Port Meadow: 30th November

Port Meadow
No sign of the Curlew

3 Black-tailed Godwit
3 Goosander: m,2f.
130 Barnacle Goose
8 White-fronted Geese: flew in at 4:20 pm

Adam Hartley, Phil Barnett et al

Port Meadow: 29th November

Curlew: on the floods this evening
7 White-fronted Geese: flew in at dusk
 

Thomas Miller & Gnome

Also,
4 Goosander: 2 male/2 fem. On river a little downstream from Godstow Lock.
2 Egyptian Goose: On river bank opposite Medley sailng club.
50 Barnacle Goose: 

Andrew Siantonas

Marsh Harrier & Carrion Crow Otmoor rspb courtesy of Malcolm Bowey. 

 

Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park: 29th November

Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park
Curlew: Distant flight calls heard to the east, probably along Cherwell floodplain. 15:40.

Nicholas Boyd

Appleford: Appleford GP: 29th November

Appleford: Appleford GP
2 Pintail: male. 14:30.

William Lester

Bicester Wetland Reserve 29th November

 60 plus Snipe
160 Teal
6 Gadwall
3 Shoveler

Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Otmoor rspb 28th November

Dartford Warbler in scrub just north of the bridge at the Pill (R.W). Please keep to public rights of way and bear in mind that there may not be access tomorrow due to the M.O.D shooting.

Farmoor Reservoir 28th November

Jack Snipe 3

Common Snipe 15

Common Sandpiper 1

Lesser Redpoll 5

European Stonechat 2 m/f

Common Coot 703

Water Rail 1

Redwing 60+

Fieldfare 40+

: 27th November

A417 nr Blewbury
12 Grey Partridge: At least a dozen in cereal crop on N side of rd. SU541856. 08:50.

Mike Amphlett

Dix Pit: 27th November

Dix Pit
7 Goldeneye: 4 drk and 3 fem. 16:00.
4 Red-crested Pochard: 3 drk and 1 fem. 16:00.
1860 Black-headed Gull: Approximate count in evening roost. 16:00.
2 Chiffchaff 16:00.
3 Siskin 16:00.
2 Lesser Redpoll 16:00.

Ian Elkins

Otmoor rspb 27th November

Water Pipit reported (per RBA)

Boarstall 26th November

Boarstall
4 Woodcock: SP618150. 14:00.

Colin Oram

Water Eaton: 27th November

Water Eaton
Merlin: Female/Juvenile type on the ground in the 'Merlin field'. 11:15.

Jeremy Dexter

Appleford GPs 27th November

Ring-necked Duck f on river side pit

Great white Egret 

Peregrine 

(Per Lew)

Farmoor: 27th November

Scaup 1f

Newbridge 27th November

Cattle Egret 5 near the Maybush Pub c09:50 (D.D).

Marston: A40: 26th November

Marston: A40
Pintail: male. On floods by Cherwell, also ~20 Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Snipe among Mallards+Canadas. 08:30.

Simon Myers

Clifton 25th November

Probable 1stw Caspian Gull yesterday at Upper Cherwell Valley.

Longworth: 25th November

Longworth
Brambling: Flew over calling near church. 11:00.

Jed Cleeter

Fyfield Wick: 25th November

Fyfield Wick
Peregrine: male. Very fast and low over Greenfinch roost and continued North. 16:00.
2 Siskin: Roosted with 142 Greenfinch. 16:00.
142 Greenfinch: Counted in to roost in Laurel Hedge adjacent to my garden. 16:00.
3 Grey Wagtail: Over to roost by near by lake. 16:00.

Jed Cleeter

Watlington Hill: 26th November

Watlington Hill
Hawfinch: SU698940. 12:01.

Andy Coates

Standlake: 26th November

Ring-necked Duck 2, m & f pit 27 (3Ts)
Goosander 11, pit 27
RC Pochard 90, pit 27
Great White Egret 1, pit 38
Cattle Egret 3, Thames fields with sheep

Dorchester: Days Lock scrape: 26th November

Dorchester: Days Lock scrape
Brent Goose: Still present and now looking more settled with the Canada Geese. 11:36.
Stonechat: Male. 11:36.
Yellow-legged Gull: Adult, with about 120 Lesser Black-backs. 11:36.

Michael Pocock

Aynho 26th November

Ruff 2 c200m north of Aynho Warf 10:35

Dunlin

(JFT)

Dix Pit: 26th November

Dix Pit
Goldeneye: dk. On pit. 09:25.
10 Little Grebe 09:25.
2 Egyptian Goose 09:25.
3 Lesser Redpoll: Amongst finch flock N side of pit. 09:25.

Glen Pascoe

Port Meadow: 26th November

Port Meadow
4 Goosander: two males, two fem. SP485089. 08:21.

Matthew Southwell

Water Eaton: 25th November

Water Eaton
Merlin: 1w. Along Cherwell between Water Eaton and Islip. 15:00.
8 Grey Partridge: Near Sparsey Bridge. 15:00.

Nicholas Boyd

Otmoor RSPB - 25th November 2022

Kittiwake - Juvenile

Marsh Harrier - female

 

Otmoor rspb 25th November

Kittiwake on the southern reedbed for 20 minutes before flying west 

(per Tessa Hennessy).

Short-eared Owl 

Otter 

(G.D)

Farmoor Reservoir 25th November

Scaup: fem. with tufties F2
Yellow-legged Gull: ad.

Common Sandpiper 

Chiffchaff 4

(Per Anthony Cheke, Ewan Urquhart)

Little Gull reported yesterday 

Mid-Cherwell Valley 25th November

Kittiwake on floods at Clifton then flew south c14:25

Ruff 2 

(S.B)

Bicester Wetland Reserve 25th November

 1 Shelduck works pool
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Kingfisher
9 Gadwall
110 Teal
2 Little Grebe

Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Lollingdon Hill Cholsey 25th November

Dead Kittiwake found today (P.C).

Farmoor Reservoir: 24th November

Farmoor Reservoir
Mediterranean Gull: ad. 15:08.

Jeremy Dexter

Blenheim: Grand Bridge: 24th November

Blenheim: Grand Bridge
Great White Egret 13:21.

David Preston

Chimney: Chimney Meadows: 23rd November

Chimney: Chimney Meadows
12 Egyptian Goose 11:20.

Denis Kennedy

Otmoor rspb 23rd November

Short-eared Owl early afternoon (per RBA)

Port Meadow: 23rd November

Port Meadow
Stonechat: f. Still in the thistle area.
Yellow-legged Gull: ad. In the roost.
2 Pintail: m & f.

Adam Hartley

Chimney: Chimney Meadows: 22nd November

Chimney: Chimney Meadows
Goosander: r/h. 09:00.
7 Stonechat 09:00.

Nick Marriner

Blenheim 22nd November

Caspian gull - an adult briefly mid-afternoon. Seen for about 5 or 10 minutes over the Queen Pool and flying around the margins almost owl-like, hunting. At this exact time last year a caspian gull aged as a 4th winter paid a few visits to Blenheim and from memory behaved in a similar fashion. Who knows, maybe the same bird a year older.

Otmoor rspb 22nd November

White-fronted Goose 6 originally on the Closes this morning (per Steve Roby) before moving on to Ashrave at dusk 

Crane 3 (P.Law) Maple Glory & family.

Hen Harrier rt c07:30 yesterday (P.M)

Appleford GPs 22nd November

Ring-necked Duck f again on the river side Pit this afternoon (per RBA).

Greenfinch courtesy of Edwin Barson.

 

Standlake Pit 60: 22nd November

Standlake Pit 60
2 Goldeneye: m n f. First of autumn for me. 13:40.
Goosander: rh. 13:40.
2 Great White Egret 13:40.

Mick Cunningham

Blenheim: 22nd November

Blenheim
Pochard: Single drake present for about a week. 07:30.
4 Great White Egret 07:30.

Gareth Casburn

Grove 21st November

Black Redstart f/1stw in garden this morning (S.W).

Bicester Wetlands B.O.S Reserve 21st November

Goosander rh 11:00 (per Justin Taylor).

Courtesy of Justin Taylor.

Appleford

Ring-necked duck - female on fishing lake by Thames

Great white Egret

Pochard f

Days Lock

Dark-bellied Brent Goose - still present on days lock scrape 

Radley GP: 20th November

Radley GP
10 Little Egret: In evening roost. Site record? 16:50.

Ian Elkins

Dorchester: Days Lock Scrape: 20th November: Brent Goose

Water Eaton: 20th November

Water Eaton
Woodcock: Flushed by a dog and flew by at close range, my first here. 15:45.
Peregrine: passed over. 15:45.
Kingfisher 15:45.

Simon Myers

Appleford GP: 20th November

Ring-necked Duck 1f, riverside pit

Dorchester: Days Lock: 20th November

Dorchester: Days Lock
Brent Goose: Dark-Bellied Brent Goose. Seen on the new scrape over Days Lock next to the 2 lakes. SU571939. 08:45.

Harrison Silcock

Day’s Lock: 20th November

Brent Goose 1, on the scrape

Standlake: 19th November

19th November

Standlake
2 Ring-necked Duck: male and fem. Still on 3Ts Pit mid-afternoon. 14:20.
50 Red-crested Pochard: On 3Ts Pit. 14:20.
4 Goosander: rh. On 3Ts Pit. 14:20.
4 Great White Egret: All at Pit 60. 15:20.
3 Cattle Egret: In evening roost at 3Ts Pit. 16:00.
Little Egret: In evening roost at 3Ts Pit. 16:00.
Marsh Harrier: Hunting at Pit 60. 15:30.
Redshank: At Pit 60. 15:30.

Ian Elkins

Farmoor Reservoir 19th November

Greater Scaup 1 adf

Eurasian Wigeon 2m

European Stonechat 2m/f

Dunsden Green - Saturday 19th November 2022

 Egyptian Geese x2 (M&F in loddon Brewery field), Pied Wagtail x2, Grey Heron,

Great Spotted Woodpecker (F) & Green Woodpecker (M) -both on same branch n same tree,

Redwing x 30(min), Fieldfare x 30 (min), Jay, Kestrel, Stonechat (F) on her own on old

 sweetcorn edging field, Greenfinch (M).

Lower Shiplake: 19th November

Lower Shiplake

2 Ring-necked Parakeet 15:00.
Kingfisher: Perch in tree then flew up stream from bridge near care home. SU777793. 15:20.

Ralph Watts

 

Sparrowhawk Otmoor rspb courtesy of Steve Liptrot Photography.

Standlake: 19th November

Ring-necked Duck 2, m & f still at pit 27 (3Ts)
Goosander 2, pit 27
Great Egret 2, pit 60

Redshank 1, pit 60

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 19th November

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
3 Crane: 2A, 1j viewed back of Greenways from 1st 5b-gate. 11:52.

Paul Woodham

Dorchester: Days Lock scrape: 19th November

Brent Goose: The young dark-bellied still present on the scrape until 9.45 when it flew to nearby fields to the west of the river Thames. 09:45.
2 Lapwing 09:45.
Stonechat: Female. 09:45.

Michael Pocock

Courtesy of Geoff Wyatt.

Standlake: 3T Pit: 18th November

Standlake: 3T Pit
5 Goosander: 1m & 4f. No sign of any RND . 12:00.

Stephen Burch

Farmoor Reservoir 18th November

Grey Plover flew over F2 at midday (per Ewan Urquhart). 

Port Meadow: 18th November

Reasonable Gull roost starting to assemble as the floods grow in size.

60 Barnacle Goose
60 Lapwing
6 Golden Plover
Grey Wagtail

Gnome & Andrew Siantonas

Caversham: 18th November

Caversham
Red Kite: A rare sitting of a kite without a tail. Flying low over whilst driving. SU709748. 08:20.

Harrison Silcock

Otmoor rspb 17th November

Crane 3 on Ashgrave 13:40 (D.C)

Courtesy of Debbie Cowee 

Port Meadow: Godstow: 14th November

Port Meadow: Godstow
2 Goosander: fem.

Bob Pomfret

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 17th November

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
Great White Egret
Little Egret
5 Grey Heron
6 Little Grebe: Combe Creek.
19 Great Crested Grebe
2 Shoveler: fem.
5 Gadwall

Blenheim: Queen Elizabeth Island
Kingfisher

Bob Pomfret

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 17th November

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
Great White Egret: Feeding by waters edge near bridge. 16:02.

Mary MacDougall

Dorchester: Days Lock scrape: 17th November

Dorchester: Days Lock scrape
Brent Goose: 1 juv dark-bellied. Mostly on its own near the scrape. Did not associate with Canada and Greylag Geese. 12:30.
13 Lapwing: Also a small wader with the Lapwing, only seen through binoculars - probably Dunlin?. 12:30.
Yellow-legged Gull: present during late morning to early afternoon. Eventually flew towards Dorchester Pits. In with c300 Lesser black-backs (almost all adults), 1 GBB (1st win), c. 6 Herring gull (adults). 12:30.

(Per Richard James & Michael Pocock).

Courtesy of Michael Pocock.

Bodicote 16th November

Yellow-browed Warbler at the Rydes 14:41 but no further sign by 16:40.

(Per Kevin Heath).

Redwing at Letcombe courtesy of Brian Walker.

 

Standlake 16th November

Ring-necked Duck 2 m/f on the 3Ts Pits viewable north of the path to Pit 60 14:25 

Goosander 4 all rh

(per Ewan Urquhart).

Farmoor Reservoir 16th November

Great white Egret 

Scaup f F2

Chiffchaff 6

No sign of the Grey Phalarope this morning 

(per Ewan Urquhart).

Water Eaton: 16th November

Water Eaton
Brambling: Over calling; also Sparrowhawk attacking the redwing/fieldfare flocks, and 10 Siskin, several Redpoll, Peregrine mobbing Red Kites, Raven over last few mornings. 09:00.

Simon Myers

Farmoor: 15th November (pm)

Record shot of the Grey Phalarope seen in flight over the middle of F1 but not relocated before dusk

also

1 Dunlin

1 Common Sandpiper

2 Goosander (redheads)

Port Meadow: 15th November

Port Meadow
2 Dunlin 11:00.
40 Barnacle Goose: Approx. Presumed feral. 11:00.

Peter Scudamore

Otmoor rspb 15th November

Great white Egret on Greenaways 14:06 

(per Adam Lake).

Cassington GPs: 11th November

Cassington GPs
2 Great White Egret 16:30.

Colin Teal

Blenheim 14th November

Great white egret - 2 appeared briefly together this afternoon before heading over the Great Lake. The first I've seen at Blenheim this month. The deepening of the Queen Pool so far has left little suitable feeding area for them and they are far less frequent now.

Little egret - 1. Very few of these over the past few weeks probably for similar reasons.

Yellow-legged gull - 1 adult

Lesser black-backed gull - 2 (the one in the photo below has a green ring but too distant to get any of the number.)

The wooden jetty at the north end of the Queen Pool has now been demolished so the gulls have had to find other loafing spots on the idle machinery.

Snipe - 3

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 14th November

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Goosander: Still present at second screen when I left at 1pm. Male in winter plumage. 13:00.

Keith Nieland

Farmoor Reservoir 14th November

Scaup f off northern bank of F2 15:24 (per RBA).

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 14th November

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
2 Great White Egret: In briefly, leaving SW 14.50 (RS, LB). Also female Blackcap and single Snipe. 15:38.

Steve Holliday

Kirtlington: Kirtlington Park: 14th November

Kirtlington: Kirtlington Park
Great White Egret: On Manor Lake again. SP513192. 07:35.

David Watkinson

Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park: 14th November

Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park
Brambling 10:50.

Nicholas Boyd

Farmoor 14th November

Grey Plover flew around F1 c8:45 

No sign of the Scoters

(et al)

Standlake Pit 60: 13th November

Standlake Pit 60
102 Pochard: Influx. Flock includes the leucistic bird. 17:14.
Goosander: Later in pm. Redhead asleep. 17:14.
Water Rail: HO. 17:14.
Peregrine: juv. 17:14.
Stonechat: m. 17:14.
3 Pintail: Includes at least one eclipse drake. 17:14.

Mick Cunningham

Farmoor Reservoir 13th November

Brent Goose db on southern side of F2 at 14:47

(per RBA).

Common Scoter 10 on F2 at dusk (per Birdguides)

Standlake 3Ts Pits 13th November

Ring-necked Duck f still present this afternoon 

north of the path to Pit 60 (per Mick Cunningham).

Standlake, 13th November

3TS Pit:

Red-crested Pochard : 10+

No sign of the Ring-necked Duck

Pit 60:

Great White Egret : 4

Pochard : 14

David Hastings

Great White Egret © David Hastings

Churn: 13th November

Churn
4 Stonechat: At least 4 birds in 3 areas. 10:30.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 10:30.
20 Corn Bunting 10:30.
10 Skylark 10:30.

Nick Suckling

Rushy Common: 13th November

Marsh Harrier 1m, the bird seen earlier at Dix

Dix Pit: 13th November

Marsh Harrier 1m

Farmoor Reservoir 13th November

Scaup f at southern end of F2 

Pochard 2

Rock Pipit 5 F1

Grey Wagtail 

(per Adam Lake)

Standlake 12th November

Courtesy of Ian Lewington.

Ring-necked Duck f still present 16:30 on the 3T pits north of the path to Pit 60 (per Martin Hallam).

Courtesy of Ian Lewington 

Ewelme: 12th November

Ewelme
Little Egret: On Watercress beds on corner by bridge near Shepherd Hut Pub. 14:15.

Ralph Watts

Appleford: Appleford GP: 12th November

Appleford: Appleford GP
Great White Egret 15:00.

William Lester

Farmoor Reservoir: 12th November

Farmoor Reservoir
Scaup: f. South side of F2. 13:37.

Colm O Caomhanaigh

Grimsbury Reservoir: 11th November

Grimsbury Reservoir
Peregrine: Flying over giving good views. 15:15.

Andrew Mann

Lye Valley, Headington, Oxford: 12th November

 

One of those insane flyover moments that make local patch birding so rewarding: a Whooper Swan flew over the Lye Valley this morning and continued north over Headington. Also 1 Woodcock, flushed from Churchill Meadow. A short write-up is here. 

Wantage: Yew Down: 12th November

Wantage: Yew Down
2 Brambling

Mark Merritt

: 12th November

Sunnymead
Brambling: Flying west. SP511098. 08:05.

Nicholas Boyd

Farmoor Reservoir 11th November

Greater Scaup 1 Adf

Jack Snipe 1

Common Chiffchaff 4

Childrey: Childrey Field: 11th November

Childrey: Childrey Field
2 Stonechat
22 Grey Partridge

Mark Merritt

 

Corn Bunting Oxon Downs courtesy of John Workman.

Sonning Eye GPs: 11th November

Sonning Eye GPs
5 Ring-necked Parakeet: Flying around and in trees ??. 15:10.
Raven: Over calling. 15:10.

Ralph Watts

Godstow 11th November

Cattle Egret 10+ in field with cattle east of the A34 adjacent to the southbound carriageway c09:30.

Stratfield Brake 11th November

Great white Egret 09:52

Kirtlington: Kirtlington Park: 11th November

Kirtlington: Kirtlington Park
Great White Egret: Feeding in Manor Lake again. SP514192. 08:07.

David Watkinson

Standlake Pit 60: 10th November

Standlake Pit 60
20 Pochard: A leucistic bird in the flock. The only definite indication of change at the pit. 4 great egrets . 19:54.

Mick Cunningham

: 10th November

Towersey
Brambling: Over calling. SP729052. 16:24.

Towersey
13 Golden Plover: Over. SP729052. 16:24.

Luke Marriner

Warburg Reserve, Bix. - Wednesday 9th November 2022

 Buzzard x 2  - Kestrel (F) - Jay - Marsh Tit x 5 - Coal Tit x 3 - Goldcrest x 2 - Bullfinch (M)

Long Tailed Tit x 7 - Lesser Redpoll x 2

Goldcrest - bathing

Lesser Redpoll

Balscote Quarry B.O.S Reserve 9th November

No sign of the 1w Dartford Warbler by 08:45 

(per RBA).

Farmoor Reservoir: 9th November

7 Cattle Egret: Flew north over the west side of the reservoir. 08:45 (per Brian Walker).

Scaup f on F1 off eastern bank at 16:35 (per RBA)

Pit 60 Standlake 9th November

One of four Great white Egrets today courtesy of Robert Calcutt.

Sires Hill: 9th November

Sires Hill
15 Redwing: At least 15 Redwings flying around and landing in the trees. The group sometimes separates and sits in a tree near by. 07:35.

Harrison Silcock

Wytham 8th November

Cattle Egret 27 10:00 in field west of and adjacent to the north bound A34 (per RBA).

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II: 8th November

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
8 Kittiwake: 1 Adult and 7 1st winters. High above F2 before drifting to F1 and lost to view heading in a northerly direction. (Possibly 1-2 additional birds to add to the count). 15:05.

Jeremy Dexter

Standlake Pit 60: 8th November

Standlake Pit 60
4 Great White Egret 15:44.
2 Pintail 15:44.

Mick Cunningham

Blenheim 7th November

Red-crested pochard - 1 immature drake on Great Lake. Different to last week's individual.

Peregrine - female on monument

Snipe - 4

Appleford: Appleford GP: 7th November

Appleford: Appleford GP
Ring-necked Duck: In the middle to the left of the first lake. SU520938. 16:10.

Harrison Silcock

Farmoor

Black redstart - female type on far southern side of F2

Scaup - female in NW corner of F2 close to causeway

Balscote Quarry 7th November

Dartford Warbler 1

Brambling 2 m/f

Port Meadow 7th November

Hawfinch flew south over the allotments 12:25 (per Phil Barnett).

Wytham 7th November

Cattle Egret 10+ with cattle in first field north of the Wytham turn adjacent to the north bound A34 c10:00.

Bicester Wetland Reserve 7th November

 190 Teal
1 Green Sandpiper
2 Little Grebe
1 Cetti's Warbler

Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Wytham: A34: 6th November

Wytham: A34
10 Cattle Egret: Amongst cattle, back in field next to A34 - at least 10 visible (at 70mph). 14:30.

Simon Myers

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 6th November

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Dartford Warbler: Still present, by back screen at 15.10. 16:48.

Steve Holliday

Ardington

Merlin - imm/fem

Appleford: Appleford GP: 6th November

Appleford: Appleford GP
2 Ring-necked Duck: male and fem. On 'river' pit before the whole flock was disturbed at around 15:10. 15:15.
Great White Egret 15:15.

Ian Elkins

Farmoor Reservoir 6th November

0900-1130hrs

Greater Scaup 1 adf

Northern Shoveler 1m

Common Sandpiper 1

Water Rail 1

Redwing 750

Fieldfare 10+

Lesser Redpoll 4

Siskin 5

Goldfinch 20+

Common Chiffchaff 2

Meadow Pipit 8+

Appleford: Appleford GP: 6th November

Ring-necked Duck male. Pit nearest river. 12:00.
Probable Yellow-legged Gull 11:00.
Green Sandpiper 11:00.

William Lester

Letcombe Bassett: Gramps Hill: 6th November

Letcombe Bassett: Gramps Hill
2 Stonechat
Raven
11 Grey Partridge

Mark Merritt

Farmoor 6th Nov

Scaup
2 Raven

Sent from my iPhone

Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park: 6th November

Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park
Hawfinch: Flight calls heard to west from pond. Several siskin + redpoll over this morning. 11:11.

Nicholas Boyd

Weston-on-the-Green: Stonehouse Farm: 6th November

Weston-on-the-Green: Stonehouse Farm
Raven: Flying over More interestingly, saw an Otter ambling across the field towards Manor Lake - amazing! SP512189. 08:56.

David Watkinson

Cassington GPs: 5th November

Cassington GPs
4 Red-crested Pochard 16:30.
White-fronted Goose: Plus a hybrid. 16:30.
Sparrowhawk 16:30.

Colin Teal

Dix Pit: 5th November

Dix Pit
130 Red-crested Pochard 16:00.
3 Goldeneye: 2 drk and 1 fem. 16:00.

Ian Elkins

Farmoor 5th November

Scaup on F2


Sent from my iPhone

Nether Worton 5th November

Hawfinch flew over the gated road this afternoon (A).

Standlake Pit 60: 5th November

4 Great White Egret: A 4th joined the trio briefly but its was chased off. Frequent disputes over feeding spots by the GWEs. 14:12.

No great change otherwise. Handful of b pintail still. 10:31.
Marsh Harrier: m. 10:31.

Mick Cunningham

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 5th November

Dartford Warbler More vocal today, foraging in large patch of bramble in corner where path bends and also between gorse and tall post. Also 2 bramblings with chaffinches under feeders, 100+ redwings and 60 fieldfares. . 11:51.

Steve Holliday

Ring-necked Parakeet Didcot courtesy of Bryan Manston.

 

Radley GP: 5th November

Radley GP
4 Red-crested Pochard: 2 pairs. On Thrupp Lake. 09:00.

Ian Elkins

Lower Windrush Valley GPs: 4th November

Lower Windrush Valley GPs
101 Red-crested Pochard: SP386053. 15:45.

Steve Goddard

Borrow Pit, Banbury: 4th November

1w Caspian Gull
4+ Yellow-Legged Gull
2 Stonechat
3 Lesser Redpoll

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 4th November

Dartford Warbler Heard calling several times and seen briefly (per G Blockley) from 1410 in patch of gorse c30m before tall wooden post. .Also 2 snipe, 5 golden plover and 2 single redpoll over. 16:44.

Steve Holliday

Standlake Pit 60: 4th November

Standlake Pit 60
Peregrine: juv. Forgot to add this. Beating up ducks. All sightings 11 am. 13:52.

7 Pintail 13:50.
2 Great White Egret 13:50.

Mick Cunningham

Milton Common: 4th November

Milton Common
Brambling: f. My first of autumn. With small flock chaffinches winter thrushes and yellowhammer feeding around muck pile. South of Milton Common. 13:28.

Mick Cunningham

Stratfield Brake 4th November

Great white Egret 09:15.

Wytham 4th November

Cattle Egret 13+ with cattle west of the A34 and just south of the Thames 09:00.

Blenheim: 4th November

Blenheim
Red-crested Pochard: Drake on Queen Pool. 07:30.
2 Pintail: F on Queen Pool. 07:30.
Mandarin Duck: Drake on Great Lake. 07:30.
Kingfisher 07:30.
Cetti's Warbler 07:30.

Gareth Casburn

Balscote Quarry B.O.S Reserve 3rd November

No sign of the Dartford Warbler this afternoon (M.P).

: 3rd November

Moulsford, Halfpenny Lane
3 Grey Partridge: On field edge, S side, just W of the leccy sub-station. SU5884. 13:00.

Mike Amphlett

Cuxham: 3rd November

Cuxham
Stonechat 15:19.

John Taylor

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 2nd November

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Dartford Warbler: Calling and seen briefly by back screen at 13.12. Also Green sandpiper on wetland, fem/imm merlin, stonechat and 2 redpolls south. 14:05.

Steve Holliday

Courtesy of Edwin Barson.

Brize Norton 2nd November

Cattle Egret flew over runway 25 at Brize Norton at 13:33 (per RBA).

Dix Pit: 2nd November

Dix Pit
Scaup: fem. A female in the Tufted group at the south end. 12:30.

Jeremy Dexter

Chinnor: Cement Works: 1st November

Chinnor: Cement Works
Stonechat: On fence by western screen Lake 2b. 10:30.

David Stracey

Balscote Quarry B.O.S Reserve 1st November

Dartford warbler seen well and photographed at Balscote Quarry today 13:15 (per EB)

If anyone plans to visit, we’d appreciate it if you could keep to the mown path as a few have been walking into the scrub As far as we’re aware, all the images of the DW have been taken in the light scrub near the path. Many thanks

Steve and Mark (reserve wardens)

No sign of the reported Bearded Tit.

October Review

Highlights

Who doesn’t love Autumn? The changing of the guard, as many of our breeding species depart and birds from the east arrive en masse. Stepping out into the darkness on a cold autumn night and hearing the first high pitch zeeer call of migrating redwing never ceases to make me smile. After these first pioneering birds early in the season numbers tend to slowly build until conditions are perfect when 10s if not 100s of thousands arrive over the course of a few days. This year unprecedented numbers arrived on the 19^th with vis miggers across the country picking up 10s of thousands in just a few hours. Although not quite in the same league, Oxfordshire got its share of birds with many birds passing through during the day and 100s heard migrating overnight.

It is another species from the east though, that made a decent incursion into the county during October and which makes the highlight of the month.

Yellow-browed Warbler

After last months 1 day bird at Port Meadow, you’d be forgiven to think we might have had our fill of this eastern sprite. Luckily a near record influx of birds into our county saw 4 records spread across the county with at least 3 birds in total. A typically elusive individual was in Abingdon on the 8^th and present until the 9^th, whilst another elusive bird was in Lockinge from the 22^nd until the 24^th. Thankfully a bird found at Farmoor on the 22^nd was much more obliging and allowed many of the counties birders to admire this Siberian wanderer until at least the 29^th. A probable record came from Ardley at the M40 services on the 24^th although no confirmation was forthcoming. With all these records coming within a few days of one another it is clear that at least 3 birds were in the county and one can only wonder how many more might be lurking out there in amongst the tit and crest flocks.

Courtesy of Richard Tyler.

The Yellow-browed Warblers diagnostic call captured here by Conor Mackenzie.

Courtesy of Andy Last

Waders

As expected, wader migration tailed off this month and other than the lingering group of 4 little stint at Pit 60 on the 1^st there wasn’t much in the way of highlight birds for October. A disappointedly brief phalarope species present on Dix Pit on the 6^th unfortunately couldn’t be identified and was seen by only one observer, in what would been a very popular bird.  A great count of 3 jack snipe from Pit 60 came on the 11^th and again were present between the 15-16^th.

Courtesy of Caroline Walker

A single greenshank was present on Pit 60 on the 1^st whilst redshank records came from Port Meadow on the 6^th and Farmoor on the 18^th, with 5 present at the latter. A single ruff continued to be recorded at Farmoor through until the 10^th after a near constant presence through September, with an additional 2 birds recorded on the 3^rd. Ardley ERF also had 3 birds on the 1^st until the following day with a single bird remaining until the 7^th. The odd dunlin continued to be recorded throughout the month with 2 at Farmoor on the 10^th, a single bird on Grimsbury reservoir on the 19^th and 26^th and another lone individual on Ardley ERF 25^th-26^th . Two ringed plover were also present on Farmoor on the 10^th and 18^th of the month.

Green sandpiper continued to be widespread across the county albeit in smaller numbers, although a count of 17 on the 5^th at Bicester wetlands was a good count for the time of year with double digits recorded a few more times later in the month. Common sandpiper continued at Farmoor until the 22^nd whilst additional birds were recorded at Ardley and Ducklington. Several nice flocks of golden plover were recorded from White Horse hill with 420 on the 3^rd and 125 on the 7^th.

Gulls & Terns

Not much to talk about this month with a record of a 1^st winter Caspian gull from Farmoor on the 4^th the only noteworthy bird in October. A single Mediterranean gull was recorded at Blenheim on the 17^th. Yellow-legged gull continued to be recorded in small numbers at Farmoor with additional records coming from Ardley with 6 the highest count on the 15^th.

Courtesy of Gareth Cashburn

Wildfowl etc

The change of seasons brought with it our first winter wildfowl with a family group of 4 whooper swan on Farmoor on the 11^th whilst a party of 5 brent goose of the dark-bellied variety were present on the 12^th, the concrete dish bowl continuing its fine form of the place to find this wanderer from the arctic. Eight white-fronted geese were present at Cassington GP’s on the 11^th and a single bird was with greylags on Otmoor on the 17^th but neither lingered long and were gone the following day. The first returning goldeneye was recorded on Farmoor on the 3^rd with a female bird associating with the tufted duck flocks and 6 birds on Dix Pit on the 30^th, whilst a female scaup was recorded several times throughout the month but proved difficult to pin down for most until the 29^th.

Courtesy of Bryan Manston.

Courtesy of Dave Murphy

Probably the same black-necked grebe recorded in September was again on Dix Pit after been missing for a few weeks, it was present on the 3^rd and again reported on the 8^th. A drake ring necked duck was at Appleford GP’s on the 17^th but only remained for the day before departing. Goosander were reported from two sites with a male on Otmoor on the 6^th and a juvenile on Pit 60 on the 11^th. Mandarin records came from two sites and probably relate to the same individuals with one on Wolvercote lake on the 14^th and a pair in Marston on the 16^th. The largest count of red-crested pochard came from the usual place, Tar Lakes, with a count of 59. The unusual hybrid presumed to be a goldeneye X hooded merganser returned to the Standlake area for it 2^nd year been picked up at Dix pit a couple times at the end of the month, where has it been in the meantime is anyone’s guess.

Egrets, herons etc

In what has already been a great year for spoonbill records in the county, another came from Pit 60 on the 9^th with an immature present for the day only. After a record-breaking year at the species stronghold in Norfolk and colonies around the country it is no surprise that there has been a significant uptick in records this year, a pattern that looks set to continue. Another bird that has seen significant increases in records the last couple years a single glossy ibis was reported this month with a lone bird recorded on the 8^th, another species that seems set to colonise the UK at some point in the future.

Courtesy of Mick Cunningham

The cattle egret flock continued in their new preferred location of Kings Lock with over 40 been recorded on the 15^th, with anywhere between 15-30 been in constant presence throughout October. Additional records came from Pit 60 with 3 recorded at various points throughout the month and a max count of 10 on 22^nd. New sites to record birds came from Cassington with one on the 11^th and New Bridge with up to 4 between the 9^th and 11^th. Great white egret also continued to be widespread in the county with at least 10 sites recording single birds, with only Blenheim recording 2 birds on the 5^th.

Courtesy of Adam Hartley

Passerines etc

Somewhat outshone by the yellow-browed warbler incursions this month, a Dartford warbler at Balscote Quarry through the latter part of the month was the 2^nd record in the county this year. Luckily, unlike previous records, after initially remaining elusive it was finally pinned down on the 22^nd October and was present until the 29^th at least. This is another species that seems to be recorded in increasing frequency in recent years after previously been an extremely rare bird in the county, evident by how popular this bird proved to be with county listers.

Dartford Warbler above and below courtesy of Kyle Smith.

A water pipit proved harder to pin down commuting between several sites. One was present at Farmoor on the 13^th and possibly seen on and off through until the 22^nd. Presumably the same bird was then seen at Port Meadow on the 23^rd, only the 2^nd record for the site. It was again seen on the 27^th and 31st on the meadow with a possible sighting also on the  27^th at Eynsham. Rock pipit were unusually widespread through the county, with 4 sites recording the species. Three were at Farmoor 3^rd with one remaining on and off until the 12^th, 2 were on Pit 60 on the 9^th and a single bird was recorded at Grimsbury reservoir on the 14^th and 20^th. Port Meadow also had a single bird present on the 16^th. A pipit with a buzzy call on the meadow on the 20^th but unfortunately couldn’t be relocated, whilst a tree pipit was recorded on Pit 60 on the 4^th.

Courtesy of Mike Pollard

A cracking record of a flyover woodlark over a Cholsey garden on the 16^th surely constitutes one of the better garden ticks! A black redstart was present on Farmoor from the 21^st until at least the 28^th spending most of its time on the sewage treatment works although occasionally commuting to the causeway, whilst a late record of a ring ouzel came from Childrey field on the 23^rd. A possible willow tit record came from Ducklington on the 20^th a species now lost from Oxfordshire’s breeding avifauna after the depressing and somewhat inevitable demise of the Grimsbury birds.

Courtesy of Conor Mackenzie

Courtesy of Badger

A single whinchat record came from Chimney on the 1^st whilst records of wheatear came from Aston Upthorpe and Oxford University grounds on 2^nd and 7^th respectively, a late wheatear on Port Meadow on the 22^nd justifiably required closer scrutiny but unfortunately it was just Northern. Firecrest were recorded at three locations with Pit 60 on the 1^st, Grimsbury on the 7^th and Aston Eyot on the 29^th hosting single birds. Along with all the returning thrushes this month also had the first of our winter finches with redpoll recorded across the county and brambling recorded at 4 sites. Hawfinch also were recorded from 3 sites with Grimsbury, Cutteslowe and Marston all having flyover birds.

Some late swallow records came from Pit 60 on the 10^th with 6 birds and two birds remained at Blenheim through until at least the 28^th.

Raptors

Short-eared owl made a welcome return to the county this month with two birds frequenting Otmoor, with the birds putting on a great show for locals on most evenings between the 2^nd and 18^th of the month. Merlin records were more widespread with 5 sites recorded birds – Aston Upthorpe (2^nd), Ardley ERF (15^th-25^th), Ardington (25^th), Childrey Field (29^th) and Balscotte Quarry (29^th).

Courtesy of Lee Wilcocks

Marsh harrier were recorded from 4 sites including Otmoor, 2 birds frequently recorded at Pit 60 and single records from Chimney (1^st) and Blewbury (9^th). Late hobby records came from Pit 60 on the 4^th and Otmoor on the 8^th and 14^th.

Look ahead

With the change in seasons the next couple months will be dominated by returning winter wildfowl with birders across the county searching local arable fields and waterbodies hoping to pick out a rarity out of the duck and goose flocks.

The last two Novembers have produced great northern diver with both records coming from, where else, Farmoor with the last one been the record staying bird through until May 2022. Slavonian grebe have also been recorded several times with the last November birds coming in 2019 and 2013, whilst red-breasted merganser records came in 2018 and 2015 all of which were present on Farmoor. On the rarer side of things, the last American wigeon in the county came in November 2018 but was unfortunately on a private site not accessible to the wider county and with the last widely accessible bird coming in 2011 another would prove very popular indeed.

Its not all about wildfowl though and some good rarities can and have been picked up in November in recent history. Who can forget the unfortunate little auk on the Thames last year? A cracking Richards pipit in 2018 proved hugely popular within and out of the counties borders with the bird sticking around for several days. November has a good affinity with great grey shrike records with 2013-2016 producing birds this month, the last coming in 2018 which hopefully means we are due another soon!

With all the talk of a waxwing winter after record numbers in southern Scandinavia earlier than usual that’s where my thoughts/wishes will be turning over the next couple months. Birds have been picked up along the east coast this week with the first inland flocks in not so far Staffordshire on the 30^th, one can only hope this is a sign of things to come.