Blog Header Text

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

Thursday 30 June 2016

Otmoor RSPB 30th June

1200-1630hrs

Bittern 2
Little Egret 2
Marsh Harrier 2
Hobby 2
Turtle Dove 1m
Common Tern 1
Oystercatcher 2

Lesser Whitethroat 2 singing males



Culham 30th June

White Stork reported still near Culham on private land 1pm.
Swallow Tackley courtesy of John Reynolds

Otmoor:AM 30th June

Bittern
Turtle Dove
Curlew
Marsh Harrier
Garden Warbler
Tree Creeper
Male and female Bullfinch Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Norman Smith

Tuesday 28 June 2016

Woodstock: Perdiswell Farm: 28th June

28th June

Woodstock: Perdiswell Farm
5 Yellow Wagtail

2nd July

Woodstock: Sansoms Farm
Raven

Bob Pomfret

A329 near Moulsford: 28th June

A329 near Moulsford
Corn Bunting: Male in full song - prob in hedgerow between the grassy ley and the maize field opp Little Willows nursery - regular for a week now. SU5985. 09:45.

Mike Amphlett

Monday 27 June 2016

Otmoor RSPB 27th June

Turtle Dove 2 purring males
Marsh Harrier 1
Hobby 2
Common Tern 2
Grasshopper Warbler reeling in Moorleys (per Andy Last)


Port Meadow: 27th June

Port Meadow
Green Sandpiper
Common Tern

Adam Hartley

Balscote Quarry 26th June

Balscote Quarry
Redshank: Reported by C.Payne & J.Craik. SP3942.

Roger Evans

South Leigh: 24th June

South Leigh
Cuckoo: Calling to south of village. 08:00.

Richard Catling

Sunday 26 June 2016

Otmoor RSPB 26th June

Bittern above & below courtesy of Derek Latham


Marsh Harrier courtesy of Derek Latham

Culham 26th June

Still no sign of the White Stork this afternoon S/E of Abingdon south of the A415 by 16:10.

Saturday 25 June 2016

Childrey: 25 June

Spotted Flycatcher (c) Stephen Burch
See also The Tall Birder and click here for a larger image

: 25th June

Port Meadow
Green Sandpiper

Port Meadow
3 Redshank

White Stork near Culham 25th June


White Stork near Culham please view at 720p HD  

White Stork relocated S/E of Abingdon in field adjacent to A415 and still present at 21:00.
From Abingdon take the A415 east past the traffic lights and turning to Culham.
Continue past the turning for Thame Lane until reaching the first farm track on the right (with the double metal gates) park here and view field to the left of the farm buildings.




Balscote Quarry 25th June

6 Curlew: Evening roost. SP3942.

Roger Evans

Otmoor RSPB 25th June


 0700-1030hrs
 
 

Turtle Dove 1m
Marsh Harrier 1
Hobby 2
Oystercatcher 3+

Little Egret 2
Common Tern 2

singing

Garden Warbler
Blackcap
Common Whitehroat
Sedge Warbler
Cetti's Warbler
Common Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler

Culham 25th June

White Stork near Culham in flight between A415 and Thames then seemed to land and was lost to view.
Viewed from Thames Lane 18:10.

White Stork at Culham

White Stork at Culham in grass field by river Thames off Thame  Lane at 4:10 p.m.

(per RBA)

Sent from my iPhone

Standlake, River Windrush, pm 25th June

Kingfisher

Sunningwell 25th June

Probable White Stork 2:00pm flying low. Headed towards Didcot. SU488997.

Andrew Dore

Oxford 25th June

White Stork seen circling over Summertown at 12:25 then flew towards Oxford city (per Jon Uren)

Devil's Punchbowl: 25th June

Devil's Punchbowl
Redstart: male. In bush on Ridgeway, just south of Punchbowl.

Colin Vickers

Friday 24 June 2016

: 24th June

A329 nr Moulsford
Corn Bunting: Male singing S of railway nr Silly bridge. SU5885. 09:45.

Mike Amphlett

Otmoor.A.M. 24th June.

Coquettish Turtle Dove Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Richard Tyler


2 Turtle Dove (per Richard Tyler)
2 Marsh Harrier
3 Common Tern (with one chick)
1 Pochard (with two chicks)
1 Raven (over)
8+ Little Egret.

Farmoor 24th June

3 Little Egret
2 Turnstone
1 Pochard
Family group of Kestrels.

Standlake pit 60: am 24th June

2 Hobby
2 Oystercatcher + 1 chick
4 Little Egret
2 Common Tern
Little Egret
Little Egret

Farmoor 24th June

Turnstone 2 (per Dai) 10:45

Thursday 23 June 2016

Balscote Quarry Reserve 23rd June

2 Little Ringed Plover: pair SP3942.
Probable 2 Little Grebe
Red Kite: Fly Over
Common Tern: Fly Over

Roger Evans

Bicester Wetland Reserve

1 Green Sandpiper (juv)
1 Kingfisher
13 Gadwall
6 Tufted Duck
2 Teal

Alan Peters, Bill Foley

River Thames: Rushey Lock to Old Mans Bridge: 23rd June

23rd June

River Thames: Rushey Lock to Old Mans Bridge
2 Curlew
3 Reed Warbler 08:45.

Colin Vickers
Garden Warbler Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Norman Smith

Cholsey: 22nd June

Cholsey
Yellow Wagtail: Flew over Cholsey Cricket ground, Fairmile.
26 Swift: Cholsey Cricket ground, Fairmile nesting in main building.

Jed Cleeter

Wednesday 22 June 2016

Otmoor. Evening. 22nd. June.

Summer plumage male Ruff.  Big Otmoor.
3 Hobby.
2 Turtle Dove.
Cuckoo m.
Distant views of summer plumage Ruff.


Cholsey: 22nd June

Cholsey
8 Swift: Over new Houses fair mile site and cricket ground. 15:30 to 14:30. 15:30.

Ralph Watts

Arncott 22nd June

Turtle Dove 2 both males calling S/E of Bicester within the Arncott M.O.D compound

(per RBA)

Moulsford 21st June

Corn Bunting: Male, couple of bursts of song. On S side of railway cutting, nr Silly bridge.
SU5985. 09:50.

Mike Amphlett

Tuesday 21 June 2016

Upper Cherwell Valley: 21st June

Channel Wagtail, still present with at least 2 Yellow Wagtails

Benson: 20th June

Siskin Benson courtesy of Tom Stevenson





















4 Siskin: juv. 4 together on sunflower heart feeder in garden.

Thomas Stevenson

Benson & Ewelme Wildlife

Churn: 21st June

Churn
10 Corn Bunting: Lots singing. 15:30.
Yellow Wagtail 15:30.

Steve Goddard

Farmoor. 21st. June.

3 Oystercatcher.
Barn Owl.
Yellow Legged Gull.
Per. Dai.  TS.
Grey Heron.


Rushey Common Lake, 21st June

Little Egrets 3
Garden Warbler adult feeding juvenile

Clackers

Ardington 21st June

2 Spotted Flycatcher: At least, probably three. One flycatching from the bedroom windowsill at 16:20, and a pair (possibly a third) around the Boar's Head pub at lunchtime. SU4388.

Leo Bateman

Otmoor.A.M. 21st June.

2 Marsh Harrier
2 Hobby
3 Common Tern
1 Bittern (3 flights in 10 mins)
1 Sparrowhawk
C. 80 Lapwing (flock).

Sunday 19 June 2016

Childrey Church: 19 June

1 Spotted Flycatcher. From the road in a tree and on wires at the front of the church yard. Also present yesterday according to the wife!

Upton House: 19th June

Upton House
3 Spotted Flycatcher: Located in paddock behind restaurant perched on fence. 11:30.

Graeme Porter

Saturday 18 June 2016

Cholsey 17th June

Report of Black Brant yesterday at Cholsey recreation grounds was erroneous.

Friday 17 June 2016

Milcombe: 17th June

Courtesy of Mary Clifton

























Milcombe
Sparrowhawk: male. "Murder in the garden!". SP4134.

Mary Clifton

Thursday 16 June 2016

Otmoor A.M. 16th June.

Bittern courtesy of Derek Latham


1 Turtle Dove
1 Marsh Harrier
1 Bittern (flying)

Hobby courtesy of Derek Latham


2 Hobby
3+ Little Egret
2 Cuckoo
2 Common Tern (one chick left)
4 Cettis Warbler
4 or 5 Snipe (drumming).

Turtle Dove courtesy of Derek Latham

Grimsbury Reservoir: 16th June

Grimsbury Reservoir
Oystercatcher

Gareth Blockley
Sedge Warbler Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Derek Latham

Wednesday 15 June 2016

Otmoor RSPB 15th June

1230-1330 hrs

Turtle Dove 2 singing males
Marsh Harrier 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 3
Green Woodpecker 1

Willow Warbler 1 and Common Chiffchaff 1 singing males

Common  & Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap families along Roman Road

Otmoor.A.M. 15th June.

2 Raven (over)
2 Oystercatcher
2 Common Tern
1+ Cuckoo
1 Marsh Harrier.

  per TS. & PG.

Tuesday 14 June 2016

Standlake Pit 60: am 14th June

Egyptian Goose
3 Oystercatcher
Little Egret
Cetti's Warbler
2 Common Tern

Common Tern

Oystercatchers


Rushey Common lake, 14th June

Little Egret
Green Sandpiper
Sedge Warblers- still 2 singing
Red Crested Pochard - several, 1 female with 3 juv

Clackers

Sunday 12 June 2016

: 12th June

Cholsey, recreation grounds
2 Yellow Wagtail: Sporadic and incomplete calls, from nr bunk line. SU5886. 21:00.

Mike Amphlett

Otmoor RSPB 12th June

Turtle Dove
Cuckoo
Hobby
Kingfisher
Little Egret 2

(per Derek Latham)

Little Egrets courtesy of Derek Latham.

Friday 10 June 2016

Cholsey 10th June

Red Lion pub
2 Swift: 2 birds low over pub - two? Where's the rest of 'em?!. SU589868. 20:00.

Mike Amphlett

Milcombe
8 Swift: Flying into roost (?) Known to breed in locality. SP415345. 21:15.

Mary Clifton

Berkshire Nightingales Please help

Please use this link to voice your objections as the last link we posted did not work.
All objections need to be in by THIS Monday 13th.

Cheers

http://publicaccess.westberks.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=O720KQRD09N00

Wantage: Yew Down: 9th June

Wantage: Yew Down
4 Grey Partridge: 4 individuals calling at dusk.

Mark Merritt
Swallow Tackley courtesy of John Reynolds

Combe 10th June

Crossbill 6 flying over Combe towards Blenheim (per Dave Doherty)

Thursday 9 June 2016

: 26th April

Grove
Raven: ad. persistently hanging around some pine trees - possible nest (also seen previous week).

Grove: 9th June

Grove
Yellow Wagtail: ad. on farm, improved grassland hay crop - not very promising habitat!.

Anthony Cheke

Nightingales under threat please help.

Please help Nightingales in neighbouring Berkshire by adding your objections to an ill thought
out planning application. We have all but lost these sublime songsters from our county lets help
to keep them in Berskshire.


Courtesy of Mark Chivers

There is a planning application with West Berkshire Council to put 224 houses and 24 floating homes on Theale Main Lake. The lake and its environs are a stronghold for Nightingale, not only locally but nationally, and we estimate about 50 territories will be lost. 

We are trying to fight it but need as many objections as possible. We know that birders from 
neighbouring counties including Oxfordshire come to Theale just to hear the nightingales.
individual objections it would be a big help. 

The deadline for comments on the planning application for Theale Main Lake is MONDAY 13TH JUNE. Would you please submit any objections you may have as soon as 
possible. 

You need to quote the following reference numbers to make sure the objections go to the right applications. 
16/01235FUL, 16/01237FUL, 16/01238FUL and 
16/01239FUL which relate to the installation of culverts at Hosehill Lake LNR and Main Lake and 16/01240OUTMAJ which is the application for the 224 houses and 24 floating homes.

Courtesy of  Mark Chivers

There are three ways to object: 


On the Westberks council planning website - (you are restricted to 1000 characters) 

http://publicaccess.westberks.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=O720KQRD09N00


By email to the planning department - follow the link on the planning page or email planapps@westberks.gov.uk 

A Letter to Head of Planning and Countryside, West Berkshire Council, Market Street, Newbury RG14 5LD.

All documents are open to the public via the website so if you do not want your details made public prepare your objection on a document which does not contain your name and address and attach it to an email however you must put your name and address in the body of the email or it will not be accepted. 

Environmental grounds for objections include: 

The importance of the Lake area for Nightingale, not just locally but nationally - it is one of the few areas where the population is increasing,
The proposed housing site is used by by hunting Barn Owls, and the remainder of the lake by nesting Oystercatcher and other waders, and is an important wintering wildfowl area.

There will be an impact from these new households, increased disturbance by humans and dogs and increased predation by cats on all the wildlife in general. 

There will also be knock on effects on Hosehill LNR through increased footfall, aforementioned domestic pets, and the unknown impact of the culverts on the lake 
bed which could work their way through the food chain and alter everything.

There is a facebook page " Save the Theale Nightingales" which also has the objection details if anyone needs them, and up to date progress reports on the campaign. 

Thanks in advance

Cathy McEwan (Secretary Theale Area Bird Conservation Group)

Otmoor RSPB 9th June

Bittern 2 (per RBA)

Standlake Pit 60: am 9th June

Curlew
4 Little Egret
2 Oystercatcher
2 Common Tern

Common Tern

South Leigh: 9th June

South Leigh
Cuckoo 06:00.

Richard Catling

Otmoor.A.M. 9th June.

2 Marsh Harrier
1 Bittern
3 Raven (over high)
2 Common Tern (with chicks)
Several Cuckoo
Several Hobby.

Farmoor. 9th. June.

House Martin.


Wednesday 8 June 2016

Otmoor RSPB 8th June

Cuckoo courtesy of Mike Kosniowski



















Turtle Dove
Cuckoo 2
Hobby

(per Mike Kosniowski)

Garden Warbler Otmoor RSPB courtesy of Christopher Knight

Cholsey River Thames

Kingfisher

Sunday 5 June 2016

Otmoor RSPB 5th June

Turtle Dove
Marsh Harrier
Hobby c5
Cuckoo 2
Grasshopper Warbler 2

(Lasty, Badger, J.Palmer)

Tadmarton: 5th June

Tadmarton
Tawny Owl: Sat in tree just after leaving Tadmarton on the left heading towards Banbury. 16:15.

Graeme Porter

Appleford GPs 5th June

Black Tern Appleford GPs (per RBA) No further sign at 15:30.

Standlake Pit 60: am 5th June

Reed Warbler

Saturday 4 June 2016

Blewbury 4th June

1 Short Eared Owl,
lots of Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat & Skylark

iPhone scoped Short Eared Owl

iPhone scoped Skylark