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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 31 March 2018

Farmoor : 31st March

Little Gull courtesy of Jeremy Dexter.
Osprey over Farmoor at 3.08pm (per Justin Taylor)
Iceland Gull (imm) F2 11:14 and showing well.
Little Gull 2 F2 10:50 1 still present this evening.
Wheatear Male 1 west side of F1
Chiffchaff

(per Dave Lowe,George Best, Jeremy Dexter)

Wheatear courtesy of Barry Neale


Yarnton Mead: 31st March

Yarnton Mead
2 Shelduck
2 Oystercatcher

Derek Evans

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm: 31st March

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm
3 Egyptian Goose: pair + 1 downy juv.

Ian Elkins
Red Kites courtesy of John Workman.

LWV Pit 10: 31st March

LWV Pit 10
Osprey: f? Flew low NNW mobbed briefly by a sparrowhawk: on a quick look at underparts probably a female but spent too much time wrestling with a camera and failing to get a photo (had knocked it into 'autolock' or somesuch: I hate tech!). Later saw it back end on over the closed off Farmoor Fly Fishing Club water across the road.

Mick Cunningham

31st March; Ardington

c25 Hawfinch (mainly around estate offices but a few in the Yews in the churchyard)



Stanton Harcourt 31st March

Osprey flew over Pit 10 adjacent to The West Oxon Sailing Club c16:40 ( Per Mick Cunningham).

Baulking Pit 31st March

Great grey Shrike again c14:40 (per Mark Merritt).

Blenheim Park 31st March

Swallow
Sand Martin 3
Mandarin 3
Shelduck 2

(per Dave Doherty)

Dix Pit: 31st March

Black-necked Grebe 2
Willow Warbler 1

Cholsey Marsh 31st March

Swallow hawking over Cholsey Marsh this morning (per Paul Chandler).

Otmoor rspb 31st March

Ruff courtesy of Andy Last
















Wheatear Noke sheep fields
White Wagtail
Whooper Swan Ashgrave
Bittern
Black-tailed Godwit 2 Noke sheep fields
Ruff 2 Noke sheep fields
Ringed Plover Noke sheep fields
Dunlin 6
Oystercatcher 2
Shelduck 3
Marsh Harrier 4

(per Bark, Andy Last et al)

Distant White Wagtail courtesy of Andy Last.

Bicestwer Wetland Reserve 31st March

1 Chiffchaff singing briefly
1 Little Egret
75 Teal
4 Shoveler
18 Gadwall
5 Tufted Duck
1 Green Woodpecker
1 GSW

Alan Peters
key holder reserve

Henley Road GPs: 31st March

Henley Road GPs
2 Common Scoter: m+f. Found by Brian Bennett. 10:25.
1 Red-crested Pochard (m)

Marek Walford

Friday 30 March 2018

Eynsham: 30th March

Eynsham
Hawfinch: Single birds seen off and on throughout afternoon in tops of trees between Tanners Lane and Newland Street. 18:20.

Stephen Holmans

Farmoor 30th March

Iceland Gull still on F2 1600 hrs, and still raining.

Henley Road GPs: 30th March

Henley Road GPs
Red-crested Pochard: drk. 16:00.

Marek Walford

Eynsham: 30th March

Eynsham
Hawfinch: In top of tall tree opposite The Newlands pub in Newland Street. 15:00.

Stephen Holmans

Standlake Pit 60: 30 March am

1 Redshank
2 Oystercatchers (mating)
3 Lapwing
Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye still
3+ Chiffchaff on approach tracks

Shoveler argy-bargy! (c) Stephen Burch
Goto my website for a larger image

Otmoor rspb 30th March

Osprey flew over Greenaways this morning (Per Luke O'Byrne)

A329 near Moulsford: 30th March

A329 near Moulsford
Brambling: Fem, still here, foraging on lawn. SU5985. 11:15.

Mike Amphlett

Ardington 30th March

Hawfinch 70+ ranging between Estate Office area and woodland directly to the north
Greenfinch 20+

Blenheim: Queen Pool: 29th March

Blenheim: Queen Pool
2 Shelduck

Bob Pomfret

Farmoor Resevoir. 30th. March.

Osprey flew over heading north 09:52
Sandwich Tern.  Flew over F1 onto F2,  8.30am.
Iceland Gull (imm)

Per.  Dai,  D.L.  M.C.

Thursday 29 March 2018

Farmoor 29th March


Osprey 18.30 - 18.50.

Roost:
Juvenile Iceland Gull
Adult Mediterranean Gull

Farmoor : 29th March




















Iceland Gull mid-afternoon in the rain on F2

Cassington Sewage Works 29th March

4 Golden Plover
2 Snipe
4 Chiffchaff

SP461121.

Derek Evans

Otmoor rspb 29th March

Little-ringed Plover 1+
Whooper Swan (imm)
Peregrine

(per Phil Barnett)

Eynsham: 29th March

Eynsham
4 Hawfinch: Four birds in top of tree near Tanners Lane (same tree as yesterday) for several minutes before dropping down into yew tree to feed. 09:10.

Stephen Holmans

A329 near Moulsford: 28th March

A329 near Moulsford
Brambling: Fen under various seed feeders, several appearnces. SU5985. 08:45.

Mike Amphlett

Wednesday 28 March 2018

Farmoor 28th March



Otmoor rspb. Evening. 28th. March.

Hen Harrier.

                                                   
Bittern.
2. Marsh Harrier.
Male Hen Harrier.
3. Barn Owl.
Bittern.
Raven.
Sparrow Hawk.
No further sign of Great White Egret.


Per.  R.L.  T.S.  M.C.








Barn  Owl.


Farmoor Res 28th March

1330-1530hrs

Mediterranean Gull 1
Water Rail 1
Barn Owl 1
Common Chiffchaff 3 singing m
Grey Wagtail 1

Snow Goose  feral flock 80+

Farmoor Reservoir 28th March

Little Gull 4 F1 c13:00 (Per Dai).

Otmoor.A.M. 28th March.

2 Barn Owl (Greenaways Ground)
2 Oystercatcher (Big Otmoor)
Great White Egret : Relocated to Greenaways by the north hedge 11:00a.m.

Standlake: am 28th March

8 Brambling under bird feeders this morning

Eynsham: 28th March

Eynsham
Hawfinch: male. Single bird perched in top of tree in Tanners Lane for several minutes before diving down into yew tree. 09:40.

Stephen Holmans

Otmoor rspb. 28th. March.

Great White Egret.  Big Otmoor, viewed from bridleway.  9.15am.

Per.  Stoneshank.

Tuesday 27 March 2018

Baulking Pit: 27th March

3 Red-crested Pochard (2m1f)
2 Shelduck (2m)
2 Chiffchaff
Barn Owl

The local Mute Swan took a serious dislike to the Shelducks and R-CP's.

Farmoor 27th March


Osprey caught a large trout then left F2 to the trees on the West side.
Still two Rock Pipits 1700hrs

Grimsbury Reservoir: 27th March

Grimsbury Reservoir
3 Sand Martin: Heading straight through N. 12:30.

John Friendship-Taylor

Otmoor 27th March

Black-tailed godwits- 2 feeding out in the centre of Big Otmoor mid afternoon.

Milcombe: 27th March

Milcombe
Siskin: Male on niger seed. SP413344. 14:55.

Mary Clifton

Farmoor Reservoir. 27th March.

Rock Pipit.  One of the two birds reported by Dai John this morning.

A329 near Moulsford: 27th March

A329 near Moulsford
Brambling: Female, foraging under feeders 08:10.

Mike Amphlett

Monday 26 March 2018

Standlake Pit 60: 26th March

Standlake Pit 60
Peregrine: High over pit along with 7 Buzzards and 4 Red Kites. Black Swan joined Egyptian Geese.

Mick Cunningham

Cogges: 26th March

Cogges
7 Yellow-legged Gull: I am told this is Tar Road. 7 YLGs of various ages, only 1 adult.
28 Lesser Black-backed Gull: in field near 'Beef Unit' with YLGs, BHGs and 2 Herrings. Nothing more exotic unfortunately.

Stanton Harcourt: Tar Farm
Barn Owl: Near junction with road towards Dix Pit. Hunting at 16.10 pm.

Mick Cunningham

North Oxon, 26th March

Barn Owl hunting again early morning at my site of work.




Standlake 26th March

3 Brambling (2m,1f) under feeders again moulting into sum plum







Woodstock: Disused railway: 25th March

Woodstock: Disused railway
2 Hawfinch: Max seen together was 2, my impression more actually present; same site, junction of Sansom Lane & Old Rly Reserve.
2 Raven: Pair flew over, chatting.

Anthony Cheke

Otmoor 25th March

Jack snipe- flushed out of Greenaways

Otmoor.A.M. 26th March.

1 Peregrine (f)
1 Barn Owl
1 Oystercatcher
3 Curlew
3 Marsh Harrier
1 Bittern (booming, Noke End)
2 Chiffchaff.
5 Snipe.
C.150 Golden Plover.

per   T.S.   P.G.

Port Meadow 26th March

WeBS Count for March for Port Meadow

Canada Goose 3  
Cormorant 4  
Great Crested Grebe 2  
Grey Heron 1  
Greylag Goose 86  
Mallard 14  
Moorhen 3  
Mute Swan 2  
Oystercatcher 4  
Pintail 1  
Redshank 4  
Shelduck 2  
Shoveler 7  
Teal 125  
Wigeon 526  
Black-headed Gull 71  
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1

Adam Hartley

Blenheim Park 26th March

Hawfinch 2+
Sand Martin 2

Hawfinch at Upper Campsfield Farm near Woodstock.

(per Dave Doherty)

Sunday 25 March 2018

Farmoor Reservoir 25th March

Courtesy of Dave Lowe.

























Rock Pipit littoralis late afternoon along the causeway (Dave Lowe)


Courtesy of Nic Hallam.

















Iceland Gull: juv/2cy. Roost checked with Nick H. 
3 Mediterranean Gull: ad. Pair displaying to each other Plus a single All summer plumage.

(per Mick Cunningham)

Common Scoter 2 (per Jeremy Dexter)


Common Scoter courtesy of Jeremy Dexter.

Standlake: 25th March

Standlake
2 Brambling: 1m 1f. Stuck tidying garden most of the day (grrr). some recompense in that bramblings were calling almost constantly: saw at least one fem and one male - Dave Lowe called in, so he ticked brambling for the year!

Mick Cunningham

Bicester Wetlands Reserve

Ropey record shots of the Knot (found by Justin) 16:30. First record for the reserve.




Keyholder reserve only.

Old Caley's Diary

Otmoor rspb. Evening. 25th. March.

3. Barn Owl.
Water Rail.
2. Shelduck.  m. and f.
Bittern.  Heard only.

Barn Owl.


Radley GP: 25th March

Radley GP
Sand Martin
Redshank
4 Snipe
2 Egyptian Goose
2 Chiffchaff: singing.
Water Rail: feeding in a puddle on the main path!

Ian Elkins

Dix Pit 25th March

Common Scoter

Common Scoter

Eynsham 25th March

Whooper Swan 2 still present in field with Mute Swans just north of Eynsham and the A40 and to the east of Lower Road 16:52.

(per Peter Law)

Dix Pit 25th March

1400-1430hrs

Common Scoter 7 5m2f
Black necked Grebe 2
Common Goldeneye 12
Egyptian Goose 3

Bicester Wetlands

KNOT 1 winter plumage at 4pm in area of mud midway between hides.

Chiffchaff 1

Woodstock 25th March

Hawfinch 5+ still along the Old Woodstock Line LNR at eastern end 15:35 (per Peter Law).

Wallingford 25th March

Hawfinch 5 flew N over Riverside car park, 1450

A329 near Moulsford: 25th March

A329 near Moulsford
Brambling: Yay II!, female still here! SU5985. 14:20.

Mike Amphlett

Otmoor 25th March

Whooper Swan flew on to Ashgrave.
4+ Curlew (pill ground area and back of Greenaway's)
4+ Oystercatcher
4 Shelduck
2 Dunlin
Marsh Harrier
Raven
3+ Cetti's warbler
2 Chiffchaff (one singing in car park)
2 Barnacle Geese.


Standlake: am 25th March

Standlake Common
6 Chiffchaff singing (spring at last?)

Scrub by Pit 15
2 Chiffchaff singing

Pit 60
3 (very vocal and active) Redshank
2 Oystercatcher
2 Goosander
Goldeneye

Pit 27
2 Goosander

Dix Pit: 25th March

LRP 2
Black-necked Grebe 2

Farmoor Reservoir: 25th March

Farmoor Reservoir
2 Common Scoter: drk. Still on F2 late morning, but very mobile.
6 Red-crested Pochard: 4 drakes; 2 ducks. Flew onto F2 late morning.
8 Goldeneye: 1 drake; 7 ducks. On F2, but mobile.
4 Shelduck: Flew from F2 to F1 mid-morning.
2 Pintail: pair. On F2.

Ian Elkins

Lockinge: Lockinge Lake: 25th March

Lockinge: Lockinge Lake
Mandarin Duck

Colin Vickers

Yarnton Mead: 25th March

Yarnton Mead
3 Egyptian Goose
Goosander: fem.
2 Curlew:
Barn Owl
3 Chiffchaff: In song.

Derek Evans

Ardington / Lockinge 25th March

Hawfinch 53+ around paddock next to Estate Office at 1000
Mandarin (m), Cormorant, 2 Hawfinch at Lockinge

Stanton Harcourt Dix Pit 25th March

Common Scoter 7 (2f) 10:10 (Per Dave Doherty)

Farmoor. 25th. March.

2 male Common Scoter on F2.   8.am.   Different birds to yesterdays sighting.

Per.  Dai.

Saturday 24 March 2018

Woodstock: Disused railway: 24th March

Woodstock: Disused railway
7 Hawfinch 12:00.

Bob Pomfret

Farmoor Roost - 24th March



Adult Iceland Gull.
3 adult Mediterranean Gulls. (5, on Thursday; 4 adults, 1 second winter).
2 adult Little Gulls.

Farmoor. 24th. March.

2. Common Scoter.  1m.  1f.,  8.45am,  Southern end of F.2 and  still present at 2.pm.
Kittiwake.  Present until approx. midday, then lost to view.
Mediterranean Gull (2w) F2 (per George Best) 
Fishing competition in progress, F1.

Per. Dai and Tezzer.

Common Scoter, m. and f.

Ardington: 24 March am

Hawfinch: A few in & around the churchyard; c. 20+ over from time to time

Dix Pit: 24 March

Little Gull 1 (SNT)

Black-necked Grebe 2 still present 13:05
Scaup (f)

(per Andy Last)

Standlake Pit 60: 24th March

2 Redshank: Display. Pair?  (per Mick Cunningham)
Ruddy Shelduck over (per Andy Last)

Northmoor: 24th March

Jack Snipe: Been checking site periodically for weeks. Jack at last classic nearly stood on it.
17 Snipe
Curlew: Calling from somewhere between village snipe field and new bridge.
34 Meadow Pipit: In flooded snipe fields. Loose flock. Migrants as none here all winter.
Bring on the white wags!

Mick Cunningham
Snow Geese,


and Barnacle Geese at Farmoor Reservoir.
Courtesy of Peter Law.

Ramblings & Scribblings

Cogges: 24th March

Cogges
Caspian Gull: 2cy. Same bird v as in week. I'm struggling to phonescope with new phone.

Mick Cunningham

Otmoor.A.M. 24th March.

2 Grey Wagtail
1 Bittern (booming)
3 Oystercatcher
3 Dunlin
3 Shelduck
Curlew (h)
1 Peregrine
1 Whooper Swan.

per  Otmoor  'M'.

Friday 23 March 2018

Farmoor: 23rd March


Kittiwake on F1 -  Departed at 5.00 in the direction of  Port Meadow (NH/JD)

For Info - I believe there is a major fishing competition on F1 this weekend (around £16K prize money!)  Likely to be busy

Standlake: 23rd March

Standlake
Brambling: ad male. At my rack end garden feeder. No Moult limit or retained covs/flights. More advanced towards sum plum than previous week's but could still be one of same individuals having Moult further.

Mick Cunningham

Brambling near Kiddington.
Courtesy of Colm O'Brien.

Marcham: 23rd March

Marcham
20 Siskin: Many Siskin's still in and around my garden. Too many to count with any accuracy but at least 20 at any one time. Great to see. 10:30.

Dave Higginson

Farmoor Reservoir 23rd March

Kittiwake (ad) F1 14:40
Common Scoter (drk) F2 c14:40
Snow Geese c80
Barnacle Geese 22

(Per A.Wole, Tom Bedford, Peter Law)

Witney 23rd March

Hawfinch in garden in Deer Park (Per Dave Doherty).

Thursday 22 March 2018

Woodstock: Woodstock Water Meadows: 22nd March

Woodstock: Woodstock Water Meadows
Water Rail: SP444170.
2 Chiffchaff: In song. SP444170.

Derek Evans

Otmoor.A.M. 22nd March.

2 Dunlin
Bittern ( 1 heard Booming, 1 seen flying,earlier)
1 Oystercatcher
2 Shelduck
1 Raven (over,calling).

per T.S.  P.G.

Shelducks courtesy of John Workman.

Woodstock: Disused railway: 22nd March

Woodstock: Disused railway
2 Hawfinch: Only found two this morning, there may be more, flying back and forth between the reserve on the old railway line, Sansom's Lane and the housing estate next door. SP457172. 08:00.

Bob Pomfret

A329 near Moulsford: 22nd March

A329 near Moulsford
Brambling: Fem still here! Foraging with Chaffinches. SU5985. 07:30.

Mike Amphlett

Wednesday 21 March 2018

E-Petition to Ban driven grouse shooting.

Dear Oxfordshire bird watchers,

I'm asking a favour. 
I'd be very grateful if you were able to forward this email on to birders in your patch please.

A guy called Gavin Gamble started an e-petition in favour of banning driven grouse shooting before Christmas and it now has just a couple of weeks left to run. I'm trying to give his petition lots of support.  It has already passed 37,000 signatures (which is very good for these things) and is likely to reach 40,000 or more before it closes.  

The more support, the more likely it is for politicians, now or in the future, to tackle wildlife crime against birds of prey and unsustainable management in the uplands.

So my request is simply to pass on this email so that the word spreads among birders, and that if you are sent this email then please send it on to others. The closing date for signatures is 2 April so we need to use these last couple of weeks well.

Many thanks for any help you can give (and thank you to those who have laready taken action).

best wishes and please forgive the cheek of this request



Dr Mark Avery

Please Sign here

Our beautiful Hen Harrier is protected whilst it remains on the Otmoor rspb reserve,
please help the fight to keep it safe in the U.K when it eventually spreads its wings and leaves us.

Photo courtesy of Terry Sherlock.


Swyncombe 21st March

Hawfinch male



Hawfinch female