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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 30 November 2021
Upper Cherwell Valley: 30th November
8 Caspian Gulls today - 3 first winter, 2 second winter, 2 third winter and 1 adult.
None of these were new birds today and some have been around for a couple of weeks.
Also at least 11 Yellow-legged Gulls and the possible Yellow-legged x Herring hybrid.
per Martin Elliott, GB, Mike Pollard and Adrian Bletchley
Fyfield Wick: 30th November
Brambling: fem. Female flew in, picked up on call. sat on tree top in garden, associating with mixed finch flock. 15:20.
3 Siskin: Ground feeding on seed in garden. 15:20.
80 Greenfinch: c80 into roost tonight adjacent to my garden. 15:20.
Sparrowhawk: male. Awesome hunting for 2nd time in a few days at Greenfinch roost with some incredible attempts including a vertical climb at high speed to try and grab one from a tree top which I've never seen before. 15:20.
Jed Cleeter
Chinnor: Cement Works: 30th November
Brambling: Male at the southern end of Lake2b. 10:00.
David Stracey
Pinkhill Lock, Farmoor 30th November
I feel so fortunate to have seen the Little Auk today and even more to have it swim within metres of me! I hope it survives and manages to find the sea again. Excellent work by the birders who got the news out!
Old Caley's Diary
Wytham: 30th November
Godstow 30th November
c10 Egrets probably Cattle Egrets in field with cattle adjacent to the A34 north c3/4m South of the Peartree junction 10:15, from moving car.
Monday 29 November 2021
Upper Cherwell Valley: 29th November
5 Caspian Gull: 1x 1W, 1x 2W, 2x 3W, 1 adult.
3 Yellow-legged Gull
Gareth Blockley
Radley GP: 29th November
Ring-necked Duck: Male still present on Thrupp Lake. 12:30.
Gareth Casburn
Otmoor: 29th November
Short-eared Owl 2 over Greenaways at 15:15 (per RBA)
Mandarin - Pair displaying from 1st screen
4 Pintail
Hen Harrier over the Reserve
Marsh Harrier - m & f
Bittern
(Pete Roby, Jeremy Dexter)
Port Meadow: 29th November
Goosander: male. On river a little upstream of the Perch. 10:00.
Andrew Siantonas
Bicester Wetland Reserve 29th November
All open water frozen
40 Snipe
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Stonechat
20 Teal
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
Blenheim - 29th November
Pintail - 1 male on Queen Pool then flew south
Great white egret - 2
Little egret - 2
Brambling
Woodstock Water Meadows
Great white egret - 1. Probably one of the two seen earlier at Blenheim
Siskin - at least a dozen in a mixed finch/tit flock.
Godstow 29th November
Sunday 28 November 2021
Borrow Pit, Banbury: 28th November
Farmoor Reservoir: 28th November
Farmoor Reservoir
Snipe: At 3rd hide. 15:46.
Meadow Pipit: On causeway. 15:18.
Eynsham
Green Woodpecker 14:29.
Yacky Morris
Warburg Reserve: 28th November
Hawfinch: My first sighting of this colourful bird at Warburg. - Wonderful. 09:35.
8 Brambling: m & f. 10:45.
John Kearns
Upper Cherwell Valley: 28th November
3 Caspian Gull: 1st winter, 4th winter and adult.
4 Yellow-legged Gull: 4+.
Banbury
Peregrine: St Mary's Church.
Gareth Blockley
Standlake: 28th November
Marsh Harrier 2, pit 60
Great White Egret 2, pit 27 then one pit 60 (probably same)
Goosander 11, various pits
Blenheim: 28th November
Great White Egret
2 Brambling: In finch flock around main lake.
Ian Elkins
Saturday 27 November 2021
Friday 26 November 2021
Farmoor village: 26th November
Blackcap: male blackcap in garden. 11:12.
Paul Butler
Blenheim: Queen Pool: 26th November
Caspian Gull: I believe the same 4th winter bird seen previously here. It's transient though early morning. 07:45.
Great White Egret 07:45.
Gareth Casburn
Thursday 25 November 2021
Wednesday 24 November 2021
Chipping Norton: 24th November
Stonechat: ad male. On fence close to the small lake on Cornwell Estate. SP283268. 16:00.
4 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 16:00.
Kestrel: ad fem. SP283268. 16:00.
Steve Akers
Fyfield Wick: 24th November
Fyfield Wick
Blackcap: male. 1st winter bird in garden this morning. 08:21.
68 Greenfinch: Counted in to roost tonight adjacent to my garden. Up from 21 birds just a few days ago. 15:50.
Jed Cleeter
Letcombe Bassett: 23rd November
Letcombe Bassett
2 Merlin: fem. Adult Female giving great view and a more distant Fem/Juv, both using Small bushes to hunt from. 13:30.
Seven Barrows
2 Peregrine: male. Both Male and attacking a large mixed flock of starling and Woodpigeon. 14:20.
26 Corn Bunting 14:20.
8 Grey Partridge 14:20.
Stonechat: fem. 14:20.
2 Raven 14:20.
Devil's Punchbowl
2 Hen Harrier: male. Ringtail Male hunting and an Adult Male flew through west. 16:00.
Merlin: male. Chasing a flock of Redwing at height and then dived into a vertical stoop chasing one but lost to view. 16:00.
Barn Owl: Hunting at dusk. 16:25.
Jed Cleeter
Blenheim: 24th November
Brambling: many amongst large Finch flocks feeding in Sunflower plantings. SP443216. 11:00.
Peter Law
Tar Lakes: 24th November
Great White Egret: overflying. 14:30.
Richard Catling
Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park: 24th November
2 Shoveler: fem. on pond. 09:00.
Little Grebe: on pond. 09:00.
Kingfisher 09:00.
Siskin 09:00.
Lesser Redpoll 09:00.
Nicholas Boyd
Bicester Wetland Reserve 24th November
1 Jack Snipe (first of the winter here)
27 Common Snipe
80 Teal
4 Gadwall
1 Grey Wagtail
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
Tuesday 23 November 2021
Otmoor: 22nd November
Sarsgrove: 23rd November
Brambling: Single bird in hedge at edge of small copse opposite Shepherd Hill House. 15:00.
30 Linnet 15:00.
200 Starling: Over. 15:00.
30 Redwing 15:00.
Steve Akers
Forest Hill: 23rd November
4 Stonechat: Two males, two females on the usual fence line below Breach Farm. 15:21.
David Brown
Chipping Norton: 23rd November
Stonechat: ad male. Elusive - deep in the reed bed. SP283268. 14:00.
8 Teal: Eight birds seen in flight in different groups in the marsh - definitely the main event today - more birds present whistling constantly but not visible. SP283268. 14:00.
2 Mute Swan: ad pair. Cob and Pen. SP283268. 14:00.
3 Grey Heron: SP283268. 14:00.
Reed Bunting: SP283268. 14:00.
10 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 14:00.
50 Redwing: In various groups all over the estate. SP283268. 14:00.
20 Fieldfare: SP283268. 14:00.
Kestrel: ad fem. SP283268. 14:00.
Jay: SP283268. 14:00.
Steve Akers
Warburg Reserve: 23rd November
4 Brambling 17:26.
5 Grey Partridge 17:26.
William Lester
Blenheim 23rd November PM
Pochard - 1
Mandarin duck - 2 (m/f)
Great white egret - 2
Great black-backed gull - 1
Siskin - 3
Brambling - numerous at various points around the park within finch flocks.
22nd November
Reed bunting - 2
Otmoor: 23rd November
Hen Harrier: Ringtail hunting on Ashgrave. 12:30.
2 Red-breasted Goose: Top of Ashgrave with Canadas. 12:30.
Jeremy Dexter
Monday 22 November 2021
Fyfield Wick: 22nd November
Brambling: Again with mixed finches pre-roost. 15:30.
14 Siskin: Mobile flock. 15:30.
Jed Cleeter
Warburg Reserve: 22nd November
Standlake Pit 60: 22nd November
2 Pintail: New in, though not first of autumn. 15:33.
2 Great White Egret 15:33.
9 Goosander: 4 m 5 f. 15:33.
2 Snipe: On east shore. 15:33.
Yellow-legged Gull: 2w. With 10 LBBs. 15:33.
Mick Cunningham
Sunday 21 November 2021
Otmoor: 21st November
3 Marsh Harrier: Seen together at Starling roost.
Woodcock: Flew up from Moorleys at 16:55.
Pintail: fem. At first screen.
Ian Elkins
Ralph Watts
Fyfield Wick: 21st November
Brambling: Called twice in flight then dropped in. Possibly went to roost with the local finches ? 15:41.
4 Grey Wagtail: Over to roost. 15:41.
6 Reed Bunting: Over to roost by lake. 15:41.
Jed Cleeter
Waterstock: River Thame: 21st November
Peregrine 09:00.
Jack Snipe 09:00.
11 Teal 09:00.
18 Fieldfare 09:00.
Tawny Owl 09:00.
Woodcock 09:00.
Grey Wagtail 09:00.
26 Snipe 09:00.
2 Raven 09:00.
4 Reed Bunting 09:00.
8 Wigeon 09:00.
320 Redwing 09:00.
28 Meadow Pipit 09:00.
Stonechat 09:00.
Chiffchaff 09:00.
Kingfisher 09:00.
18 Fieldfare 09:00.
3 Goldcrest 09:00.
Treecreeper 09:00
Nick Marriner
Childrey: Childrey Field: 21st November
Merlin: m.
2 Brambling
Grey Partridge
Mark Merritt
Upper Cherwell Valley: 21st November
Henley Road GPs: 21st November
Scaup: 1w drk. On the lake behind the garden centre. 15:18.
Marek Walford
Freeland 21st November
Merlin: m. South side of the woods along the private lane leading from Cuckoo Lane to Freeland House. Initially perched at the top of a tree offering clear views. Mobbed by pair of Mistle Thrush and a dozen Blue Tit alarm calling. Flew ESE. SP406124. 08:40.
Glen Pascoe
Saturday 20 November 2021
Waterstock: 20th November
Short-eared Owl: One hunting over the water meadows. 14:44.
David Brown
Appleford GP: 20th November
Otmoor rspb 20th November
Friday 19 November 2021
Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 19th November
2 Peregrine: Together over Ashgrave. 20:43.
2 Woodcock: At least two, possibly three flying around Morley's at dusk. 20:43.
6 Barnacle Goose: Associating with 2 very handsome Red-breasted geese....origin unknown. 20:43.
Steve Roby
Otmoor: 19th November
Tar Lakes: 19th November
11 Red-crested Pochard: 7 male, 4 fem. 14:30.
Richard Catling
Port Meadow: 19th November
Possible Red-breasted Goose: Unusual goose standing on its own near the southernmost flooded area. Had clear white flank and dark tail with lighter coloured neck and head. Having noted sighting of these goose on Otmoor this afternoon I wonder whether the bird on Port Meadow may also have been a re-breasted goose. 10:30.
Andrew Siantonas
Yarnton Mead: 19th November
2 Stonechat: 1 male/1 fem. Seen at several points on shrubs and reeds at several points as I walked along the river bank so there may have been more. I only saw 2 at any one time. 15:00.
Andrew Siantonas
Otmoor: 19th November
2 Red-breasted Goose: From Wetlands watch hide overlooking Ashgrave. Unknown status . 14:34.
Jeremy Dexter
Standlake Pit 60: 19th November
Caspian Gull: Ad. Bathing on north shore fairly briefly before flying off north. Appears to have only one leg. 14:30.
Great White Egret 14:30.
Mick Cunningham
Thursday 18 November 2021
Shiplake: 18th November
20 Lapwing: Plus in field near the the Plowden Arms. SU762780. 14:30.
Ralph Watts
Radley GPs 18th November
Blenheim: 18th November
Great White Egret 11:00.
30 Brambling: Minimum count, in multiple flocks. 11:00.
5 Siskin 11:00.
Michael Violette
Eynsham 18th November
Standlake Pit 60: 18th November
Marsh Harrier: cream crown. The hefty individual, presumed female. Age??? Dull brown tail which has pale tip as do greater and primary coverts more like juv but has faded cream crown, forewing and chest band too. 11:48.
Great White Egret 11:48.
Mick Cunningham
Wednesday 17 November 2021
Tar Lakes: 17th November
28 Red-crested Pochard: 17 male, 11 fem. 15:00.
Richard Catling
Otmoor rspb 17th November
Blenheim 17th November
Pochard - 2 males
Great white egret - 1
Little egret - 1
Brambling - good numbers in the finch flocks around the Queen Pool
Mistle thrush - several singing around the Queen Pool
16th November
Yellow-legged gull
Great black-backed gull
Egyptian goose - 2
Cetti's warbler
Farmoor Reservoir 17th November
Tuesday 16 November 2021
Freeland: 16th November
Raven: Calling from tree in field to east of Wrosslyn Rd. 16:00.
David Cleal
Tar Lakes: 16th November
14 Red-crested Pochard: 9 male, 5 fem. 15:00.
Richard Catling
: 16th November
Woodcock: SU6882.
Burnt Platt Wood
4 Raven: Family group defending their patch from Red Kites amongst the spruce. SU6882.
John Taylor
Sarsgrove: 15th November
2 Brambling: At least two with Linnet and Chaffinch at edge of copse opposite Shepherds Hill House. 14:30.
30 Linnet 14:30.
10 Redwing 14:30.
2 Raven: ad pair. Circling over pine trees calling. 14:30.
Steve Akers
Chipping Norton: 15th November
3 Stonechat: male; two fem. Very active pair moving between bull rushes in marsh and vegetation beside Brook - male splendid in bright sunshine. Another female beside Brook up from Swailsford Bridge. SP283268. 12:30.
Sparrowhawk: ad fem. Swooped in toward Redwing in copse. SP283268. 12:30.
40 Redwing: SP283268. 12:30.
80 Lapwing: At least 80, possibly more flying over. SP283268. 12:30.
4 Mute Swan: 3 adult, 1 juv. SP283268. 12:30.
20 Fieldfare: SP283268. 12:30.
Steve Akers
Monday 15 November 2021
Farmoor Reservoir: 15th November
Brambling: male. 21:50.
Stonechat: male. 21:50.
Kingfisher 21:50.
Paul Butler
Farmoor Reservoir 15th November
Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park: 15th November
Raven: Loud cronking as it flew over park and neighbouring residential streets. 09:30.
Andrew Siantonas
Sunday 14 November 2021
Sonning Eye GPs 14th November
Black-necked Grebe late afternoon (per RBA).
Scaup: m. On rowing lake with tufted . You will need a scope to view. SU746755. 11:55.
Ralph Watts
Chipping Norton: 13th November
2 Stonechat: fem. One alongside brook up from Swailsford Bridge; the other deep in the reed bed perched on bull rushes. SP283268. 15:30.
4 Grey Heron: 4 adult; 1 juv. Stood together in field looking like a conclave of curates. SP283268. 15:30.
Kestrel: fem. SP283268. 15:30.
35 Redwing: SP283268. 15:30.
Steve Akers
Farmoor Reservoir 14th November
Saturday 13 November 2021
Begbroke: 13th November
Woodcock: Fairly low NW, towards science park, while still surprisingly light outside. SP479134. 16:15.
Simon Myers
Boarstall 13th November
18 Siskin
10 Skylark
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Kestrel
4 Goldcrest
Colin Oram
Millets Farm Frilford 12th November
Otmoor rspb
Grimsbury and the UCV: 13th November
Grimsbury Reservoir - 09:30-10:00
4 Yellow-legged Gulls (2x adult and 2x second winter)
Upper Cherwell Valley - Borrow Pit pool - 10:30-13:00
2 Caspian Gulls (first winter and second winter) (also probable fourth winter later - JFT)
I think the 2W is the same as Thursday, but the amount of black on the beak on either side is very different.
* Lew has commented on these birds and confirmed they are different and they are 2W not 3W, still learning!
9+ Yellow-legged Gulls (2x first winter, 3-4x second winter, 4x third winter+)
This is the absolute minimum seen of the same age or distinctive birds at the same time - I expect there were a few more at least. Probably involving the same birds that were at the reservoir.
There is a huge amount of gulls in the fields in the UCV at the moment, particularly today, and they are coming to the pool to bath and drink.
Tar Lakes: 13th November
8 Red-crested Pochard: 6 male, 2 fem. 15:20.
Richard Catling
Radley GP: 13th November
Ring-necked Duck: male. On Thrupp Lake. Also present 2 Goldeneye, Raven, 2 Chiffchaff, Redpoll. 08:45.
Ben Sheldon
Farmoor Reservoir: 13th November
Great Northern Diver: Towards southern end of F2, apparently unbothered by the large number of boats. 14:28.
Ben Sheldon
Tar Lakes: 12th November
5 Red-crested Pochard: 4 male, 1 fem. 15:15.
Richard Catling
Bicester Wetland Reserve Saturday 13th November
2 Green Sandpiper
2 Chiffchaff
60 Teal
1 Wigeon
8 Gadwall
1 Little Egret
2 Heron
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
Blenheim 13th November
Peregrine - 1 overhead
Great white egret - 1 on Queen Pool
The usual mix of gulls on the Queen Pool including this beauty...
Can someone confirm its ID?