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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

Tuesday 31 January 2012

Monday 30 January 2012

Appleford 30th January

Caspian Gull (1stw) again in field near Appleford level crossing at 12:40.
(per Terry Tossel)

Iceland Gull (2ndw) still (per Lew)

Port Meadow: 30th January

Port Meadow
2 Redshank
Ruff
Shelduck
15 Pintail: approx count.

Adam Hartley

Otmoor 30th January

White-fronted Goose (on Flood field with Greylag flock)
Pintail (on southern phase of reedbed)

Joe Harris

4+ Short-eared Owl (Big Otmoor) c4p.m (per RBA)

more at Otmoor Birding

Farmoor 30th January

Great Northern Diver (F2 nr Bus shelter at 14:20)
No sign of the Grey Phalarope

(per Peter Law)

Goosander

Pair of Goosander on the Cherwell, 300 yds downstream of bridge on Marston cycle path

Sunday 29 January 2012

Shiplake, Sun 29th January

Ring-necked Parakeet 3, between Lower Shiplake & Shiplake

Shifford Mute Swans


Rushy Common 29th January

Temminck's Stint still in N/W corner at 13:00 (per MTM - see comments)
Hen Harrier (ringtail) seen mid morning.

Bagley Wood: 29th January

Bagley Wood
2 Common Crossbill: 1m, 1f near A34 footbridge just after 09:00.

Peter Law

New Mill Witney 29th January



Dipper showing on and off from 08:06 (Dave Horton) and still present 10:30
and again at 15:00 (per The Wickster).
Water Rail
Kingfisher

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 29th January

5 Short-eared Owl (Minimum 5 and possibly 7)

Colin Oram

more at Otmoor Birding

Appleford 29th January


2nd winter Iceland Gull Sutton Courtenay mid afternoon
+Common Sandpiper


Farmoor 30th January

Great Northern Diver still at southern end of F2
No sign of the Grey Phalarope in poor visibilty.

(per Dai)

Letcombe Bassett cress beds 29th January

Little Egret
Kingfisher

Saturday 28 January 2012

Taynton 28th January

Hen Harrier (ringtail)
(per RBA)

The fields either side of the road between Great Barrington & Upper Rissington
(all of which is Gloucestershire) have held up to 12 Short-eared Owls and according
to one of the local gamekeepers, up to 4 Hen Harriers over the winter.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=421160&Y=216160&A=Y&Z=126

Farmoor 28th January

  .
 8 Redpoll present now for 4 days feeding on birch seeds near Buckthorn Meadow. 

Farmoor 28th January

Grey Phalarope still F2 in N/E corner at 1p.m
Great Northern Diver F2 at southern end.

(per RBA)

Appleford 28th January

1stw Caspian Gull loafing in ploughed field near level crossing at 15:45.

Bagley Wood 28th January

7+ Crossbill (near Sawmill) 9a.m
10 Siskin

Standlake Pit 60 : 28th January

Snipe 5 (on S shore)
Pintail 2
Little Egret 1
Pochard 4
Lapwing 10

Dipper

Dipper at New Mill this morning (8.30)
No sign 10:30-11:30 (Badger)

Coleshill: 27th January

Coleshill
3 Short-eared Owl: SU2297.

Jonathan Mercer

Friday 27 January 2012

Rushy Common 27th January

Temminck's Stint still.

Near Foxley Farm, Stanton Harcourt Road
7 Tree Sparrow: At least seven in a loose flock in roadside hedgerows and farm buildings. SP425084.

Steve Goddard

Crawley 27th January

Dipper again this morning at New Mill.

(per Terry Tossel)

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Otmoor: 25th January

Otmoor
White-fronted Goose: With Greylag Flock on Flood field.
Short-eared Owl: Hunting in front of the hide.

Joe Harris

Otmoor Birding

Eynsham 21st January

Oxford Road

Peregrine (Possible two Peregrine one suspected juvenile) SP440088.

Andrew Petersons

Cholsey: 25th January

Woodcock

Paul Chandler

Cholsey Wildlife

Rushy Common 25th January

Temminck's Stint still at the N/E eand of Rushy Common at 13:35.
view from car park or from roadside verge just north of car park.
Please do not enter reserve other than on the designated paths.

+ Unconfirmed report of Black-necked Grebe this afternoon.

(per Wayne Bull)

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Grey Phalarope in flight at Farmoor

A belated posting from Saturday 21 Jan. Photo (c) Nigel Forrow.

Otmoor 24th Jan

Short-eared Owl 3
Raven
Redpoll 1 (on niger feeder)

(per Terry Tossel)

Otmoor Birding

Rushy Common 24th January

Temminck's Stint still in N/E corner of the lake viewable from car park
or from road side verge just north of the car park at midday.

(per RBA)

Farmoor Res 24th January

Grey Phalarope still F2 on slipway by sailing club at 13:25
Great Northern Diver (juv)

(per RBA)

Monday 23 January 2012

Otmoor: 23rd January

Otmoor
2 Grey Partridge: On the western edge of Big Otmoor field.

Joe Harris

Port Meadow: 23rd January

Port Meadow
2 Ruff
3 Redshank
2 Dunlin
Yellow-legged Gull: ad.
Kingfisher

Adam Hartley
Nuthatch at Farmoor (c) Dai

Rushy Common 23rd January




Temminck's stint reported as still present at north end of main pit at 1:20 pm. (per RBA)

Farmoor 23rd January

Grey Phalarope still this afternoon (per RBA)
Great Northern Diver F2

(per Dai)

Reeves Pheasants on Otmoor

Reeves Pheasants are often seen on the southern edge of Ashgrave Field. Particularly when they are displaying. They are however very elusive. They have been seen as far over as Elsfield village. As far as I know they were released into Noke wood about five or six years ago.
Bark

Otmoor Birding

Sunday 22 January 2012

Reeves Pheasant - Otmoor?

Have just read that someone (Brian Berry) has seen a Reeves Pheasant at Otmoor today. Are they an exotic known to be in the area?
http://macleodswildlife.blogspot.com/2012/01/otmoor-list-ticks-skylark-reed-bunting.html?spref=fb

Gareth

Grimsbury Reservoir: 22nd January

Grimsbury Reservoir
Great Black-backed Gull: One in the pre-roost large gull gathering this evening. Quite a rare gull for Grim res and number 52 for the year.

Gareth Blockley

Crawley 22nd January

Dipper New Mill (bathing in stream behind barns) 14:45-14:55

(per Peter Law)

Rushy Common 22nd January

Temminck's Stint still present this morning to at least 11a.m (per Dave Lowe)

Standlake, Sun 22 January

Smew 1, redhead still pit 60
Goosander 1m
WF Goose 1
Egyptian Goose 15
RC Pochard 11
Little Egret 2
Green Sandpiper 1
Teal 594
Wigeon 504
Pintail 2m


6 Goosander (4m 2f) at 16:30
+large Starling roost again

(per Peter Law)

Farmoor 22nd January

Grey Phalarope F2 in S/E corner at 1p.m
+Great Northern Diver F2 (per RBA)

Port Meadow: 22nd January

Port Meadow
2 Ruff
Shelduck
10 Pintail
Red Kite
800 Golden Plover
Little Grebe: in the Spinney stream.

Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park
8 Meadow Pipit
Snipe

Adam Hartley

Childrey Warren: 22nd January

Childrey Warren
Corn Bunting

Mark Merritt

Saturday 21 January 2012

Temminck's Stint Rushy Common 21st January


HDish at 720p

Farmoor 21 January

Yet another pic, but from a slightly different angle from most of the others so far!

(c) Stephen Burch. Click here for a hi-res version. http://www.stephenburch.com/

Cuddesdon 21st January

Whitethroat at Cuddesdon (c) Tom Bedford
more photo's & video of this bird on the legend that is... 
The Birdless Cuddesdon blog

Farmoor 21 January

















The Grey Phalarope still surfing the waves and the Great Northern Diver seeking calmer waters inside the pontoons early morning
(c) David Hastings www.birdimages.net

Henley Road GPs: 21st January

Henley Road GPs
Scaup: drk.
Mediterranean Gull: ad.
2 Goosander: rh.

Marek Walford

Rushy Common 21st January

Temminck's Stint still at Rushy Common this morning 08:13 (per Keith Clack)
Green Sandpiper
Peregrine

...and still present at 11:40, best viewed through the hedge from the road north of the car park (Gnome)

Showing distantly on one of the many small islands late morning (c) Gnome

See Gnome's Birding Diary for more details

(Badger)

Standlake Common GPs 21st January















Smew 1 Redhead still from North Shore Hide on Pit 60 (J.Dexter)
+Red crested Pochard 11 (on pit behind hide)
 Egyptian Geese 15
(photo Badger)

Farmoor Res 21st January

Grey Phalarope still at Farmoor 08:20 (per The Wickster)
photo (c) J.Mercer

Friday 20 January 2012

Farmoor 20th January


Grey Phalarope still along the S/E side
of F2 at 15:00 (per RBA & Jonathan Mercer)

Great Northern Diver F2.
Knot reported again this morning




Photos
(c) Mike Flemming
below (c) Phil Chapman

Bar-headed Goose: amongst Greylags.
Common Sandpiper: West Side.

(per Dave Godfrey)

Piddington: 20th January

Piddington
4 Raven

Colin Oram

Rushy Island Hopping Skulking Temminck's

Temminck's showed for about 30 out of 90 minutes on at least three islands to the WNW corner of Rushy Common up to around 3pm. Amongst veg, slow moving or static and noticeably smaller in body than a showy Pied Wag alongside, you have to have real patience looking from the car park or over the hedge from the roadside towards Clogges. It is really difficult to pick out so full marks to the finders.
Grey Phalarope at farmoor had followed the flotsam south in the WNW winds, to the SE of the Res and was happily feeding with a pair of Mallard in the mix of feather and other detritus 'gunk' that gave concern to one observer about what harm might come to the bird feeding on/in it! At 16.50 it was still active, near to the Toilets sign.
The same gunk was presumably an attractant to a first winter Little Gull that was flying along the surf line and dropping down into it on occassions to pick up some morsel or two. It joined the southern edge of the Gull roost where it was not settled and seen at different locations as well as returning to fly up and down the gunk line again, before finally settling in the roost.

Port Meadow: 20th January

Port Meadow
2 Ruff
3 Redshank
Shelduck
2 Raven
Little Grebe: In the stream by the Spinney.
1000 Golden Plover: at least 1000.

Adam Hartley

Appleford 20th January

Caspian Gull (1stw) in ploughed field just S/E of Appleford 12:10

(per Ewan)

Rushy Common 20th January

Temminck's Stint still 12:20 at northern (Cogges) end
(per Terry Tossel)

Rushy Common is accessed off of the minor road between the B4449 and Cogges.
A key is needed to access the hide at Rushy Common but the northern end of the
pit is viewable from the car park.

Thursday 19 January 2012

Farmoor Res January 19th 2012















Grey Phalarope quite at home tossing around
in the waves and froth by the wave wall
+Great Northern Diver 1

Temminck's Stint at Rushy Common

Temminck's Stint at Rushy Common

Always very distant hence these poor video grabs in fading light



.

Rushy Common 19th January

Temminck's Stint still present at dusk and favouring the N/E end of the pit.

(per Geoff & Brian Wyatt)

Rushy Common is accessed off of the minor road between the B4449 and Cogges.
A key is needed to access the hide at Rushy Common but the northern end of the
pit is viewable from the car park.

more about Rushy Common and it's creation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM35IqzMBHA



Appleford 19th January

Iceland Gull (2ndw) on Spit Pit mid afternoon.

(per Lew)

Standlake: Pit 60: January 19th


A murmuration of c4000 starlings over the reed bed, started at about 4.30 and crashed into the reeds at about 4.50.
During this time at least 13 Goosander arrived, presumably for the night as 11 were seen 2 evenings ago.

Grey Phalarope Farmoor 19th Jan



Photo's (c) W P Bull

Farmoor 19th January

Grey Phalarope still 08:30 along eastern edge of F2 nr windsock.
+ Knot (per Terry Sherlock)

Knot (c) Terry Sherlock

Still present 10:30a.m along eastern edge of F2 + Great Northern Diver on F2

A stop-gap shot until the proper photographers come up
with something decent (c) Gnome


More at Gnome's Birding Diary

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Grey Phalarope at Farmoor 18th January

Phil Chapman found a grey phalarope at 15:50 today at Farmoor, still present at the east end of the causeway on F2 at 16:25 (per Badger).
Well done Phil for the find and for getting the news out quickly!

photo (c) Dai

Appleford 18th Jan

Caspian Gull (1stw) still nr Appleford this afternoon
(per Rog Wyatt)

Otmoor 18th January dusk

Merlin
Short-eared Owl

(per Jamie Coleman)

For all the latest visit Otmoor Birding

Standlake Pit 60 17th January

2 Smew still present
2 Goosander

Standlake: Pit 60 January 16th

2 Goosander 1m1f
2 Smew f

Antony Collieu

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Caspian Gull at Didcot 17th Jan

There were reasonable numbers of gulls in the Didcot area today, the first time for about a month. Amongst them was this rather dark but striking 1st winter Caspian Gull. A new individual for this winter period, it was in a field on the north side of the Didcot north ring road. It was also seen the newly ploughed field south-east of Appleford.




Cowlease Wood 17th January

25 Common Crossbill at least this number and probably more.

Thomas Stevenson

more on the Benson & Ewelme Wildlife  blog

Black Redstart Oxford 17th Jan

'The last two days at work have been greatly improved by the presence of a
Black Redstart seen hawking and perching on the south wall of Tom Quad, Christ Church.'

(Jane Nelson Oxonbirds )
Treecreeper (c) M.Flemming

Farmoor Reservoir: 17th January

17th January

Farmoor Reservoir
Great Northern Diver: still on F2.
Bar-headed Goose: no sign of WF Goose across Thames from Shrike Meadow.
Common Sandpiper: at W end of causeway.

Peter Law

Otmoor 17th January p.m

Short-eared Owl (over Greenaways and then the Closes)
Woodcock (flew over Greenaways and reedbeds)
Brambling m (in hedge behind feeders)

(per Terry Tossel)

Otmoor Birding

Cuddesdon: 17th January

Cuddesdon
16 Golden Plover: Near Wheatley Rd / Cuddesdon Rd junction. SU590040.

Peter Law

Monday 16 January 2012

Sunday 15 January 2012

Coleshill: 15th January

Coleshill
2 Hen Harrier: ringtails hunting and feeding on ground. SU2296.

Jonathan Mercer

Wantage: 15th January

Wantage
Peregrine: Lark Hill, feeding on Golden Plover kill.".

Leo Bateman

Port Meadow: 15th January

15th January

Port Meadow
2 Ruff: standing on the ice with a small gull flock.

Deddington
Red Kite: over farm fields just outside the village.

Tom Coyne

Farmoor Jan 15th (11-2pm)

Great Northern Diver - 1j
GCGrebe - 52
Goldeneye - 10
Little Grebe - 8
Gadwall - pr

Farmoor Reservoir: Causeway
Redshank

Tom Coyne

Saturday 14 January 2012

Grimsbury reservoir 2012 year listing

Well, two weeks into the year and the Grimsbury reservoir year list is on 50 so far. Not great considering the current totals from other sites but OK considering the location and habitat available comparable to other sites in the county. There is a reason I refer to it as Grim res! Highlights so far have to be the continued presence of the Willow Tit/s and a regular Kingfisher. Other than that, well... I'd struggle for anything else really worth declaring as a highlight!
Having said that though, 50 is already over half of last years total of 98 and I'll take that as a positive sign. I would like to break 100 this year, but considering I thought last year was exceptional for the reservoir, it may be a struggle. For information I have personally recorded the following totals in previous years; 56 - 2008, 82 - 2009 and 80 - 2010.
If anyone is visiting and you see anything interesting (even mildly interesting here could be a patch rarity!) please report it via the usual county websites or let me know. If anyone really wants a challenge I feel the county publications could do with a decent picture of a Willow tit...

Happy birding,
Gareth

Ewelme: 14th January

Ewelme: Cress beds

Green Sandpiper

Ewelme
9 Grey Partridge

Thomas Stevenson

Friday 13 January 2012

Coleshill: 13th January

Coleshill
2 Short-eared Owl: SU2296.

Jonathan Mercer

Cholsey: 13th January

Cholsey
Stonechat
5 Grey Partridge

Cholsey: Lollingdon Hill
2 Corn Bunting: both singing.

Paul Chandler

more on the Cholsey Wildlife blog

Port Meadow: 13th January

Port Meadow
1 Raven
2 Ruff
5 Redshank
1 Dunlin
600 Golden Plover
30 Pintail

Adam Hartley

more on Port Meadow Birding

Dorchester: Dorchester complex: 13th January

Dorchester: Dorchester complex
2 Egyptian Goose

Thomas Stevenson

more on the Benson & Ewelme Wildlife Blog

Farmoor 13th January


Great Northern Diver F2.
White-fronted Goose near The Thames West of Shrike Meadow. 
Egyptian Goose over Buckthorn Meadow.
   .  

Henley 13th January


2 Ring-necked Parakeet Henley nr the Rugby Club this morning.
+1 Brambling

(per Paul Wren)

Park at Henley Rugby club,walk away from Henley
along the Marlow road for approx 50yrds then
cross over the road and take the footpath towards
the river about here

photos (c) Paul Wren

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II: 13th January

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
Great Northern Diver: In usual spot at SW edge of F2. SP445055.

Phil Chapman

Thursday 12 January 2012

Farmoor 12th Jan

Great Northern Diver, SW Corner of FII, 1:15 p.m.

Port Meadow: 12th January

Port Meadow
2 Ruff
3 Redshank
3 Dunlin
Shelduck
Yellow-legged Gull: ad.

Adam Hartley

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 12th January

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
2 Short-eared Owl

Paul Boult

Iffley Meadows 12th Jan

2 Heron
1 Cormorant
1 Kestral
3 Buzzard
2 Red Kite
1 Water Rail
1 Snipe
18 Meadow Pipit
16 Redwing
1 Siskin

W.P.Bull

Port Meadow: 11th January

1 Ruff
2 Dunlin
800 Golden Plover

Steve Goddard

Badger Sparrow Video Fame

Fame for Badger who has got some of his video of the Calshot Spanish sparrow used on BBC South Today. You can watch the programme on BBC iPlayer here though be warned it will only be there until 1830 this evening. The relevant section is about 9 minutes and 20 seconds into the programme.

A Grab of the bird in question. See Jason's write up at the Listless Twitcher

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Farmoor 11th January

Great Northern Diver
White-fronted Goose (nr the Thames)
Goosander
Little Owl (in Willows)

(per Dai)

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Otmoor 10th January

Car Park Field p.m

Short-eared Owl 2
Barn Owl

(per Terry Tossel)

Otmoor Birding

Bagley Wood 10th Jan

3 Buzzard
4 G.S.Woodpecker
7 Jay
1 Marsh tit
7 Nuthatch
20+ Siskin
8 Goldfinch
4 Lesser Redpoll
15+ Crossbill (This was the largest flock seen together, although smaller flocks were encountered around the wood after seeing these.Whether they had broken off from the main flock i couldn't say).

Photo taken at Bernwood (c) W P Bull

Port Meadow: Wolvercote Common: 10th January

Port Meadow: Wolvercote Common
2 Raven

Steve Goddard

Monday 9 January 2012

Oxon County Birding Highlights 2011

Only a week late but worth waiting for, the annual county birding review for 2011 is finally ready. Enjoy!


Great White Egret 9th January

Bicester Wetland Reserve

This afternoon a Great White Egret slowly circled the reserve before flying off
in a South Westerly direction. This is only the second record (if accepted) for
the BOS area.

(per Alan Peters Banbury Birds )

Farmoor 9th Jan

Great northern diver on south west side of F2 but still distant.
Photo (c) W P Bull.

Sunday 8 January 2012

Saturday 7 January 2012

Farmoor 7th January pm

Great Northern Diver, west side of F2, 1-2 pm then moved off into centre. No sighting (12-3 pm) of Slavonian Grebe.
Diver in a flap
Photo (c) Nigel Forrow

Buscot 7th January

Buscot area (SU2296):

Ringtail Hen Harrier, at least 2 and up to 4 Short Eared Owl, 2 Buzzard, 5 Kestrel and Grey Partridge (heard).

Malcolm Royal and Steve Davies (http://swindon-birds.co.uk/)

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II: 7th January

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
Great Northern Diver: Being mobbed by gulls in the middle of F2.

Joe Harris

Henley Road GPs: 7th January

7th January

Henley Road GPs
Mediterranean Gull: ad.
Yellow-legged Gull: ad.
Shelduck: fem.
2 Goosander: m+rh.
Kingfisher

Sonning Eye GPs
2 Goldeneye: m+f.

Marek Walford

Port Meadow 7th Jan

Ruff
Dunlin 4
Redshank 4
Shelduck

Port Meadow Birding

Farmoor

Great Northern Diver still but no sign of the Slav

(per The Wickster)

Shifford 7th Jan

15 Egyptian Geese
120 Mute Swan (single herd)

Friday 6 January 2012

Farmoor 6th January

Great Northern Diver still on F2 this afternoon.
(per RBA)

Tadpole Bridge 06 January

Tree Sparrow 6 with probably a lot more in bushes judging by the calling
Reed Bunting 5+

Port Meadow: 6th January

Port Meadow
2 Ruff: per Richard Foster.
2 Redshank
2 Shelduck
6 Goosander: 5m 1f.
6 Gadwall
Probable 2 Yellow-legged Gull
10 Pintail: at least.

Adam Hartley


Sparrowhawk Abingdon.
(c) M.Flemming.
Mike Flemming's Natural History Photos 

Radley Large Wood: 6th January

Radley Large Wood
Brambling: f. around my feeders.

John Hillsdon

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 6th January

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
5 Tree Sparrow

Gareth Blockley

Thursday 5 January 2012

Port Meadow: 5th January

Port Meadow
2 Ruff
Dunlin: per Richard Foster.
Shelduck
Goosander: r/h.
12 Pintail

Adam Hartley

Farmoor Reservoir: 5th January

Farmoor Reservoir
Slavonian Grebe: Still on f2 fishing along western side moving from northwest to southwest.
Great Northern Diver: No sign of the diver, but not ideal conditions!.

Gareth Blockley

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Farmoor 4th Jan

Slavonian Grebe 09:00 F2 in S/W corner.
(per Dai)

Still present on F2 in the S/W corner at 15:10.
(per Peter Law)

Great Northern Diver still mid morning F2 though mobile
(per David Fearn)

(c) The Paranoid Birder

Monday 2 January 2012

Coleshill 2nd January

2 Hen Harrier (both ringtails) this afternoon between Coleshill and Buscot SU2296.

(per Malcolm Royal)

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 2nd January

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Redshank: On Ashgrave, seen from the hide.
Peregrine: Over, seen from the first screen.
250 Golden Plover: c. 250. Seen over Ashgrave area, seen distantly from the bridleway.
2 Pintail: Pair. seen from the first screen.
Marsh Tit: In the hedgerow along the bridleway behind the car park and Moorleys(?).

Gareth Blockley

Farmoor 2nd January pm

No sign of the Slavonian Grebe, but the GND still present on FII.

(c) Stephen Burch www.stephenburch.com