Many thanks to all those that have contributed sightings to the OBL and Goingbirding throughout
2012, please keep them coming in 2013. Special thanks also to all the fantastic photographers
around the county who are relentlessly 'badgered' for pictures for this blog ;-)
Hope you have a happy and bird filled new year...cheers.
Badger & Gnome
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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
Monday 31 December 2012
Garden Mega to end the Marcham year
Long looked for and at last seen; my first wintering male Blackcap hammering chunks out of the fat balls hanging against the garden fence and nearest the cover of bountiful Ivy clad trees in neighbours gardens. Coming on top of recent highlights of 4(!) Chaffinch and pair of Greenfinch, the plentifully varied bird food on offer is starting to produce the, overdue, expected results.
Appleford 31st December
Probable Caspian Gull (ad) in field Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android |
Banbury: 31st December
No sign of any Waxwings on Southam Road or Dukes Meadow Drive (or immediate surroundings) this morning
Radley village: Radley College: 31st December
Radley village: Radley College
Brambling: m. on my feeders in Sugworth Lane.
John Hillsdon
Brambling: m. on my feeders in Sugworth Lane.
John Hillsdon
Devil's Punchbowl: 31st December
31st December
Devil's Punchbowl
Peregrine: f. ....also a stoat busily investigating the rabbit holes. Little else was stupid enough to be up there in what were fairly brutal conditions!.
Childrey: Childrey Field
3 Corn Bunting
Mark Merritt
Devil's Punchbowl
Peregrine: f. ....also a stoat busily investigating the rabbit holes. Little else was stupid enough to be up there in what were fairly brutal conditions!.
Childrey: Childrey Field
3 Corn Bunting
Mark Merritt
Sunday 30 December 2012
Otmoor: 30th December PM
Starling roost was a grand total of 100 birds (and that's being generous!), no sign of a big roost by 16:45.
Bittern seen flying over the reedbed,
3 Dunlin in flight with Lapwings,
3 Little Egrets,
3 Stonechat (1 male),
1 Lesser Redpoll,
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) (per Dave Lowe),
Reed Bunting roost of 30+ birds near the 1st screen,
Pied Wagtail roost in same place as Reed Buntings,
Lapwings and Golden Plovers combined must be approaching 2000 birds.
A.M
Peregrine 2
Goldeneye (f) 2nd screen
Raven 2
Brambling poss f nr cattle pens
Otmoor Birding
Bittern seen flying over the reedbed,
3 Dunlin in flight with Lapwings,
3 Little Egrets,
3 Stonechat (1 male),
1 Lesser Redpoll,
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail) (per Dave Lowe),
Reed Bunting roost of 30+ birds near the 1st screen,
Pied Wagtail roost in same place as Reed Buntings,
Lapwings and Golden Plovers combined must be approaching 2000 birds.
A.M
Peregrine 2
Goldeneye (f) 2nd screen
Raven 2
Brambling poss f nr cattle pens
Otmoor Birding
Banbury 30th December
Waxwing 10 Banbury on Southam Road at Emward Fastenings Ltd at 14:15 (per RBA)
Waxwing 3 Banbury on Dukes Meadow DrIve at 15:45 (per RBA)
Waxwing 3 Banbury on Dukes Meadow DrIve at 15:45 (per RBA)
Farmoor 30th December
Farmoor 30 December
Bramblings - 2 feeding with Chaffinch by tarmac track just beyond Pinkhill gate
Slav Grebe - 2 reported on F I
Scaup - reported on F I
Slav Grebe - 2 reported on F I
Scaup - reported on F I
Saturday 29 December 2012
Wolvercote: 29th December
Wolvercote
Brambling: fem. Feeding in garden with Chaffinches in heavy rain. SP490090.
Steve Goddard
Brambling: fem. Feeding in garden with Chaffinches in heavy rain. SP490090.
Steve Goddard
Thursday 27 December 2012
Oxon Birding 2012
The traditional Gnome review of the year's birding. Enjoy!
Oxon Bird of the Year Poll Result
The results of the Bird of the Year Poll in case you are interested:
1: Dotterel 22% - boosted by a campaign by the Banbury birders to promote "their" bird.
2. Corncrake 16%
3. Red-rumped Swallow 14%
4. White Stork 13%
5. Black-winged Stilt 12%
Congrats to The Wickster on seeing 193 BOU species in 2012 in Oxon and Peter Law
on reaching 181 BOU...
Oxon Bird of the Year Poll Result
The results of the Bird of the Year Poll in case you are interested:
1: Dotterel 22% - boosted by a campaign by the Banbury birders to promote "their" bird.
2. Corncrake 16%
3. Red-rumped Swallow 14%
4. White Stork 13%
5. Black-winged Stilt 12%
Congrats to The Wickster on seeing 193 BOU species in 2012 in Oxon and Peter Law
on reaching 181 BOU...
Witney: New Mill: 27th December
27th December
Witney: New Mill
Green Sandpiper
Dix Pit
5 Red-crested Pochard: 3m2f. Well hidden at the margin, possibly more present.
Mark Merritt
Witney: New Mill
Green Sandpiper
Dix Pit
5 Red-crested Pochard: 3m2f. Well hidden at the margin, possibly more present.
Mark Merritt
Otmoor.A.M. 27th December.
C. 1000 Golden Plover.
C. 1000 Lapwing.
1 Peregrine.
1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Hen Harrier (F).
Hen Harrier (male) flew across The Closes and over Ashgrave at c15:20
(per Peter Law)
C. 1000 Lapwing.
1 Peregrine.
1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Hen Harrier (F).
Hen Harrier (male) flew across The Closes and over Ashgrave at c15:20
(per Peter Law)
Wednesday 26 December 2012
Otmoor.A.M. 26th December.
1 Peregrine (F)
1 Sparrowhawk (M)
3 Little Egret.
3 Pintail 3+ drakes (per Jonathan Mercer)
Also Otter showing well from the 1st Screen this morning
(per Geoff Adams & Mark Chivers aka The early Birders)
Photos of the Chub Muncher on Otmoor Birding
1 Sparrowhawk (M)
3 Little Egret.
3 Pintail 3+ drakes (per Jonathan Mercer)
Also Otter showing well from the 1st Screen this morning
(per Geoff Adams & Mark Chivers aka The early Birders)
Photos of the Chub Muncher on Otmoor Birding
Grimsbury Reservoir: 26th December
Little Egret - north of the wood in river/flooded fields area
2 Little Owls
181 Canada Geese
(per Clive Payne)
2 Little Owls
181 Canada Geese
(per Clive Payne)
Tuesday 25 December 2012
Sunday 23 December 2012
Port Meadow: 23rd December
Port Meadow
Little Owl: Heard only.
Tawny Owl: Heard only.
3 Goosander
Adam Hartley
Little Owl: Heard only.
Tawny Owl: Heard only.
3 Goosander
Adam Hartley
Otmoor 23rd December
Shelduck (c) Geoff Adams |
Shelduck 2 (Geoff Adams & Mark Chivers)
Bittern
Peregrine 2
Golden Plover c800
Lapwing c800
Pintail c30
Sparrowhawk
Water Rail
Stonechat 4
Otmoor Birding
Grimsbury Reservoir: 23rd December
Goosander (per Clive Payne) - quite an uncommon bird here and number 107 for the year, will it be the last edition for the year?
Tufted Duck (5 - 3 drakes)
Peregrine Falcon (per Clive Payne)
Sparrowhawk (male)
Little Owl (2) - a patch tick for me!
Raven (per Clive Payne)
Also a Blackcap in Spiceball Park (per Clive Payne)
Tufted Duck (5 - 3 drakes)
Peregrine Falcon (per Clive Payne)
Sparrowhawk (male)
Little Owl (2) - a patch tick for me!
Raven (per Clive Payne)
Also a Blackcap in Spiceball Park (per Clive Payne)
Cuddesdon: 23rd December
Some of the single flock of 1,120 Fieldfares present this morning. Give or take the odd Redwing or two.
The Birdless Cuddesdon Blog
Saturday 22 December 2012
Lollingdon Hill 22nd December
No sign of the Great Grey Shrike this morning (per Paul Chandler) Cholsey Wildlife
Friday 21 December 2012
Otmoor RSPB reserve 21st December
Bittern visible from the first screen until dusk. First pointed out by Ron Louch and his mates.
Hen Harrier male. over the reed-bed during the Starling roost.
(Steve Roby)
Hen Harrier male. over the reed-bed during the Starling roost.
(Steve Roby)
Otmoor 21st December
2 Bearded Tit In front of 1st screen.
2 Hen Harrier: 1m 1f. Female over Ashgrave. Male from 2nd screen.
4 Chiffchaff
600+ Golden Plover on greenaways.
5 Stonechat
Waxwing Otmoor lane. Just before Farm entrance with flock of fieldfare.
11 Pintail: male. 11 Male Pintail on Greenaways.
(Peter Coombes) The Otmoor Blogger
2 Hen Harrier: 1m 1f. Female over Ashgrave. Male from 2nd screen.
4 Chiffchaff
600+ Golden Plover on greenaways.
5 Stonechat
Waxwing Otmoor lane. Just before Farm entrance with flock of fieldfare.
11 Pintail: male. 11 Male Pintail on Greenaways.
(Peter Coombes) The Otmoor Blogger
Lollingdon Hill 21st December
Great Grey Shrike Nr Cholsey 500 metres north of Lollingdon Hill at 12:45 tho mobile. (per Paul Chandler) Cholsey Wildlife Please stick to footpaths. |
Thursday 20 December 2012
Port Meadow: 20th December
Port Meadow
2 Mediterranean Gull: ad & 1w.
6 Goosander: 2m 4r/h.
Shelduck
20 Common Gull
500 Golden Plover
Adam Hartley
2 Mediterranean Gull: ad & 1w.
6 Goosander: 2m 4r/h.
Shelduck
20 Common Gull
500 Golden Plover
Adam Hartley
Wednesday 19 December 2012
Banbury: 19th December
There were 50-60 Waxwings on the south side of the Hardwick estate in Banbury today
(per Winston Churchill).
(per Winston Churchill).
Port Meadow: 19th December
19 Pintail: mostly drakes.
No sign of the Iceland gull this evening
Adam Hartley
Play Hatch: 19th December
Play Hatch
2 Goosander: Two Redheads on the flooded new gravel workings opposite the entrance to Sonning Quarry.
Robin Dryden
2 Goosander: Two Redheads on the flooded new gravel workings opposite the entrance to Sonning Quarry.
Robin Dryden
Tuesday 18 December 2012
Port Meadow: 18th December
Iceland Gull (1w)
2 Bar-tailed Godwit
5 Goosander: 3m 2r/h.
4 Dunlin
3 Yellow-legged Gull
Adam Hartley
2 Bar-tailed Godwit
5 Goosander: 3m 2r/h.
4 Dunlin
3 Yellow-legged Gull
Adam Hartley
RSPB Otmoor WeBS 17th December
Total counts from the December WeBS. The breakdown of numbers in each field are also shown:
Little egret 4 (2 Ashgrave, 2 Closes)
Grey Heron 7 (2 Malt Pit, 2 Big Otmoor, 2 Greenaways, 1 Ashgrave)
Mute swan 22 (5 Flood, 7 Malt Pit, 4 Big Otmoor, 4 Greenaways, 2 Ashgrave)
Greylag goose 94 (1 Ashgrave, 93 Closes)
Canada goose 263 (65 Big Otmoor, 197 Ashgrave, 1 Closes)
Wigeon 1276 (199 Flood, 25 Malt Pit, 284 Big Otmoor, 20 Reedbed, 710 Greenaways, 38 Ashgrave)
Gadwall 30 (28 Reedbed, 2 Ashgrave)
Teal 785 (50 Malt Pit, 235 Big Otmoor, 139 Reedbed, 210 Greenaways, 138 Ashgrave, 13 Closes)
Mallard 322 (15 Flood, 51 Malt Pit, 130 Big Otmoor, 15 Greenaways, 75 Ashgrave, 36 Closes)
Pintail 7 (3 Greenaways, 4 Big Otmoor)
Shoveler 107 (5 Flood, 24 Big Otmoor, 21 Reedbed, 7 Greenaways, 50 Ashgrave)
Pochard 2 (2 Reedbed)
Tufted duck 7 (5 Reedbed, 2 Ashgrave)
Water rail 1 (Reedbed)
Moorhen 10 (5 Ashgrave, 5 Closes)
Golden Plover 350 (Greenaways)
Lapwing 838 (752 Greenaways, 86 Ashgrave)
Ruff 2 (Greenaways)
Snipe 15 (2 Reedbed, 13 Greenaways)Monday 17 December 2012
Waxwings 17th December
More pictures here
Trap Grounds: no sign of any by the bike racks on Frenchay Rd at midday today (Gnome)
Bicester: 80+ Waxwings Rowan Road this morning (per Alan Peters)
Bicester Wetland Reserve 17th December
Bearded Tit (heard only) Still at Bicester Wetland Reserve (per Mike Lewis)
Dorchester complex 17th December
1 Smew (female) on the Allen Pit
2 Egyptian Goose
2 Ruff at Days Lock scrape
Thomas Stevenson
Benson & Ewelme Wildlife
2 Egyptian Goose
2 Ruff at Days Lock scrape
Thomas Stevenson
Benson & Ewelme Wildlife
Sunday 16 December 2012
Port Meadow: 16th December
Port Meadow
3 Redshank
7 Pintail
2 Yellow-legged Gull: ad & 3w.
Adam Hartley
3 Redshank
7 Pintail
2 Yellow-legged Gull: ad & 3w.
Adam Hartley
Waxwings 16th December
12 Waxwing on Meadow Lane Iffley (Melissa Holding)
3+ Waxwing Thame near Southern ring road at 11 a.m (per RBA)
6 Waxwings Oxford by the bike racks by the entrance to the Trap Grounds on the
corner of Frenchay Road just past the canal bridge (per Gnome)
3+ Waxwing Thame near Southern ring road at 11 a.m (per RBA)
6 Waxwings Oxford by the bike racks by the entrance to the Trap Grounds on the
corner of Frenchay Road just past the canal bridge (per Gnome)
One of the Trap Grounds Waxwings
Farmoor 16th December
Red-head Smew on F1 this morning
Slavonian Grebe 2
Scaup 3
No sign of the Falcated Duck
(per Dai John & Mike Youngman)
The Insomniac Birder
Saturday 15 December 2012
Baulking 15th December
(c) The Gun Slinger
Long-tailed Duck (ad m) still 14:38 in NE corner (per Ian Smith) 2mls S/W of Stanford in the vale on pit just east of Baulking.From A417 take turning for Baulking, after c1.5 miles park in front of double metal gates on right and take footpath to view lake. Goldeneye f Little Owl Med Gull (ad) late morning
(c) Jon Mercer
|
Standlake: 15th December
Hen Harrier, ringtail along S shore of pit 60 at 11.30
Teal, 866
Pintail, 14
Little Egret, 1
Also, 1 Waxwing at Colwell Drive, Witney at 1pm
Teal, 866
Pintail, 14
Little Egret, 1
Also, 1 Waxwing at Colwell Drive, Witney at 1pm
Trap Grounds: 15th December
10 Waxwing Feeding on Viburnum berries by the bike rack at the entrance.
Tom Evans
Tom Evans
Farmoor 15th December
No sign of the Falcated Duck by 09:00 (per Dai) Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android |
Friday 14 December 2012
Bernwood Forest: Oakley Wood: 14th December
33 Waxwing: 33 Waxwings in my next door neighbours back garden. In Oakley Bucks. opposite the school (Not quite in oxfordshire).
Peter Coombes
Otmoor 13th December
Bittern seen from first screen
Water rail 2m up a tree
Unidentified large black creature seen for second time in middle of Flood Field!?
Water rail 2m up a tree
Unidentified large black creature seen for second time in middle of Flood Field!?
Thursday 13 December 2012
Iceland Gull 13th December
This pit is next to the very busy haul road to the tip. Park in the pull-ins . . . never on the road. If the owners get upset with birders parking studiply they might stop me from going there and that would make me sad. And please, if you go and you want good views, stay in your car.
2nd w Iceland Gull (IL)
2nd w Iceland Gull (IL)
1st w Caspian Gull (Roger Wyatt)
2nd w Caspian Gull (IL)2nd w Caspian Gull (Roger Wyatt)
Farmoor 13th December
Falcated Duck (ad m) on F1 still at 3pm (per RBA)
Mallard c300
Tufted Duck c300
Scaup 3
Slavonian Grebe 2
(per Dai) The Insomniac Birder
Mallard c300
Tufted Duck c300
Scaup 3
Slavonian Grebe 2
(per Dai) The Insomniac Birder
Our Falcated friend (c) Gnome
Witney 13th December
Waxwing 32 on Colwell Drive at 13:50 (per Mrs Clackers)
8+ still on Colwell Drive (not Road) 08:05 (per Clackers)
8+ still on Colwell Drive (not Road) 08:05 (per Clackers)
Wednesday 12 December 2012
Farmoor Reservoir
No sign of the Falcated Duck by 11:20 this morning.
Also the Mallard numbers have dropped by c250 birds.
(per Dai & Terry Sherlock)
Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I
3 Dunlin
3 Scaup: ad female; juv female; juv male.
2 Slavonian Grebe
Farmoor Reservoir: Causeway
Common Sandpiper
Stephen Akers
Farmoor Reservoir: Pinkhill
Brambling
Steve Roby
Also the Mallard numbers have dropped by c250 birds.
(per Dai & Terry Sherlock)
Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I
3 Dunlin
3 Scaup: ad female; juv female; juv male.
2 Slavonian Grebe
Farmoor Reservoir: Causeway
Common Sandpiper
Stephen Akers
Farmoor Reservoir: Pinkhill
Brambling
Steve Roby
Benson 12th December
Waxwing 2+ on Watlington Rd at 08:15 only (per RBA) Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android |
Witney 12th December
Waxwing 30+ Colwell Rd late afternoon 15 outside 55 Colwell Rd at 13:20 (per Mrs Clackers) Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android |
Tuesday 11 December 2012
Stonesfield: Stonesfield Common: 11th December
Stonesfield: Stonesfield Common
16 Snipe
15 Pied Wagtail
Water Rail
21 Goldfinch
35 Fieldfare
Paul Wren
16 Snipe
15 Pied Wagtail
Water Rail
21 Goldfinch
35 Fieldfare
Paul Wren
Benson 11th December
4-5 Waxwings feeding at the roadside on Watlington Rd in Benson at 1 pm,
but
gone half an hour later.
(per Richard Broughton)
gone half an hour later.
(per Richard Broughton)
Farmoor mid afternoon 11th December
Freezing fog and much reduced visibility. In the gloom made out the following:
Falcated Duck 1
Mallard 324
Gadwall 6
Northern Shoveler 2
Common Pochard 16
Tufted Duck 150+
Common Goldeneye 12
Eurasian Wigeon 11
Common Teal 7
Slavonian Grebe 1
Little Grebe 12
Great Cormorant 29
Greylag Goose 350+
Common Sandpiper 1 far side of Farmoor 2
Black Audi Birding
Falcated Duck 1
Mallard 324
Gadwall 6
Northern Shoveler 2
Common Pochard 16
Tufted Duck 150+
Common Goldeneye 12
Eurasian Wigeon 11
Common Teal 7
Slavonian Grebe 1
Little Grebe 12
Great Cormorant 29
Greylag Goose 350+
Common Sandpiper 1 far side of Farmoor 2
Black Audi Birding
Port Meadow: 11th December
Port Meadow
Too foggy to see much but I could just make out:
5 Black-tailed Godwit
2 Pintail: m.
Adam Hartley
Too foggy to see much but I could just make out:
5 Black-tailed Godwit
2 Pintail: m.
Adam Hartley
Farmoor 11th December
The FALCATED DUCK still in the NW corner of F1 at 1:14 (per RBA)
Also:
2 Slavonian Grebes
3 Scaup
Also:
2 Slavonian Grebes
3 Scaup
Otmoor Monday 10th Dec. Waxwings
There were 20+ Waxwings feeding in the carpark Field yesterday morning
also 1 woodcock
2 Black Tailed Godwits on fields to the west of track to second screen.
(Bark) Otmoor Birding
also 1 woodcock
2 Black Tailed Godwits on fields to the west of track to second screen.
(Bark) Otmoor Birding
Monday 10 December 2012
Abingdon: 10th December
2 Waxwing late reporting sorry....in the trees but mobile on the business park outside unit 1 and 3.
Christopher Ellis
Christopher Ellis
Farmoor 10th December
Falcated Duck still on F1 in N/W corner at 08:35 (per Dai)
Still present at dusk (per Martin Townsend)
Also:
5 Egyptian Geese F2
2 Slavonian Grebe F1
3 Scaup F1
1 Common Sandpiper (per Martin Townsend)
Also LGRE's counts of the common stuff:
Mallards 274
1 drake Gadwall,
121 Tufted Duck,
22 Northern Pochard,
3 Common Goldeneye,
9 Great Crested Grebe,
1 Little Grebe,
199 Coot
Still present at dusk (per Martin Townsend)
Also:
5 Egyptian Geese F2
2 Slavonian Grebe F1
3 Scaup F1
1 Common Sandpiper (per Martin Townsend)
(c) Terry Sherlock
Also LGRE's counts of the common stuff:
Mallards 274
1 drake Gadwall,
121 Tufted Duck,
22 Northern Pochard,
3 Common Goldeneye,
9 Great Crested Grebe,
1 Little Grebe,
199 Coot
(c) Badger
Sunday 9 December 2012
Farmoor: Falcated Duck
Dai John found an unringed & fully winged adult male FALCATED DUCK in the North West corner of Farmoor 1 this morning.
Still present at dusk in the same location (Gnome)
For what it's worth, some wariness evidence: "As it was nearing dusk the ducks in that corner (mostly Mallards) all moved on to the bank to roost. I had to walk back that way and as I approached the first bird off the bank by a long chalk was the Falcated with the Mallards only moving off much later on. The Mallards are probably used to people walking around the bank so don't care so much but there was no doubting the Falcated's concern as I approached" (Gnome)
Still present at dusk in the same location (Gnome)
For what it's worth, some wariness evidence: "As it was nearing dusk the ducks in that corner (mostly Mallards) all moved on to the bank to roost. I had to walk back that way and as I approached the first bird off the bank by a long chalk was the Falcated with the Mallards only moving off much later on. The Mallards are probably used to people walking around the bank so don't care so much but there was no doubting the Falcated's concern as I approached" (Gnome)
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