwits
1 Black-tailed Godwit
1 LRP
1 Oystercatcher
4 Lapwing

All on small ash pit apart from Green Sand (H/I) and Oystercatcher (Thrupp Lake).

GoingBirding: 30th April

Radley GP: ""Ash-fill pit"""
Green Sandpiper: Then moved to Lake H/I.
Reed Warbler: Singing.

Gavin Paterson

GoingBirding: 30th April

Radley GP: ""Ash-fill pit"""
2 Wood Sandpiper
Black-tailed Godwit
5 Bar-tailed Godwit

Gavin Paterson

Friday 29 April 2011

Port Meadow 29th April

25 Godwits (Probably Bar-tailed)
Still present at 21-00 hrs.
( per the Wickster)

GoingBirding: 29th April

Grove
Curlew: N end of airfield.

Leo Bateman

Farmoor am

Arctic Tern 3
Black Tern 2
Common Tern 8
Common Sandpiper 2
Ringed Plover 1 heard only
Cuckoo 1
Common Swift 30+
Sand Martin 250+
Swallow 50+

Standlake, 29 April

Bar-tailed Godwit 1 (18 thru early am per DAD)
Hobby 1
LR Plover 4
Redshank 2
Oystercatcher 2
Common Sand 2
Little Egret 1
RC Pochard 1
Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat etc.

GoingBirding: 29th April

Otmoor
2 Whimbrel
Cuckoo
Curlew: Heard.
4 Redshank
3 Ringed Plover

Nick Suckling

GoingBirding: 29th April

Port Meadow
3 Oystercatcher
Green Sandpiper
Dunlin
2 Garganey: pair.
Yellow Wagtail: The female blue-headed type still. No sign of the Whimbrel.

Richard Foster

Otmoor.A.M. 29th. April.

2 Curlew
2+ cuckoo
3 Red Kite (1 Pale Morph)
2 Raven
1 Pr. Moorfowl + 8 Chicks
9 Varieties of Warbler

seen with 'Bark'

GoingBirding: 29th April


Port Meadow
Whimbrel 2
Garganey 1+
Oystercatcher 1

Adam Hartley

photo (c) Adam Hartley

GoingBirding: 29th April

Otmoor
Raven: Over carpark.

Dave Morris

Thursday 28 April 2011

Port Meadow 28th April

2 Garganey: 1m 1f.
2 Dunlin
3 Golden Plover
1 Oystercatcher
1 female Blue-headed Wagtail (m.f. flava) present since yesterday evening
3 Garden Warblers in Burgess Field
1 Egyptian Goose
1 probable Arctic Tern

Adam Hartley


Some record shot footage of the blue-headed wagtail

Radley GP's

Black tailed Godwit 1m L.l.islandica
Bar tailed Godwit 1m
Little Ringed Plover 1
Common Redshank 1
Lapwing 3
Common Tern 2
White Wagtail 1
Yellow Wagtail 1
Sand Martin/Swallow/Garden Warbler/Blackcap/Common Whitethroat/Sedge Warbler/Willow Warbler/Common ChiffChaff

Radley Gravel Pits 28th April

1 Black tailed godwit (breeding plumage)
1 Bar tailed godwit (breeding plumage)
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Common Tern
5 Swift
30+ sand martin
4 House Martin
warblers

Farmoor 28th April




Black Tern 2

Bar-tailed Godwit 1

GoingBirding: 28th April

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
6 Redshank
Hobby
Cuckoo
Curlew
2 Little Ringed Plover
4 Little Egret
2 Oystercatcher

Gavin Paterson

Wednesday 27 April 2011

GoingBirding: 27th April

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
2 Oystercatcher

David Brown

Port Meadow 27th April


2 Oystercatcher
1 Shelduck
3 Garganey (2m, 1f)
1 Channel Wagtail
10 Yellow Wagtails
1 Garden Warbler (Burgess Field)

The Channel wagtail was around this evening and was still present at 18:20.

Foster & Gnome

Channel Wagtail record shot (c) Gnome

Cholsey, 27th April

Redstart
2 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Wheatear
5 Yellow Wagtail

GoingBirding: 27th April

Radley GP: ""Ash-fill pit"""
Bar-tailed Godwit: SU524975.
Dunlin: SU524975.
Greenshank: SU524975.

Anthony Roberts

Otmoor.A.M. 27th.April.

1 Curlew
3+ Hobby
7+ Swift
2 L.R.Plover
1 Pr. Linnet
2 Oystercatcher
3 L. Egret
Mixed Hirundines

1 Hairy Dragonfly
1 Broad Bodied Chaser (f)

Farmoor 27th April

2 Hobbies
2 Black Tern
1 Little Ringed Plover

Tuesday 26 April 2011

GoingBirding: 26th April

Port Meadow
2 Oystercatcher
Common Sandpiper
Redshank

Richard Foster

GoingBirding: 26th April

26th April

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
Redshank
20 Swift

Farmoor Reservoir: Pinkhill
Cuckoo: Heard only.

Steve Goddard

GoingBirding: 26th April

Oxford: Walton Manor
2 Swift

Port Meadow
2 Swift
2 Oystercatcher
2 little ringed plover
2 Garganey: 1m 1f.
Red Kite
9 Yellow Wagtail

Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park
Garden Warbler

Adam Hartley

Farmoor 26th April

09:00 - 10:30
30 Swifts
2 Oystercatchers
1 Little Egret
1 Gropper
3 Common Tern

Port Meadow 26 April

7:30 - 8:30am
2 Garganey (pair)
1 LRP
1 Redshank

Cholsey Marsh at dawn

3 Cuckoo
2 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat

More @ http://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/

Monday 25 April 2011

GoingBirding: 25th April

Port Meadow
3 Garganey: 2m 1f.
2 Oystercatcher
10 Yellow Wagtail

Adam Hartley

Farmoor 25th April

2 Arctic Tern

Dave Daniels

Otmoor.A.M.25th. April.

2 L.R.Plover
Pill Ground:
2 Raven
4 Curlew
1 Kestrel
3 Swallow

Port Meadow late morning

Garganey 3 2m1f
Yellow Wagtail 8 (in amongst horses and cattle)
Oystercatcher 2
Lapwing 2
Common Tern 1
Teal 17
also Gadwall,Shoveler and Mallard
1 House Martin,
2 Swallow
2 Sand Martin

GoingBirding: 25th April

Banbury
Reed Warbler: m. Singing. River Cherwell by Spiceball Leisure Centre.

Gareth Blockley

Kittiwake Grimsbury Reservoir

Kittiwake at Grimsbury reservoir this morning. It was colour ringed and I will post more details when I get them but checking schemes on http://www.cr-birding.be/ I can't find any that match. Also a Med gull, 2 Common terns, Yellow wagtail over north, White wagtail with all grey head but black bib (any help on age and sex of this bird would be appreciated - no pictures), Little ringed plover (per Clive Payne), Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warblers, 9 Whitethroats, 19 Sedge warblers, 2 Willow warblers and the Lapwings still.



Kittiwake on the water



Kittiwake showing leg rings


Med gull


Otmoor Pics

Long Tailed Tit


Sedge Warbler




Dunnock






Lesser Whitethroat








Sedge Warbler










Pheasant


Photo's (c) Wayne P.Bull









Sunday 24 April 2011

GoingBirding: 23rd April

Shenington Airfield
2 Yellow Wagtail: SP36743.

Shenington Airfield
2 Wheatear: SP36743.

Shenington Airfield
Corn Bunting: m. Singing. SP36743.

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
3 Yellow Wagtail
White Wagtail: m.
Green Sandpiper

Gareth Blockley

GoingBirding: 24th April

Port Meadow
3 Garganey: 2 male, 1 fem. Egyptian Goose also present.

Joe Harris

Farmoor Reservoir 24th April

2 Honey Buzzard over Farmoor today reported by John Wyatt
This was the star turn of todays open day.

Radley Ash Pit (16:30) - Godwit

Godwit on the Ash lagoon pit is a Black Tailed.

(info per The Wickster)

Otmoor 24th April am

4 Hobbies feeding high
2 cuckoos
2 Turtle Dove mating in old oak tree in front of hide
plus all the usual numbers of warblers with Lesser Whitethroat particularly noticeable along the bridle way and paths to screen.
Bark

GoingBirding: 24th April

Garsington: Kings Copse Park
Cuckoo: Flew calling over park into fields below Garsington Hill . One here every year. SU571021.

Peter Law

Saturday 23 April 2011

GoingBirding: 23rd April

Port Meadow
2 Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
2 Oystercatcher
Garganey: Male.

Mary Gregory

Farmoor at noon

Black Tern 3 F2
Common Tern 4
Yellow Wagtail 2
Grasshopper Warbler 1m Pinkhill
Garden Warbler 2m Pinkhill
Cuckoo 1m Pinkhill
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Blackcap
Willow Warbler
ChiffChaff
Common Whitethroat

Otmoor 23/04/11

1 Turtle Dove along bridleway
1 Whinchat at Noke end
2 Golden Plover on Big Otmoor
2 Hobbies
Redshank
All usual warblers
Hairy dragonflies
Four Spotted Chasers

Otmoor and Farmoor

Otmoor
9 Warbler species this morning
Lesser Whitethroat
Common Whitethroat
Garden Warbler
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Grasshopper Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler

Farmoor
9 Little Gulls on F1 until 0845 (when they flew off high to the east)

Farmoor 23rd April

2 Sandwich Tern

Otmoor Turtle Dove

In carpark field and along bridle way this morning.
Bark

Friday 22 April 2011

Otmoor 22nd April - Hobby

Two Hobbies over reedbed & Greenaways seen from 1st screen

Farmoor 22nd April am

Grasshopper Warbler 1 (Pinkhill)
Little Egret 1 (Pinkhill)
Cuckoo 2
Garden Warbler 1
Black Tern 6 (F1 & 2)
Common Tern Grasshopper Warbler at Pinkhill. Click here for high res version.
Little Egret at Pinkhill. Click here for high res version.

Photos ©Stephen Burch.

GoingBirding: 22nd April

Farmoor Reservoir: Pinkhill
Grasshopper Warbler: Reeling at the back of the reedbed - viewed from the riverside path.

Tom Coyne

Common Crane,Otmoor 22nd April

1 reported this morning landing in greenaways briefly before flying off towards the flood field.
(Per Richard ebbs oxonbirds)

Otmoor.A.M.22nd. April.

2 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Snipe (drumming)
3+ Cuckoo
2 + Curlew
1 Sparrowhawk (m)
1 Green Sandpiper
2 + Raven
3 Hobby

GoingBirding: 22nd April

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I
6 Black Tern

Jeremy Dexter

GoingBirding: 22nd April

Radley GP
Little Ringed Plover
Oystercatcher
Greenshank: Lake H/I.
2 Cuckoo: 2 calling.

Gavin Paterson

Thursday 21 April 2011

Upper Arncott

Nightingale - Singing on land south of Village late evening.

GoingBirding: 21st April

Milcombe
Brambling: fem. Feeding on niger.

Richard Hazel

GoingBirding: 21st April

Farmoor Reservoir
3 Common Sandpiper

Mike Youngman

GoingBirding: 21st April

Farmoor Reservoir: Pinkhill
Grasshopper Warbler

Mike Youngman

GoingBirding: 21st April

Radley GP
2 Little Ringed Plover
Cuckoo
Oystercatcher
Redshank

John Hillsdon

GoingBirding: 21st April

River Thames - Pangbourne - Caversham
12 Egyptian Goose: 5 pairs 3 pairs with lots of goslings. SU668768.

Tom Wickens

GoingBirding: 21st April

Port Meadow
Osprey: Heading N.
Green Sandpiper
Little Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher
2 Common Tern
2 Garganey

Richard Foster

Otmoor.A.M. 21st. April.

3 Pr Linnet
3+ Cuckoo
2 Wheatear
2 Oystercatcher
6 L.Egret
3 Hobby
1 Garganey(m)
1L.R.Plover
1 Curlew
1 Red Kite (Pale Morph)

GoingBirding: 20th April

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm
Cuckoo

Dave Godfrey

Farmoor (06:30 - 09:15)

Common Sandpiper - 3
Common tern - 4+
Yellow Wag - 2 (over east)
Garden Warbler - 1
Gropper - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 2

GoingBirding: 21st April

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Cuckoo
Curlew

Gavin Paterson

Cholsey, 21st April

Cholsey Marsh, 05:00 - 06:30

1 Cuckoo
3 Grasshopper Warbler



Lollingdon Hill 06:45 – 08:00

4 Wheatear

GoingBirding: 21st April

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
4 Grasshopper Warbler: 4 reeling.
5 Oystercatcher: Pr mating Big Otmoor.

Gavin Paterson

Tuesday 19 April 2011

Stanton Harcourt 19th April

2 Nightingale (both male) heard only
Tawney Owl
Cuckoo
(per Dave Lowe)

GoingBirding: 19th April

Port Meadow
3 Oystercatcher
3 Dunlin
2 Garganey: m+f.
Wheatear

Richard Foster

Farmoor, early afternoon


1 Black Tern
Several Common Tern
1 White Wagtail
1 Dunlin
1 Ringed Plover

                                   Ringed Plover

                                   Bad hair day for this Tufted on Pinkhill!

Rufous Turtle Dove 19th April

Rufous Turtle Dove (form orientalis)
In back garden of No:41 The Leys at 12.36pm
Access on Thursday & Sunday from 7:30am.
No parking at The Leys.
Please keep away from No:39 & 54.
(per R.B.A)

GoingBirding: 19th April

Port Meadow
3 Dunlin
2 Oystercatcher
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Garganey: m+f. Different to the pair on Sunday evening, I think.

Richard Foster

Otmoor.A.M. 19th April.

2 Raven
2 Buzzard (1 Leucistic)
1 Sparrowhawk (F)
3 Curlew
1 L.R.Plover

Marsh Harrier still today
+2 Hobby
(per SRA OOS)

Farmoor 19th April

Sandwich Tern 2 F1
Arctic Tern 3 F2
Black Tern
Curlew 2
Wheatear 3
Raven 2
Grasshopper Warbler 4

Dave Daniels
Bob Hurst
Dai John

Farmoor 19th April

Little Tern F2 at 8:30a.m
(per R.B.A)

Monday 18 April 2011

GoingBirding: 18th April

Port Meadow
6 Oystercatcher
4 Dunlin
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Shelduck
2 White Wagtail

Richard Foster

GoingBirding: 18th April

Dorchester: Dorchester complex
2 Little Ringed Plover
Oystercatcher
3 Egyptian Goose: Pair with lots of ducklings.

Thomas Stevenson

Otmoor.A.M. 18th. April.

1 Raven
3 L. Whitethroat(singing)
3Pr. Bullfinch

Weekend Bird Pics

Sedge Warbler,Otmoor 17th April
Lapwing,Otmoor 17th April

Grasshopper Warbler,Sydlings Copse 16th April

Photo's (c) W.P.Bull

Farmoor 18th April

2 Black Terns on F2 at 10:45am
Greenshank
L.R.P
Shelduck
(per Nic)

-No sign of any Black Terns by 11:30am (per R.B.A)

GoingBirding: 18th April

Port Meadow
4 Dunlin
2 Oystercatcher
2 Shelduck: No sign of last night's garganey.

Richard Foster

Sunday 17 April 2011

Farmoor this evening

Yellow Wagtail 10
White Wagtail 6
Common Sandpiper 1
Common Tern 5
Mallard with 15 ducklings
Swallow 2
Sand Martin 1
Common Snipe 1

Nightingale 17th April

Nightingale (m) singing 21:00 Stanton Harcourt

GoingBirding: 17th April

Port Meadow
4 Oystercatcher
2 Garganey: m+f.
12 Yellow Wagtail
2 Shelduck
2 White Wagtail

Richard Foster

GoingBirding: 17th April

Otmoor

Marsh Harrier (fem) Flying around reedbed.
Cuckoo: male. Seen and heard.
Ringed Plover

Tim Perkins

GoingBirding: 17th April

Grimsbury Reservoir
4 Common Tern: this evening.

Gareth Blockley

GoingBirding: 17th April

Stanton St. John
2 Raven: Two over, calling.

David Brown

Otmoor.A.M. 17th. April.

1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Wheatear
2 Dunlin (in summer clothes)
2 Oystercatcher
1 Cuckoo(heard)
1 Curlew(heard)
Mallard with 7 chicks

Yarnton

1 Raven briefly shared a thermal with 5 Common Buzzards before heading off to the west. (12.00)

Rufous Turtle Dove 17th April

Rufous Turtle Dove (form orientalis)
Still in the back garden of No:41 The Leys
until 9:20am then flew off.No access today.
No parking at The Leys.
Please keep away from No:39 & 54.
(per R.B.A)

Farmoor 17th April

Arctic Tern on F2
+Little Gull

Grasshopper Warbler (Buckthorn Meadow)
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Good numbers of Whitethroats
& Blackcaps
(per Dai)

Grove Airfield 17th April

1 Cuckoo
2 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
Displaying Curlew
8+ Willow Warbler
12+ Whitethroat
5 Reed Bunting

Saturday 16 April 2011

GoingBirding: 16th April

Port Meadow
5 Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
6 Little Ringed Plover

Sydney Penner

Radley Lakes Sat. 16th April

2 Little ringed plovers
1 Green sandpiper
1 Redshank
21 Lapwing
1 Oystercatcher
1 Red-crested pochard (fem)
1 reeling Grasshopper warbler (beside railway line)
Plus:
Treecreepers
Sedge warblers
Reed warblers
Whitethroats

GoingBirding: 16th April

16th April

Cholsey: Cholsey Downs
Merlin: fem. Sitting on post at head of Dean's Bottom, viewed from track up from Fair Mile to Ridgeway. SU544824.

Aston Tirrold
3 Wheatear: 2m, 1f. On west facing slope of Blewburton Hill. SU545862.

Peter Law

GoingBirding: 16th April

Port Meadow
5 Little Ringed Plover
4 Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Common Sandpiper
Garganey: fem.

Richard Foster

Waxwings 16th April

5 Waxwings on the Oxon/Bucks boarder on the
western edge of Bernwood Forrest.
1/2 mile north of dividing road between woods
towards Waterperry Rd at 18:30.
+Possible Waxwing earlier Wheatley.
(per Phil Barnett)

Farmoor 16th April

White Wagtail 20+.
Yellow Wagtail 2
Wheatear 1
Common Tern 2
Whitethroat


Photo (c) Stephen Burch. Click here for high res pic.

Sydlings Copse 16th April

2 Raven,
1 Cuckoo,
2 Grasshopper warbler,
1 Whitethroat,
2 Redpoll.

Spring Hill, nr Begbroke

1 Grasshopper Warbler 150 yds NW of Springhill Farm
Also 3 yellowhammers and a Swallow

GoingBirding: 16th April

Stanton St. John
Cuckoo: One again today moving between Holly Wood and Stanton Great Wood, very vocal.

David Brown

GoingBirding: 15th April

Port Meadow
2 Redshank
5 Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
3 Little Ringed Plover

Mary Gregory

GoingBirding: 16th April

Grimsbury Reservoir
2 Common Tern
Common Sandpiper
White Wagtail: Pretty sure it was alba but was a bit dark.
2 Whitethroat: m. singing.
9 Sedge Warbler: m. singing. I'm assuming most must be passage birds.
4 Lapwing: 2 pairs. now on nest scrapes.
2 Wheatear: 1m. in the same field as the Lapwings.

Gareth Blockley

Linkey Down 16th April

2 Garden Warbler
3 Whitethroat
Wheatear
(per Ewan)

Rufous Turtle Dove 16th April

Rufous Turtle Dove (form orientalis)
still in Chipping Norton in the back garden
of No:41 The Leys untill 9.05a.m then flew off.
No further access today.
(per R.B.A)

Otmoor 16th April

Whinchat (between the bridleway and the 1st screen)
Hobby
6 Wheatear
Grasshopper Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat
3 Garganey
White Wagtail
(per Bark)

Friday 15 April 2011

North Aston Honey Buzzard 15th April

Honey Buzzard reported flying low north over North Aston today (per Bird Guides)

GoingBirding: 15th April

Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park
Grasshopper Warbler: reeling male at dusk.

Adam Hartley

GoingBirding: 15th April

Stanton St. John: Stanton Great Wood
Cuckoo: One seen and heard.
Cuckoo: One heard in Holly Wood.

David Brown

Oakley Wood
1+Crossbill
Willow Tit
Redpoll

(per Phil Barnett)

Lollingdon Hill

5 Wheatear
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Ring Ouzel

Otmoor.A.M. 15th April.

2 Oystercatcher
5 L. Egret
12+ Redshank
1 Cuckoo
1 Wheatear
1 Curlew
2 Dunlin
2 Garganey M/F
50+ Mixed Martins
2 L.R.Plover
29 Mute Swan

Rufous Turtle Dove 15th April

Rufous Turtle Dove (form orientalis)
In the back garden of No:41 The Leys 9:30am
Access tomorrow from 7:30am
No parking at The Leys
Please keep away from 39 & 54
(per R.B.A)

Thursday 14 April 2011

Nightingale 14th April

1 Heard singing in Upper Arncott this evening.
1 Heard Singing in Piddingon (per Colin O)

GoingBirding: 13th April

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm
Oystercatcher

Dave Godfrey

GoingBirding: 14th April

Port Meadow
Yellow Wagtail
8 White Wagtail
2 Oystercatcher
2 Dunlin
2 Redshank
5 Little Ringed Plover
2 Shelduck

Adam Hartley

Cholsey 14th April

Short-eared Owl still today
hunting along the Fairmile at 17:00.
+Ring Ouzel
(per Dave Lowe)

http://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/

Farmoor 14th April

1 Oystercatcher
1 Dunlin
4 Common Sand
1 Common Tern
700+
Sand Martin
2 Yellow Wag
(per PAu OOS)

http://www.oos.org.uk/news.php

Cholsey, 14th April

Cholsey Marsh.
1 Cuckoo.
A single Common Sandpiper flew up river.
4 Willow Warbler
4 Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
3 Garden Warbler
3 Blackcap
2 Grasshopper Warbler
10 Sedge Warbler
1 Reed Warbler
5 Chiffchaff.
Lollingdon and the Lees.
9 Wheatear
5 Corn Bunting
1 Peregrine
6 Chiffchaff
3 Willow Warbler
6 Blackcap
1 Garden Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Whitethroat
and 1 Yellow Wagtail.
More @ http://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/

GoingBirding: 14th April

Grove

Ring Ouzel male. West side of airfield, showing reasonably well and calling in hawthorn scrub. SU388901.

Leo Bateman

Berwood Forest

No sign of any Crossbill
1 Grasshopper Warbler
4 Nuthatch
1 Green Woodpecker

Farmoor 14th April

1 Little Gull
6 Common Tern
4 Common Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
1 Curlew
1 Dunlin

Wednesday 13 April 2011

Waxwings 13th April

60+ Waxwings Oxford at Abingdon Road at 6:30p.m
(per R.B.A)

4 Waxwings in Crowmarsh feeding on mistletoe
in trees behind BGS offices at 14:55.
(per The Wickster)

GoingBirding: 13th April

Long Hanborough
2 Brambling: male.

Paul Wren

GoingBirding: 13th April

Stonesfield: Stonesfield Common
Redstart: male.
Raven
Brambling: heard only.

Paul Wren

GoingBirding: 13th April

Radley GP
Green Sandpiper
2 Redshank

John Hillsdon

Bicester Wetland Reserve 13th April

2 Little Ringed Plover and 1 Green Sandpiper pool near cattle bridge also 2 common Snipe on main reserve, 15 Teal,4 Gadwall and 3 Tufted Duck.
(per Alan Peters Banburybirds)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Banburybirds/

Rufous Turtle Dove 13th April

Rufous Turtle Dove (form orientalis)
still in Chipping Norton this morning in the garden of No:41
The Leys at 8.45a.m Access on Saturday from 7.30a.m.
No parking at The Leys.
please keep away from No:39 & 54.
(per R.B.A)

GoingBirding: 13th April

Port Meadow
Dunlin
3 Oystercatcher
Redshank
6 Little Ringed Plover
12 Golden Plover
3 Yellow Wagtail
3 White Wagtail: at least.

Adam Hartley

GoingBirding: 13th April

Blackthorn
Curlew

3 Wheatear Otmoor RSPB

Colin Oram

Hoopoe 13th April

No sign of the Hoopoe near Nettlebed this morning by 9a.m
(per Roger Wyatt)

-Still no sign at 13:50.
(per Paul Chandler)

Tuesday 12 April 2011

12th April Cholsey Downs

Short-eared Owl hunting at 1730 hrs along the Fairmile Cholsey

Hoopoe at Nettlebed

Owen Beardsmore has seen a Hoopoe this morning on the Nettlebed Estate. Below are his record shots from his pocket camera. I'll try to get some more details and will report back.

More Details
Seen by a farmer on Saturday and by estate manager Owen today on a private lane on the Nettlebed Estate next to a wood called "Bix Larches". It will be looked for tomorrow morning.



GoingBirding: 12th April

Grimsbury Reservoir
Common Sandpiper
House Martin

Gareth Blockley

Oakley Wood 12th April

1+ Crossbill (f)
Redpoll
(per Phil Barnett)

Farmoor, 12th Apr

2 Dunlin
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Common Tern
1 White Watail
1 Yellow Wagtail
100's Sand Martin

1 House Martin seen near Gozzards Ford.

All seen earlier than previous post?

GoingBirding: 12th April

Farmoor Reservoir
Redstart: fem. 1 along path to shrike meadow.
2 Dunlin: causeway.
2 White Wagtail: causeway.

David Lowe

Rufous Turtle Dove 12th April

Rufous Turtle Dove (form orientalis)
still this morning at No:41 The Leys at 9a.m
Access on Saturday from 7:30a.m.

1066 12th April

1 Little Egret,
1 Redshank,
1 Green Sand,
and a mixed flock of around 150 Swallows,
Sandies and a couple of House Martins
at Sutton Courtenay scrape.

Otmoor 12th April.

2 Oystercatcher
1 Gropper (by kissing gate)
1 Wheatear
1 Snipe

Marsh Harrier on Greenaways 17:38
2 Whimbrel over Greenaways 16:45
2 Garganey (dks) Ashgrave
(per Terry Tossel)

Cholsey, 12th April

Cholsey Marsh

1 Cuckoo
3 Reed Warbler
2 Grasshopper Warbler
3 Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcap
1 Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat

Lollingdon

6+ Wheatear
1 Peregrine
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Garden Warbler
3 Swallow

More @ http://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/

Monday 11 April 2011

GoingBirding: 11th April

Port Meadow
7 Little Ringed Plover
3 Oystercatcher
Redshank
Wheatear

Richard Foster

Osprey Farmoor 11th April

Osprey at Farmoor fishing on F2 around 16:30. It then proceeded to eat the fish on one of the nearby pylons for about 5mins before continuing.

photo (c) Nic Hallam more pictures at
http://farmoorbirding.blogspot.com/

Otmoor.A.M. 11th April.

1 Cuckoo
3Pr. Linnet
1 Green Sandpiper
1Drk Garganey
2 Oystercatcher
20 Golden Plover

Wood Warbler 11th April

Wood Warbler heard along the Avenue at Shotover this morning
at the Shotover House end.
(per Andy Gosler Oxonbirds)

-No further sight (or sound) of it by 13:50.
-Still no sign between 2:30-3:50p.m (per Dave Lowe)

GoingBirding: 11th April

Grimsbury Reservoir
Common Tern

David Fearn

Otmoor Weekend


Sometimes Spring birding is just too exhausting!


More pictures from this weekend are on

Sunday 10 April 2011

GoingBirding: 10th April

Farmoor Reservoir
Dunlin
10 Little Gull: Difficult to get a precise count amidst all the activity, but my best attempt got me a count of ten.

Sydney Penner

Farmoor 10th April

Early evening tramp up and down the causeway
c.8 Little Gull
c.7 Common Tern
6 Yellow Wagtail
2 White Wagtail
1 Dunlin
Steve C

GoingBirding: 9th April

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Cuckoo: in the log book.

Gareth Blockley

Cholsey Downs 10th April

3 Wheatear
1 Raven
8+Red Kite
4 Buzzard
2 Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
2 Chiff-chaff
4 Red legged Partridge
(per Ewan)

GoingBirding: 10th April

Port Meadow
2 Oystercatcher
Black-tailed Godwit
3 Egyptian Goose

Sydney Penner

Rufous Turtle Dove 10th April

Rufous Turtle Dove (form orientalis)
still at No:41 The Leys at 11:30a.m
No access today to 41.Access next Saturday from 7:30a.m
No parking at The Leys please keep away from No:39 & 54.
(per R.B.A)

Otmoor 10th April


Marsh Harrier Female seen flying over the reedbed before
flying off high S/E at around 10:30
Wayne Bull

Lesser Whitethroat singing from near the car park
Whitethroat
Grasshopper Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Cuckoo
Yellow Wag (per Pete)
3 Garganey (Big Otmoor)
Greenshank (Big Otmoor)
2 L.R.P
3 Ruff (rep)
(Badger)

1 Sparrowhawk
3 Curlew
2 Swallow
1Pr. Linnet
Lots Of Blackcap
(per Paul Greenaway)

Complete weekend round up at http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding

Farmoor 10th April

Slavonian Grebe: ad. southern end of F2. 2 Little Gull: ad. on
barley bales on F1.

Dunlin: ad. on the causeway

3 White Wagtail: on the causeway. Yellow Wagtail


David Lowe


No sign of the Pink-footed Geese.

photo Badger

GoingBirding: 10th April

Grimsbury Reservoir
3 Sedge Warbler: m. singing. 2 by res along river and 1 along the canal.
2 Whitethroat: m. Singing. I scrub between the res and the wood.
White Wagtail: m.
Swallow
8 Sand Martin: Through north (5, 2 and 1).
5 Willow Warbler: m. Singing. Various places.
12 Blackcap: 10 m. Various locations. 1 pair nest building.
4 Lapwing: 2 pairs. On one of fields just north of the wood.

Gareth Blockley

Saturday 9 April 2011

GoingBirding: 9th April

Great Haseley
Green Sandpiper

Nick Marriner

Pink-footed Geese 9th April

4 Pink-footed Geese over Farmoor at 18:25
and appeared to land near to Buckthorn Meadow/river Thames.
(per Dai)

1066 9th April

3 Little Egret 4 Redshank 1 Green Sand 4 L.R.P Sutton Courtenay scrape.

Farmoor 9th April



Slavonian Grebe still off south shore of F2. Click here for high res pic.

Common Tern 1
Little Egret flying along R. Thames
White Wagtail 1

Rufous Turtle Dove 9th April

Rufous Turtle Dove (form orientalis)
At No:41 The Leys 10:20a.m then flew off.
No further access today or tomorrow.
(per R.B.A)

Waxwings 9th April

25 Waxwings Bicester behind Field Street this morning.

Farmoor 9th April

5 Little Gull (8:20am per Dai)
2 Common Tern

http://farmoorbirding.blogspot.com/

Otmoor 5.50 - 6.50am 9th April

Gropper 1 Car Park Field
Whitethroat 1 Car Park Field
Reed Warbler 2 Bridleway


3+ Sedge Warbler
2 Yellow Wagtail
3 Garganey (2dks)
2 Little Egret
Willow Warblers
Blackcaps
Chiff-chaffs
Snipe
c5 Golden Plover
Dunlin
(per Badger)

Complete weekend round up at http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding

Friday 8 April 2011

Farmoor 8th April Evening

Slavonian Grebe F2
Little Gull (1s) F1
Common Sandpiper
Common Tern
7+ Yellow Wagtail
2+ White Wagtail
3 Sedge Warbler (pinkhill)

GoingBirding: 8th April

Aston Rowant: Aston Rowant NNR
Redstart

Jackie Newcombe

GoingBirding: 8th April

8th April

Port Meadow
4 Oystercatcher
3 Redshank
2 Dunlin

Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park
Whitethroat

Trap Grounds
Reed Warbler

Richard Foster

Otmoor Friday 8th April A.M.

Two groppers (carpark field) 8:40a.m
Whitethroat
Sedge Warblers
Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Reed Warbler (beside bridleway per B.B)
3 Wheatear

Rushy Common 8th April

Cuckoo
2 L.R.P
Oystercatcher

(per Clackers 11:20a.m)

Marsh Harriers 8th April

Fair Mile

2 Marsh Harrier Not knowing how many of each harrier species were reported yesterday, I identified this pair as Marsh since I saw no white rump when they flew. Both were perched in the same tree as I approached. SU555834.

Peter Law

Waxwings 8th April

50 Waxwings Bicester behind Field Street this morning.

GoingBirding: 8th April

Grimsbury Reservoir
Whitethroat: m. singing.
Sedge Warbler: m. Singing.
Lesser Redpoll: Singing/buzzing type call as it flew over.
3 Willow Warbler: m. Singing. None yesterday.

Gareth Blockley

Farmoor 8th April


Slavonian Grebe still on F2.

Common Sandpiper 1.

Oystercatcher 1.

Ringed Plover 1.

Little Gull 1.

Rufous Turtle Dove 8th April

Rufous Turtle Dove (form orientalis)
still at No:41 The Leys at 9:18a.m.
Further access to No:41 The Leys tomorrow 7:30a.m.
No access Sunday. Park in town and walk.
please keep away from No:39 & 54.
(per R.B.A)

Thursday 7 April 2011

GoingBirding: 7th April

Port Meadow
6 Little Ringed Plover
2 Ringed Plover
2 Dunlin
White Wagtail
4 Oystercatcher

James Grundy

Stonesfield Common 7th April

Redstart male still
Swallow
Reed Bunting 2
Willow Warbler 4
Blackcap 2
Chiffchaff 3
Mistle Thrush 3
Red Kite
Linnet 6

GoingBirding: 7th April

Port Meadow
5 Oystercatcher
5 Redshank
3 Little Ringed Plover
2 Dunlin
Ringed Plover

Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park
Sedge Warbler

Richard Foster

Oxon 7th April

Redstart (male) Toot Baldon today.
(per Phil Barnett)

Garden Warbler at Farmoor this afternoon.
(per Dai Johns)

Osprey Wallingford near the Thames Barley Close.
(per BJWYT OOS)

Hen & Marsh Harriers on the south Oxon Downs today.
(per Rog Wyatt)

3 Mealy Redpoll reported in Freeland.
(per TPO OOS)

7th April

Common Tern 1 Henley Rd G.P.
R.N.Parakeet 3 Shiplake
Hugh Netley

Otmoor.P.M. 7th.April

2 L.R. Plover
1 Curlew
3 Wheatear

GoingBirding: 7th April

Port Meadow
5 Redshank
5 Oystercatcher

Sydney Penner

Otmoor 7th April South Pil field

Grasshopper Warbler
2 Whitethroat
lots of Blackcaps &
Sedge Warbler
Wheatears

(per Oz & Pete)

Shotover.A.M.7th. April.

3 Willow Warbler
6 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
1Pr. Bullfinch
2 Redpoll
1 M/ Tawny Owl (calling 9.30A.M.)
2 Treecreeper
3 Nuthatch
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Monks Wood)
1 Garden Warbler

Thursday 7th. April

Yellowhammer in Bampton garden.
Barry.

GoingBirding: 7th April

Cuddesdon Redstart: male.
Tom Bedford

Photo's and More at http://birdlesscuddesdon.blogspot.com/

GoingBirding: 7th April

Grimsbury Reservoir
3 Common Sandpiper Only untill c. 07:55 but didn't see them leave.
White Wagtail: m.
Wheatear: m.
6 Chiffchaff: m. Singing. Only at reservoir, not including wood or surrounds.
5 Blackcap: m. Singing. Only at reservoir not in wood or surrounds.
2 Linnet: pair. 3 others over north too.
17 Meadow Pipit: Over north.
14 Sand Martin: Through north.
2 Lesser Black-backed Gull: pair. Around for a few weeks acting very terretorial, mobbing Herons and corvids. Possibly will breed nearby.

Gareth Blockley

6th April Oxfordshire Downs




12 Wheatear 1 female

Whitethroat

Hen Harrier ring tail Fairmile Cholsey Downs

Merlin female

Ring Ouzel Aston Upthorpe Downs

Wednesday 6 April 2011

Marsh Baldon 6th April

Redstart (male) today between Marsh Baldon & Stadhampton.
(per Phil Barnett)

Farmoor 6th April late p.m



3 Little Gull (1 ad 2 1s)
Med Gull (1w per Nic)
Slav still
4+ Yellow Wagtail
10-15 White Wagtail

more at http://farmoorbirding.blogspot.com/

Marsh Harrier 6th April

Marsh Harrier Stanton St.John flew over Shepherds Pit at 12:45p.m
(per R.B.A)

Henley on thames

6th April Firecrest singing in private estate Hugh Netley

Cholsey Wheatears 6th April

8 Wheatears, Lollingdon Hill (south side) most of today.

More @ http://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/wheatears-and-butterflies.html

GoingBirding: 6th April

Linky Down Ring Ouzel: The bird showed up after quite a long wait: feeding on ground, sulking in a tree, then eating juniper berries. Brilliant views!. Steve Goddard


Photo:last weeks Linkey Rouzels Badger.

Stonesfield Common 6th April

Redstart male still early am
Sand Martin 2,low west
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff 3
Blackcap 2 male
Bullfinch 2
Reed Bunting male
Lesser Redpoll 3 Long Hanborough
Raven Wilcote

GoingBirding: 6th April

Radley GP
Little Ringed Plover
3 Green Sandpiper

John Hillsdon

GoingBirding: 6th April

6th April

Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park
3 Blackcap

Port Meadow
4 Oystercatcher
4 Redshank
2 Little Ringed Plover
Black-tailed Godwit

Richard Foster

GoingBirding: 6th April

Farmoor Reservoir: Causeway

2 Yellow Wagtail: With the pied & white wagtail flock.

Mari Esashi

Otmoor.A.M. 6th April.

2 Oystercatcher
1 Grey Wagtail(reported)
3 Wheatear
5 Curlew
2+ Blackcap
4+ Willow Warbler
2 Pr. Yellowhammer
1 Raven
1 M/Redstart ( Long Meadow)
50+ Fieldfare
1 Pr. Tawny Owls (calling c. 12.00 Noon)

2 House Martin (per Clackers)

Rufous Turtle Dove 6th April

Rufous Turtle Dove (form orientalis) this morning in the back garden of No:41 The Leys at 8:55a.m.Further access to No:41 this Saturday.
To arrange a visit at another time tel.Steve 01608 645692.
No parking at The Leys.
Keep away from No:39 & 54.
(per R.B.A)

Our Vanishing Swifts Talk 18th May

OUR VANISHING SWIFTS

A talk by Edward Mayer of Swift Conservation. Peachcroft Christian Centre,
Lindsay Drive, Abingdon, OX14 2RT on Wednesday 18th May. Starts 7.30pm.
Entrance by a small donation. Refreshments available.

This talk is part of the Abingdon and Radley Swift Recovery Project, a joint
project between Friends of Radley Lakes and the Abingdon Naturalists.

Farmoor 6th April

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
Slavonian Grebe: by moored fishing boats this morning.
Farmoor Reservoir: Causeway
10 White Wagtail: minimum - on causway this morning.

Tom Coyne

No further sign of the Sandwich Terns (2) by 10a.m
but 1w/s Little Gull on F1(Badger)

Farmoor 6th April

2 Sandwich Tern on F1 and F2 at 8:41a.m
(per Dai)

Tuesday 5 April 2011

Rufous Turtle Dove 5th April

Rufous Turtle Dove 1w (form orientalis) still Chipping Norton at No:41 The Leys at 8a.m. Further access to No:41 The Leys on Saturday.
To arrange a visit at another time tel. Steve 01608 645692.
Park in town centre & walk.Keep away from No:39 & 54.
(per R.B.A)

GoingBirding: 5th April

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II

Slavonian Grebe
Steve Goddard

GoingBirding: 5th April

Stonesfield: Stonesfield Common
Redstart: male. Late afternoon.

Paul Wren

Waxwings 4th April

Belated report of 20 Waxwing opposite Littlemore Fish Bar
on Cowley Road, Littlemore at 1715 yesterday (Monday).
They were feeding on the freshly emerging foliage of a Sycamore tree!
(per Colin Williams)

GoingBirding: 5th April

Farmoor Reservoir
White Wagtail
2 Little Gull

Sydney Penner

Common Crane Otmoor 5th April

Common Crane Otmoor R.S.P.B on east side at 2:30p.m
(per R.B.A & Birdguides)

Waxwings 5th April

Wolvercote

30 Waxwing Flock of 30 or so, took off from a tree about 100 metres away when I went in my back garden and flew out of eyeshot: unfortunately no bins, but they sounded like Waxwings and were the right size and behaviour. Went on a run to try and relocate them, but no success.

Steve Goddard

Monday 4 April 2011

Long Hanborough
















2 of the 28 in the garden!!


Merton Pit late afternoon

Oystercatcher 1
Green Sand 1
House Martin 4+
Swallow 25+
Sand Martin 5+

Farmoor 4th April

Slavonian Grebe still on F2
Garganey still F1
Med Gull (1w)
3 Little Gull (all 1w)

http://farmoorbirding.blogspot.com/

GoingBirding: 4th April

Radley GP
Green Sandpiper
Little Ringed Plover
2 Redshank

Gavin Paterson

GoingBirding: 4th April

Port Meadow
3 Oystercatcher

Mari Esashi

GoingBirding: 4th April

Port Meadow
7 Redshank
Black-tailed Godwit
2 Oystercatcher

Sydney Penner

Otmoor.A.M. 4th April.

2 Oystercatcher
1 Greensandpiper
14 Snipe
2 Pintail M/F
6 L.Egret
1 Swallow
1 Treecreeper

http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding

Witney Lake 4th April

Redstart (male) on east side of lake midday
Sedge Warbler
6 Chiff-chaff
4 Willow Warbler
20+ Sand Martin

(per Clackers)

Rufous Turtle Dove 4th April

Rufous Turtle Dove (form orientalis) In back garden
of No:41 The Leys at 8:15a.m
No further organised access to 41 The Leys.
To arrange a visit tel. Steve 01608 645692
(per R.B.A)

Farmoor 3rd April




Yellow Wagtail Farmoor 3rd April (c) B.B

GoingBirding: 3rd April

3rd April

Linky Down
Wheatear: fem. SU723967.

Port Meadow
6 Ringed Plover: SU4907.

Peter Law

Sunday 3 April 2011

Cholsey Downs 3rd April



1 of c14 Wheatear
20+Meadow Pipit
Corn Bunting
11 Fieldfare
Willow Warbler
Blackcap

Farmoor late afternoon



1 Garganey
1 Slavonian Grebe
1 Little Gull-first summer
100+ Sand Martin
1 Swallow
2 Dunlin

Slav photo (c)M.Flemming

Merton Pit Early Evening

Green Sandpiper 1
Swallow 6+
Sand Martin 3+
Teal
Gadwall
Pochard

Osprey 3rd April

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I

Osprey Flew over works, around F1 and off to the north west.
3 Little Gull: 2 1st Summer + 1 Adult.

Jeremy Dexter

GoingBirding: 3rd April

Ardley: Ardley Field Quarry
Shelduck: also Green Sandpiper.

Richard Hazel

GoingBirding: 3rd April

Cumnor
Brambling: male. SP463037.

Anthony Roberts

GoingBirding: 3rd April

Kennington
3 Brambling: 1m, 2f.

Nick Suckling