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Wednesday 28 February 2018

Yarnton Mead: 28th February

Yarnton Mead
6 White-fronted Goose: Feral birds.
18 Barnacle Goose: Feral birds.
2 Goosander: Pair.

Derek Evans

Standlake: 28th February

Standlake
Brambling: m. at my garden feeder again.

Mick Cunningham

Standlake Pit 60: am 28th February



Approx 80% of lake now frozen
9 Goldeneye
2 Snipe
Probable Polar Bear

Otmoor 28th Feb PM

in addition to post below:

1 Brambling (m) by hide
Sparrowhawk
Raven (h)
Bittern on Greenaways (reported)

A.L & T.S






Wooton nr Woodstock 28th February

Hawfinch 15+ in the churchyard c13:00
Raven
Marsh Tit

(per Dave Doherty)

Otmoor.A.M. 28th February.

1 Hawfinch (car park field)
5 Curlew
2 Oystercatcher
20+ Snipe
2 Goldcrest.

Tuesday 27 February 2018

Wootton nr Woodstock: 27th February

Wootton nr Woodstock
8 Hawfinch: In tall trees at rear of churchyard. Flew west - one male returned. 13:05.

Malcolm Barnicoat

Stanton Harcourt 27th February

Bittern again adjacent to the West Oxon Sailing Club access road on Pit 10 16:17

(per Mick Cunningham).

Dix Pit: 27th February

Dix Pit
2 Black-necked Grebe: Still present favouring area near heronry island.

Mick Cunningham

Eynsham: 27th February

Eynsham
5 Hawfinch: Up to 5 birds active in tree tops in Tanners Lane 1200 to 1500. 1 male, 4 females. 1 with a very pale bill, rest with blue/grey bills. 15:00.

Stephen Holmans

Ardington 27th February

c25 Hawfinch this lunchtime in trees to rear of pub

: 27th February

Standlake
9 Stock Dove: Feeding on ground scattered nugget seed in my garden. SU391028.

Antony Collieu

Standlake: 27th February

Standlake
Brambling: m. At my garden feeder Rack End.

Mick Cunningham

Sonning Eye GPs 27th February

Black-necked Grebe 5 still present at Sonning Eye (per Hugh Netley).

A329 near Moulsford: 27th February

A329 near Moulsford
Brambling: Fem, foraging under feeders, with <15> Chaffinches. SU5985. 08:30.

Mike Amphlett

Monday 26 February 2018

Standlake Pit 60: 26th February

Standlake Pit 60
205 Wigeon: last hour or so before dark. Although wildfowl numbers are definitely down, my numbers are probably undercounts as, yesterday, many more ducks appeared out of reeds.
150 Teal: probably more in reeds.
11 Goldeneye
7 Goosander
24 Pochard
3 Oystercatcher

Mick Cunningham

Eynsham: 26th February

Eynsham
2 Hawfinch: 1 male, 1 fem. In treetop in Tanners Lane. Appearing sporadically throughout day. 14:10.

Stephen Holmans

Otmoor: 26th February

Otmoor
2 Ruff: In Noke Sheep Fields.

Barry Batchelor

Otmoor.A.M. 26th February.

1 Green Sandpiper (flew into Greenaways)
2 Brambling (by Hide)
7 Barnacle Goose
2 Peregrine
2 Raven (over)
28 Pintail
4 Stonechat
1 Coal Tit
2 Red-legged Partridge (Otmoor Lane)
2 Barn Owl (reported Car Park field).

Woodstock 26th February

Hawfinch 8+ at Woodstock water meadows

Blenheim:
Shelduck 4

(per Dave Doherty)

Sunday 25 February 2018

Yarnton GPs: 25th February

Yarnton GPs
4 Egyptian Goose: Adult with 3 goslings.
7 Shelduck
5 Pintail
Shoveler 87
Tufted Duck 70
Goldeneye 2

Derek Evans

Otmoor Sunday 10.45am

Hawfinch (m) in trees and bushes behind feeders.

Abingdon Sewage Works 25th February

Probable Siberian Chiffchaff tristis at Abingdon Sewage works in hedge along perimeter fence this morning with 10+ Chiffchaff.

(per James Edwards) 

Grimsbury Res Feb 25th 08:30 - 09:30


Willow Tit courtesy of Tom Bedford Out of the blue sky






Willow Tit - 1
Marsh Tit - 1 (with thanks to RKB for ID)
Wigeon - pair
Song Thrush - at least 3
Siskin - 4
Lesser Redpoll - at least 1

Dave Lowe and Tom Bedford

Standlake: 25th February

Standlake
Hawfinch: In village church yard.

Mick Cunningham
Yellowhammer Otmoor RSPB courtesy of John Workman.

Otmoor.A.M. 25th February.

2 Oystercatcher
2 Shelduck

From yesterday:
1 Ringed Plover (flew over calling, joined another then lost to view).

(per Stoneshank)

Barnacle Goose (feral) Seen from 1st screen, flew off with 2 Greylags.
Stonechat: male. On Ashgrave at top of path opposite the feeders.

(per Graeme Porter)


: 25th February

Ardington
12 Hawfinch: At least. SU431883. 09:00.

Leo Bateman

Baulking Pit: 25th Feb.



















Still in the area - flew East over Baulking Lane

2 Grey Partridge
Raven

Lockinge: Lockinge Lake: 25th February

Lockinge: Lockinge Lake
Mandarin Duck: male. 09:00.

Leo Bateman

Witney 25th February

Hawfinch 2 by Deer Park Road c08:55 (Per Dave Doherty).
Linnet Otmoor RSPB courtesy of John Workman.

Stanton St. John: 25th February

25th February

Stanton St. John
5 Raven: 5 again this morning, very vocal, calling constantly while flying back and forth between Stanton Great Wood and Holly Wood. 06:45.
2 Siskin: Two. 1 male, 1 female again this morning on feeders. 08:25.

David Brown

Saturday 24 February 2018

Port Meadow: 24th February

Port Meadow
3 Shelduck
2 Oystercatcher
Redshank

Adam Hartley

A329 near Moulsford: 24th February

A329 near Moulsford
Brambling: Fem scavenging spilt seed on lawn - oops, feeders empty,'til later today. SU5985. 10:00.

Mike Amphlett

Farmoor Reservoir: 24th February

Farmoor Reservoir
Woodcock: Seen from Pink hill hide. Early pm flew N apparently following line of river.

Mick Cunningham

Sonning Eye GPs: 24th February

Sonning Eye GPs
Oystercatcher 14:55.
Goosander: drk. 14:55.

Marek Walford

Northmoor 24th February

Hawfinch 4+ in the churchyard (per Mick Cunningham).

Dix Pit 24th February

Black-necked Grebe 2 still present this morning (Per Mick Cunningham).

Friday 23 February 2018

Wootton nr Woodstock: 23rd February

Wootton nr Woodstock
Hawfinch: male. Single male in large beech at rear of churchyard.

Malcolm Barnicoat

Port Meadow 23rd February

juvenile Iceland Gull on Port Meadow this evening

per Thomas Miller

Dix Pit Stanton Harcourt 23rd February

Black-necked Grebe 2 still present this morning (per Phil Brown).

Standlake: 23rd February

Spring is coming!

Eynsham: 23rd February

Eynsham
8 Hawfinch: Hawfinches active in Tanners Lane again today, including a party of 8 in tree top at 1255 (7 females, 1 male). 12:55.

Stephen Holmans

A329 near Moulsford: 22nd February

A329 near Moulsford
Brambling: Fem still here, foraging o spilt seeds. SU5985. 08:25.

Mike Amphlett

Thursday 22 February 2018

Fyfield Wick: 22nd February

Fyfield Wick
Hawfinch 08:25.

Jed Cleeter

Port Meadow: 22nd February

Port Meadow
Little Egret (not Great White Egret) seen fishing in stream behind Walton Well Carpark along with Grey Heron. 17:00.

Adam Hartley

Forest Hill: 22nd February

Forest Hill
7 Hawfinch: Feeding in yews at St Nicholas church.

Barry Batchelor

Dix Pit: 22nd February

Dix Pit
2 Black-necked Grebe: Pair on the far side of the pit from the path past the Devil's Quoits. Opticron binocular lens covers found and placed on the Devil's Quoits information board. 11:50.

Sam O'Hara

Ardington 22nd February

18+ Hawfinch at 13:00, moving between churchyard and trees on the southern edge of Ardington Lake
Cormorant on the lake briefly

Otmoor rspb. 22nd. February.

Hen Harrier.  m.

3. Marsh Harrier.                                              
Marsh Harrier.  m.
Hen Harrier.  (m)
Oystercatcher.
Sparrowhawk.
Curlew.
22. Pintail.
Peregrine.
8. Meadow Pipit.
2. Bittern.
Shelduck.

Per.  P.G .  LO'B.  T.S.









Bittern.



















Eynsham: 22nd February

Eynsham
Hawfinch: At least 18 birds in tree tops and yew in Tanners Lane 1035 to 1045. Highly mobile. 10:35.

Stephen Holmans

Wednesday 21 February 2018

Harwell 21st February

Hawfinch still 1+ at Harwell Laboratory (per RBA).

Ardington 21st February

Hawfinch 2 in the churchyard at 15:20 (per RBA).

Lower Windrush Valley GPs: 21st February

Lower Windrush Valley GPs
Water Rail: squealing away at pit10.

Mick Cunningham

Otmoor Evening 21st Feb

Barn Owl 2 (possibly 3?)
Kingfisher
Water Rail




Didcot Power Station: 21st February

Didcot Power Station
2 Peregrine: Seen circling and gaining height over power station and BBOWT Education Centre, 2nd bird didnt hang about. Prolonged view. 12:15.

Mark Bradfield

Otmoor: 21st February

Otmoor
Hawfinch: Flew in to car park field early afternoon.

John Edwards

Northmoor: 21st February

Northmoor
2 Hawfinch: After a couple of , albeit brief, blank visits last week I put some sunflower seed down. Today daw two hawfinches immediately I arrived at church.

Mick Cunningham

Eynsham: 21st February

Eynsham
6 Hawfinch: In tree tops in Tanners Lane. 12:30.

Stephen Holmans

Wooton 21st February

Hawfinch 17 just off Lambs Lane behind Manor Farm c12:44 (Per Dave Doherty).

Otmoor.A.M. 21st February.

3 Peregrine (2 m)
3 Marsh Harrier
1 Hen Harrier (m)
20 Pintail
28 Pochard
5 Cettis (h)
2 Curlew
1 Redshank
1 Sparrowhawk.

per  N.M.  P.G.

Thenford Northamptonshire 21st February

Thenford
7 Hawfinch: I know it is just over the border in Northants but several visible from the path to the church mainly in the trees behind Church Barns but mobile. SP521417.

Graeme Porter

Tuesday 20 February 2018

Port Meadow: 20th February

Port Meadow
The largest gull roost on the Meadow for several weeks

Oystercatcher
Shelduck
Yellow-legged Gull: ad.
8 Goosander
25 Barnacle Goose
100 Lapwing
15 Golden Plover

Adam Hartley

Chinnor: Chinnor Hill: 20th February

Chinnor: Chinnor Hill
Raven: 1 calling over the Ridge.

David Stracey

Otmoor rspb. 20th. February.

Wigeon.

3. Curlew.
3. Marsh Harrier.
Peregrine.
Little Egret.
Brambling.  Reported by feeders.)
4. Raven.  Displaying.

Curlew.

: 20th February

Tanners Lane, Eynsham
Hawfinch: Single bird on same perch in tree top for 5 minutes before flying down into a yew. SP435095. 14:30.

Stephen Holmans

Dix Pit Stanton Harcourt 20th February

Iceland Gull (1stw) 11:02
No sign of the Black-necked Grebes

Red-created Pochard 4
Goldeneye 14
Kingfisher

(Per Ewan)

Otmoor WeBS: 19th February

Bittern- 2
Black-headed gull- 16
Canada goose- 689
Coot- 88
Cormorant- 4
Curlew- 1
Gadwall- 19
Golden plover- 5230
Grey heron- 5
Greylag goose- 206
Kingfisher- 1
Lapwing- 4998
Mallard- 145
Moorhen- 3
Mute swan- 24
Pintail- 48
Pochard- 14
Shelduck- 8
Shoveler- 301
Snipe- 6
Teal- 565
Tufted duck- 26
Water rail- 1
Wigeon- 2990

Also: Hawfinch- 1 in Julys meadow calling, then flew east along the Closes hedgerow.

Harwell Laboratory: 20th February

Harwell Laboratory
Woodcock 08:15.

Mark Merritt

Monday 19 February 2018

Combe 19th February

Hawfinch in top of Oak tree next to primary school 14:40 then flew north (Per Dave Doherty)

Cow Down Berkshire 19th February

19th February

Ridgeway Cow Down
5 Short-eared Owl: Up to 8 birds. SU467845.

Ridgeway Cow Down
Great Grey Shrike: SU467845. 12:30.

Andy Coates

Dix Pit Stanton Harcourt 19th February

Iceland Gull this afternoon (per Dave Horton, Wreny)
Black-necked Grebe 2 still present c14:00 (Per Wreny,Dave Doherty).
Lapwings & Golden Plover Otmoor RSPB courtesy of John Workman

: 19th February

Rowel Break, Bladon Heath
2 Woodcock: Took flight from Rowel Break out over farmland towards Bladon Heath Woods. SP463146.

Mark Hilsdon

: 19th February

Ardington
10 Hawfinch: Minimum - this many seen but plenty more calling from deep in yews. Split between "No Horses/Ponies" lane and turning opposite Estate Office. One male singing. SU433883. 13:00.

Ardington
Brambling: No Horses/Ponies lane, with Chaffinches and Greenfinches. SU433883. 13:00.

Leo Bateman
Barn Owl Farmoor courtesy of Lee Oliver.

Port Meadow: 19th February

Port Meadow Webs Count

Oystercatcher
Green Sandpiper: heard-only fly-over.
3 Redshank
16 Golden Plover
96 Lapwing
5 Snipe

371 Teal
556 Wigeon
25 Mallard
10 Moorhen
2 Canada Geese
Greylag Geese (not counted as partially obscured)
Grey Heron

368 Black-headed Gull
29 Lesser Black-backed Gull
4 Herring Gull
Common Gull


Adam Hartley
Gadwall Kiddington Estate courtesy of Nic Truby.

Otmoor.A.M. 19th February.

1 Peregrine ((f)
1 Raven (over)
3 Marsh Harrier
2 Bittern (per C.O.)
1 Goldcrest
4 Water Rail (heard).

Stanton St. John: 19th February

Stanton St. John
2 Siskin: Male and female on feeders again this morning. 10:30.

David Brown

Woodstock 19th February

Hawfinch Upper Campsfield Farm c11:20 (Per Dave Doherty)

Monday 12th February, Trap Grounds, Oxford

Belated report of a Great White Egret which flew over the Trap Grounds last Monday early afternoon.

per Nicola Devine

Sunday 18 February 2018

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 18th February

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
180 Teal
80 Gadwall
7 Shoveler
19 Tufted Duck
5 Pochard
10 Great Crested Grebe
12 Little Grebe
3 Grey Wagtail

Bob Pomfret

Bauking Pit: 18th February



















Great Grey Shrike again.

Very modest Gull roost.

Woodway: Sunday 18th February

5+ Corn Buntings singing on a 4 mile circular walk

Sonning Eye GPs: 18th February

18th February

Sonning Eye GPs
Caspian Gull: 1w. 17:15.
Mediterranean Gull: ad. Partial hood. 17:00.

Marek Walford

Kiddington 18th February


Courtesy of Paul Wren.

Hawfinch 3 near the churchyard in Kiddington today (per Wreny)

Farmoor Reservoir 18th February

Med Gull courtesy of Mick Cunningham 















Iceland Gull (juv/2cy)
Mediterranean Gull (ad) again in the roost

(per Mick Cunningham).

Rushey Common/Tar Lakes area, 18th February

Oystercatcher
Chiffchaff

Clackers

LWV Pit 10: 18th Feb.















Bittern (viewed from public footpath)

Over 60 Red-Crested Pochard seen on various pits

Common Gull observed 'paddling' in field, presumably to bring worms to the surface, which it was then devouring.

Dix Pit


2 Black-necked Grebe still present at 14:15

Waterstock 18th February

Jack Snipe behind golf club 09:38 (per RBA)

Dix Pit 18 February

Black-necked Grebe 2 still present 11:21 (SNT, Dave Lowe).

Fyfield Wick: 18th February

Fyfield Wick
2 Hawfinch: Flew from tree top. 09:15.

Jed Cleeter

Saturday 17 February 2018

Farmoor Roost - 17th February



Iceland Gull, 2 juveniles. 1 in roost, the other on the pontoon near bus shelter.
Caspian Gull, 1 first winter.
Mediterranean Gull, 1 in virtually full summer plumage.

Northmoor: 17th February

Northmoor
46 Snipe: in wet fields.

Mick Cunningham

Clanfield: 17th February

Clanfield
98 Golden Plover: flew wsw.
Little Egret: flew over main road just outside of clanfield.
800 Fieldfare: probably an undercount.

Mick Cunningham

Radley GP: 17th February

Radley GP
38 Cormorant: in evening roost.
7 Little Egret: in evening roost.
60 Wigeon: flew in at dusk.
Oystercatcher
45 Lapwing
Water Rail: heard.

Ian Elkins

Otmoor 17th February

09:30-12:30

Bittern (bridleway)
Marsh Harrier 3 (reedbeds)
Hen Harrier m (flood field)
Peregrine (flood field)
Curlew (flood field)
Pintail 6 (flood field)
Water Rail 3 (heard)
Cetti's Warbler 2 (heard)


Pit 60: Saturday 17 February

1 Curlew
2 Goosander (m & f)
2 Lapwing!
Reduced numbers of Wigeon & Teal

Wantage: Yew Down: 17th February

Wantage: Yew Down
2 Raven
Brambling: m.

Mark Merritt

Farmoor (incl. Countryside Walk) - 17 February

0900-1300 hrs

2 Gadwall (Pinkhill)
3 Pochard (on res.)
3 Goldeneye (on res.)
1 Barn Owl
1 Kestrel
3 Marsh Tit (by feeders)
3+ Coal Tit (by feeders)
2 Nuthatch (by feeders)
1 Jay
Marsh Tit

Barn Owl



















George Best

Chalford Park Barns: Saturday 17 February am

No sign of the Black Redstart from c. 09:45 to 11:15 😞
Nuthatch
Coal Tit

Little Wittenham woods

Raven
2 Treecreeper
c4 Nuthatch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Green woodpecker
Goldcrests




Tar Lakes: Saturday 17th February

46 Red Crested Pochard

Lockinge: 17th February

17th February

Ardington
11 Hawfinch: Minimum. SU433883. 09:00.

Lockinge
6 Hawfinch: At church. Another 2+ birds 200m further north. 09:45.

Leo Bateman

Friday 16 February 2018

nr Sandford St Martin 16th February


Barn owl early morning

Witney Lake,16th February

Pochard 1m 1f
Common Gull
Chiffchaff singing

Clackers

Standlake Pit 60: am 16th February



Fyfield Wick: 16th February

Fyfield Wick
OTHER SPECIES: Comma Butterfly enjoying the sunshine.

Jed Cleeter

Otmoor: 16th February

Little egret- 1 feeding in the scrapes in the middle of Ashgrave.

Otmoor.A.M. 16th February.

1 Merlin
3 Marsh Harrier (2m. 1f.)
1 Peregrine
3+ Stonechat.

per S.R.  P.G.

Piddington: 16th February

Piddington
2 Raven: Cronking over village this morning. 11:00.

Colin Oram

Kiddington 16th February

c10 hawfinch seen from approach path to church in estate grounds @10:25
also 2 raven, grey wagtail



Hornton: 16th February

Hornton
2 Raven: Pair appear to be prospecting for nest site. SP381455. 09:30.

Mike Prentice

Thursday 15 February 2018

More Hawfinches


5 hawfinches, 1km north of wallingford. Along thames path in tall trees far side of thames.

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 15th February

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Peregrine 10:30.

Graeme Porter

Northmoor: 15th February

Northmoor
38 Snipe: In wet fields. 20 mins at church mid-pm found no hawfinches.

Mick Cunningham

Old Chalford: 15th February

Old Chalford
Black Redstart: fem. same place.
Pheasant: male.

Ton Yeh

Fyfield Wick: 15th February

Fyfield Wick
Hawfinch: Briefly on tree top. 07:53.

Jed Cleeter

Wednesday 14 February 2018

Wooton 14th February

Hawfinch 2 this morning

Blenheim Estate:
Shelduck

(per Dave Doherty)

Ardington 14th February

22 Hawfinch in tree opposite churchyard, 10:30

Otmoor rspb. 14th. February.

Hen Harrier.  (m).
2. Marsh Harrier. (m. and f.)
Goldcrest.
2. Stonechat.  Morleys.
Hawfinch.  Morleys.

Per.  P.G.  T.S.

A329 near Moulsford: 14th February

A329 near Moulsford
Brambling: Fem with a handful of Chaffinches. SU5985. 08:05.

Mike Amphlett

Appleford - 13th February

Caspian Gull  A 1st winter in a random field just south of Appleford. The first time gulls have loafed at this site all winter.


Tuesday 13 February 2018

A329 near Moulsford: 12th February

A329 near Moulsford
Brambling: Fem on lawn, taking scattered seeds. SU5985. 09:00.

Mike Amphlett

Monday 12 February 2018

Chalford Barns 12th February



Black Redstart still present late morning though elusive (per Steve Alley, Badger)

Northmoor 12th February

Hawfinch 1+ in the churchyard this afternoon.

Yesterday Hawfinch c10 (per Andrew Marshall)

Otmoor RSPB 12th February

Hen Harrier (male) mid morning (per Andrew Marshall)
Snow Geese Farmoor Reservoir courtesy of Lee Oliver.

: 12th February

Ardington
15 Hawfinch: At least; most likely 20+ around this lunchtime. SU433883. 12:30.

Leo Bateman

Forest Hill 12th Feb

Hawfinch along Church Hill by Yew trees


Blenheim Estate 12th February

Hawfinch 1 in Beech trees between Woodstock gate and the Severn Arches Bridge.

Yellow-legged Gull
Little Egret 2
Kingfisher

(per Dave Doherty)
Brambling Stanton-St-John courtesy of Lyn Ebbs.

Sunday 11 February 2018

Old Chalford Barns, 11th February

Female Black Redstart still present & showing well 12:51
(per Barry Batchelor, Vic Wren, Nick Truby).

Please do not park on the road and respect the offices privacy during working hours.





Old Caley's Diary

Courtesy of Gavin Lannen

Farmoor Reservoir: 11th February

Farmoor Reservoir
2 Common Gull: ad.
50 Rook: roosting.

Ton Yeh

Kilkenny Lane, Carterton - 11th February 2018

1554 hrs

2 Hawfinch (mobile, but landing, moving west along lane)

George Best

Charlford Park near Chipping Norton - 11th February 2018

1315-1345 hrs

Black Redstart showing well on the rooftops within the business park.
Black Redstart

Black Redstart



























Black Redstart





















George Best