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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 December 2022

Peep-o-day Lane

Merlin - female/immature at northern end of cycle path

Oxford 31st December

Yellow-browed Warbler still present by B4495 on north side of Donnington Bridge 15:28
(per Steve Roby, Phil Barnett).

Milton-under-Wychwood 31st December

Hen Harrier rt north of Burford at Milton-under-Wychwood near turning off A424 (per RBA).

Standlake: 31st December

Kittiwake 1, pit 60 12.10 - 12.20 only
Ring-necked Duck 2, mf still on 27
Goosander 24, pit 27

 

Male Blackcap Bicester courtesy of Nick Truby.


Friday 30 December 2022

Ducklington 29th December

North cross valley way
Merlin: SP368084. 16:06.

John Pimm

Oxford 30th December

Yellow-browed Warbler still present near Donnington Bridge in the bushes & trees along the north side of the road between 50-200m west of the bridge near saw dust pile 15:42

(per Nick Truby,Tom Bedford,Phil Barnett).

Above & below courtesy of Nick Truby.



Rushy Common: 30th December

Rushy Common
Pintail: fem. In with wigeon. 13:37.
Great White Egret 13:37.
Pintail: fem. In with wigeon. 13:37.

Mick Cunningham

Yellowhammer Otmoor rspb courtesy of Mark Chivers.

 

Aynho 30th December

Juv DB Brent Goose in flooded field with Canada geese and Greylags. Mid-Cherwell Valley between Aynho & Somerton 13:00

(Per John Friendship-Taylor)

The Otmoor Starling Murmuration

Over recent years, the Otmoor car park has been at its busiest during the Christmas and, particularly the New Year period with visitors flocking to see the starling murmuration. Afternoons around the starling murmuration have been particularly hectic with significant increases in visitor numbers.

Please avoid visiting during this time as the inevitable increase in traffic causes parking issues that damages the soft road verges and car park edges and results in cars getting stuck, and we find that gates onto the reserve get blocked meaning emergency vehicle access is impossible.

The starlings often stay well into the new year and often through to February so we would encourage you to visit once the peak of visitor numbers drops after the New Year holiday period.

Many thanks for your co-operation and patience in this matter during what is a very difficult time for the reserve.

The Otmoor team

Fergus Mosey
Warden, RSPB Otmoor



Thursday 29 December 2022

Yellow-browed Warbler - Donnington Bridge Road, Oxford

The bird found by Steve Roby showing well from time-to-time mid afternoon in the bushes & trees along the north side of the road between 50-200m west of the bridge. A loose group of c. 10 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Goldcrests & 1 Chiffchaff here, but the Yellow-browed seemingly not very closely associated with them.


Yellow-browed Warbler, Donnington Bridge, East Oxford 29 Dec 2022

Standlake Pit 60: 29th December

Standlake Pit 60
13 Goosander: 5 drk and 8 rh. Unclear whether the six drakes seen earlier this afternoon on the 3Ts Pit included these birds or not. 15:00.
6 Goldeneye: 2 drk and 4 fem. 15:00.
2 Red-crested Pochard: pair. 15:00.
358 Teal 15:00.

Ian Elkins

Thame: 29th December

Thame
Peregrine: Young male roosting on church. 17:54.

Luke Marriner

Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course: 29th December

Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course
Woodcock 17:54.
Barn Owl 17:54.

Luke Marriner

: 29th December

Neal's Farm
2 Raven: A pair overhead at daybreak calling loudly. SU6883.

John Taylor

Lower Shiplake: 29th December

Lower Shiplake
2 Ring-necked Parakeet: SU776798. 13:04.

Ralph Watts

Port Meadow: 29th December

Port Meadow
2 Redshank: On fallen trees under Binsey bank of the river a little upstream from the Perch landing stage. First I have seen here this season. 14:45.
2 Pintail: Possibly more amongst the many wigeon and shoveler on the floods. 14:45.

Andrew Siantonas

Sonning Eye GPs: 29th December

Sonning Eye GPs
Bittern: Right hand end of the reedbed at the north end of the lake. 16:12.

Marek Walford

Appleford GPs: 29th December

Ring-necked Duck 1f, riverside pit
Brambling 1+, in large mixed finch & bunting flock

Bicester Wetland Reserve 29th December

110 Common Snipe
320 Teal
3 Shoveler
7 Gadwall
2 Heron
3 Little Grebe

Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve


Oxford 29th December

Yellow-browed Warbler at Donnington Bridge on the north side of Weirs Lane, just east of the bridge with roving tit flock 12:10 (per Steve Roby)
SP523043 
OX1 4UW

Port Meadow: 29th December

Port Meadow
6 Goosander: 4males 2 fem. Near to St Edward's rowing club. SP487094. 08:27.

Matthew Southwell

Wednesday 28 December 2022

Balscote Quarry B.O.S Reserve 28th December

Brambling 2 m&f (W.W).

Chimney: Chimney Meadows: 28th December

Chimney: Chimney Meadows
2 Marsh Harrier: fem/imm and a subadult male.
Pintail
Egyptian Goose
550 Lapwing
19 Snipe
Woodcock

Mark Merritt

Kings Lock: 28th December

Kings Lock
2 Stonechat: In the favoured location by Thames path upstream from King's Lock. 15:30.

Andrew Siantonas

Dix Pit 28th December

5 great white egret (along Northern and eastern banks)
7 goldeneye
Siskin

Standlake:
Great white egret at Pit60
5 goosander
2 goldeneye
Sparrowhawk



Sent from my iPhone

Tuesday 27 December 2022

New Marston: New Marston Meadows: 27th December

New Marston: New Marston Meadows
136 Teal
2 Wigeon
Raven
Little Egret
Little Owl: Calling at about 11 am, near Park Farm.

Tom Evans

 

Merlin Otmoor rspb 27/12 courtesy of Kyle Smith.

: 27th December

Neal's Farm
Woodcock: SU6883. 19:24.

John Taylor

Port Meadow: 27th December

Port Meadow
2 Shelduck
8 Goosander: 4m. On the river, per Phil Barnett.
8 White-fronted Goose: The usual Blenheim birds.
100 Barnacle Goose: Didn't count them so a pure guess as to numbers.
Yellow-legged Gull: ad.

Adam Hartley

Farmoor Reservoir 27th December

Scaup f reported still on F1 (per RBA).


Banbury Borrow Pit 26th December

Belated report of 1stw Caspian Gull yesterday.
(Per RBA).

Port Meadow 27th December

Goosander 8 (4m)
No sign of the reported Ring-necked Duck.

(Per Phil Barnett).

Fyfield Wick: 26th December

26th December

Fyfield Wick
Woodcock: Flew low west at dusk. 16:30.
2 Raven 15:45.

Jed Cleeter

Monday 26 December 2022

Oxford: Summertown: 26th December

Oxford: Summertown
41 Ring-necked Parakeet: 41 (in three closely-spaced groups) flew roughly north past Cherwell School towards Summertown a few mins either side of sundown. Possibly biggest count yet for the city? Not roosting today in the trees used last winter on Hernes Crescent - I wonder where they may have chosen instead. 16:00.

Tom Evans

Port Meadow 26th December

Ring-necked Duck reported (per RBA).

: 26th December

Greyhound Plantation
2 Raven: SU6883. 13:28.

John Taylor

Grimsbury Reservoir 26th December's











Red-crested Pochard still present this morning.

Both photos courtesy of Kyle Smith.



 

Sunday 25 December 2022

Stanford-in-the-Vale: 23rd December

Stanford-in-the-Vale
Merlin: male. Perched on small tree by A417- per Josh Cleeter. 13:00.

Jed Cleeter

Saturday 24 December 2022

Kingston Bagpuize: 24th December

Kingston Bagpuize
Merlin: male. Perched on small tree by A420. A large mixed flock of passerine in the area too-per Josh Cleeter. 12:30.

Jed Cleeter

Dix Pit: 24th December

Dix Pit
Great White Egret 16:30.
4 Goldeneye 16:30.
4 Red-crested Pochard: 2 pairs. 16:30.
2100 Black-headed Gull: Conservative count in evening roost. 16:30.

Ian Elkins

West hendred

Merlin - immature/female harassing sparrowhawk in fields east of twilly springs. 

Bicester Wetland Reserve 24th December

 45 Snipe
215 Teal
4 Gadwall
2 Shovler
1 Cetti's Warbler
1 Sparrowhawk

Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Childrey: Childrey Field: 24th December

Childrey: Childrey Field
Merlin: fem/imm.
2 Grey Partridge
3 Raven
10 Corn Bunting
Golden Plover

Mark Merritt

Friday 23 December 2022

Otmoor 23rd December

Otmoor: 
Hen Harrier: Ringtail. 15:00.
Merlin: female/juvenile. Lovely Merlin - seen 3-4 times around the Pill hunting in low dashing flight, at one point using fluttering "thrush flight". 15:00.
Barn Owl: briefly; also Kestrel, sparrowhawk around. 15:00.

Simon Myers

Otmoor rspb 23rd December

Great white Egret at the 1st screen 08:30 (L.OB)

Abingdon: Peep-o-Day Lane: 22nd December

Abingdon: Peep-o-Day Lane
Great White Egret: On the right hand side of the path standing on the bank of the stream. 03:30.

Harrison Silcock

Port Meadow: 23rd December

Port Meadow
2 Shelduck

Adam Hartley

Marsh Baldon: 23rd December

Marsh Baldon
3 Lesser Redpoll: After my report of a solitary Lesser Redpoll a few days ago, pleased to say that 3 visited this morning. SU565999. 09:17.

Paul Torevell

Above and below courtesy of Paul Torevell.



The Otmoor Starling Murmuration.

Over recent years, the Otmoor car park has been at its busiest during the Christmas and, particularly the New Year period with visitors flocking to see the starling murmuration. Afternoons around the starling murmuration have been particularly hectic with significant increases in visitor numbers.

Please avoid visiting during this time as the inevitable increase in traffic causes parking issues that damages the soft road verges and car park edges and results in cars getting stuck, and we find that gates onto the reserve get blocked meaning emergency vehicle access is impossible.

The starlings often stay well into the new year and often through to February so we would encourage you to visit once the peak of visitor numbers drops after the New Year holiday period.

Many thanks for your co-operation and patience in this matter during what is a very difficult time for the reserve.

The Otmoor team

Fergus Mosey
Warden, RSPB Otmoor



Thursday 22 December 2022

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 22nd December

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Marsh Harrier: Hunting low over the reeds. 11:00.

Harrison Silcock

Blenheim: 22nd December

Blenheim
2 Goosander: m & f distantly on Great Lake. 14:00.
Little Egret 14:00.
3 Great White Egret 14:00.
2 Kingfisher 14:00.
2 Water Rail 14:00.
Sparrowhawk 14:00.
Snipe 14:00.

Gareth Casburn

Wednesday 21 December 2022

Wytham Wood: 21st December

21st December

Wytham Wood
6 Coal Tit 19:55.
6 Goldcrest 19:55.
4 Great Spotted Woodpecker 19:55.
12 Jackdaw 13:00.
Jay 13:00.
13 Long-tailed Tit 13:00.
6 Marsh Tit 13:00.
6 Nuthatch 13:00.
4 Treecreeper 13:00.
8 Great Tit 13:00.

James Blunt

Port Meadow: 21st December

Port Meadow
Barnacle Goose 19:50.
Golden Plover 19:50.
Goosander 19:50.
Lapwing 19:50.
Meadow Pipit 19:50.
Pintail 19:50.
Shoveler 19:50.
Teal 19:50.
Pied Wagtail 19:50.

James Blunt

Marsh Baldon: 21st December

Marsh Baldon
Lesser Redpoll: On feeder in garden. SU565999. 11:35.

Paul Torevell

Fyfield Wick: 21st December

Fyfield Wick
Grey Plover: Flew West fairly high over garden calling. A garden & patch tick. 14:42.

Jed Cleeter

Standlake: 21st December

Standlake
Ring-necked Duck: m. Distant on 3 Ts pit shifford lane. 16:04.

Mick Cunningham

Bicester Wetland Reserve 21st December

 1 Green Sandpiper
193 Teal
5 Gadwall
3 Shoveler
1 Little Grebe

Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Tuesday 20 December 2022

Standlake: West Oxon Sailing Club Lake: 20th December

Standlake: West Oxon Sailing Club Lake
4 Chiffchaff: Together. 18:24.

Mick Cunningham

Hinton Waldrist: 20th December

Hinton Waldrist
4 Lesser Redpoll: At least 4 in a mixed finch flock attracted to game crop. 18:20.

Mick Cunningham

Woodstock Water Meadows 20th December

Lesser redpoll - 2 very confiding birds today.



Port Meadow: 20th December

Port Meadow
8 Goosander: 4m/4f. On river upstream from Perch landing stage. 15:00.

Andrew Siantonas

Port Meadow: 20th December

Peregrine: Aged as juv fem on brown upperparts/large size. Hunting and spending large amounts of time on the ground at the northern end of the flood. 10:50.
110 Barnacle Goose: Around 110 back after last being seen on 6/12. 10:50.

Phil Barnett

Courtesy of Caroline Walker.


Farmoor Reservoir 20th December

Scaup f still off N/W bank of F1 (per RBA).

Red Kite Otmoor rspb courtesy of Jim Ferguson.

 

Monday 19 December 2022

Appleford: Appleford GP: 19th December

Appleford: Appleford GP
Great White Egret: Looking unhealthy. 15:00.
Red-crested Pochard 15:00.

William Lester

Sunday 18 December 2022

Otmoor 18 December

Confiding Water Rail by feeders

Brambling by hide.

Bittern.


Water Rail by feeders and chilly Bittern (c) Bark

Grimsbury Res: 18th December

1m Red Crested Pochard
1m Teal
1 YLG



Letcome Valley BBOWT: 18th Dec

Apparent Green-Winged Teal on the main cress bed
Seen briefly but well. Only diagnostics noted were vertical breast stripe and lack of scapular stripe.
With c.10 Eurasian Teal.

Not relocated in area despite 1hr+ of searching.

Saturday 17 December 2022

Farmoor Reservoir 17th December

Greater Scaup 1 
Shelduck 1
Common Pochard 5
Common Goldeneye 7 (4m 15:45 per Andy Last)
Gadwall 10
Northern Shoveler 1
Eurasian Wigeon 5

Courtesy of Andy Last.

















Common Snipe 1

2 Bullfinch: 2 males near shrike meadow hide. 14:40 (per Yacky Morris).

Courtesy of Yacky Morris
















Redpoll nr Pinkhill
Kingfisher 
(Per Brian Walker)

Male Goldeneye courtesy of Brian Walker.


Fyfield Wick: 17th December

Fyfield Wick
Merlin: male. 1st time Male Seen to attack the roosting Greenfinch flock this winter. In very fast from the North above tree top height then lost to view beyond house in the chase. 15:47.
348 Greenfinch: Another new record for this roost, with over 130 more than last weeks record. Birds went in between 15:30 & 16:00. 15:47.

Jed Cleeter

Lye Valley, Oxford: 17th December

 


One of two Woodcock present this morning. At least one Common Snipe remains, but no sign of the Jack Snipe. 

Jack Snipe video from Wednesday 14th by Badger.

Standlake: 17th December

Ring-necked Duck 2, m & f pit 27
Goosander 5, pit 27
Pintail 1, pit 27
Goldeneye 2, pit 27
Little Owl 1
Snipe 2, pit 60

Otmoor: 16th December

Otmoor
Woodcock: Flying low over E end of Greenaways. Possibly flushed by one of two foxes in the vicinity at the time. 13:33.

Rob Cadd

Oxford: Aston's Eyot: 17th December

Oxford: Aston's Eyot
Firecrest: By Jackdaw Lane entrance to Aston's Eyot. Also here: 1 Snipe, 4 Teal, 2 Chiffchaff & Little Grebe on the Isis, the latter the first record in 2 years' regular visits. 09:00.

Ben Sheldon

Otmoor rspb 17th December

Hen Harrier rt again over Greenaways c09:30


Friday 16 December 2022

Water Eaton: 16th December

Water Eaton
Woodcock: Flushed from copse next to path. 12:00.
Water Rail: One along river out in open. 12:00.
Lesser Redpoll 12:00.

Simon Myers

Farmoor Reservoir 16th December


An influx of ducks on the reservoir today

Greater Scaup 1 Adf
Tufted Duck 735
Common Pochard 29
Common Goldeneye 13
Gadwall 19
Northern Shoveler 5
Eurasian Wigeon 3

Grey Plover 1 flew over calling

Yellow legged Gull 1
Greater Black backed Gull 1

Kingfisher 1

Henley Road GPs: 16th December

Henley Road GPs
Great White Egret: On the north bank of the heronry lake. 15:26.

Marek Walford

Oxford: Christchurch Meadow: 16th December

Oxford: Christchurch Meadow
2 Stonechat: both males. At least 3 since Sunday (2m, 1f). One male on the northern fence area, one by sw corner near leaves piles again. Couldn't see the female. 11:00.

Phil Barnett

Thursday 15 December 2022

Cassington GPs 13th December

Caspian Gull 1st winter with advanced wing covert moult (with thanks to Lew).
Video courtesy of Terry Godfrey.

Taynton: 13th December

Taynton
Merlin: adult/male. Tiny male Merlin alighted low in an ash tree, could clearly see streaky markings on breast and reddish plumage on legs and between legs from observing below, promptly flew off. SP245147. 17:10.

John Woolliams

Oxford: Aston's Eyot: 15th December

Oxford: Aston's Eyot
Water Rail: in the ditch by the entrance from Jackdaw Lane. 13:45.
Snipe: In the ditch by the entrance from Jackdaw Lane. 13:45.

Bob Pomfret

Otmoor rspb 15th December

Courtesy of Malcolm Bowey.

Hen Harrier rt over Greenaways 13:28 (per Malcolm Bowey)

 

Oxford: Christchurch Meadow: 15th December

Oxford: Christchurch Meadow
2 Stonechat: male and female. Near the piles of leaves at the far south/west end by the main track. 15:19.

Phil Barnett

Oxford: Aston's Eyot: 13th December

Oxford: Aston's Eyot
Firecrest: In ivy covered trees by Jackdaw Lane entrance. Also 1 Chiffchaff here. 12:30.

Ben Sheldon

Wednesday 14 December 2022

Farmoor Reservoir 14th December

Caspian Gull reported (per RBA).

Bittern Otmoor rspb courtesy of Anna Marlow.

 

Fyfield Wick: 14th December

Fyfield Wick
Brambling: Landed briefly calling then flew west. 08:00.
60 Golden Plover: Flew high South. 08:00.
7 Siskin: At least 7 individuals flew West Calling between 07:45 & 08:15. 08:00.

Jed Cleeter

Farmoor Reservoir 14th December



With the temperature two degrees below zero birds were finding it hard to survive.The wintering Common Sandpiper found sustenance by following the diggers excavating Pinkhill Reserve and the female European Stonechat was forced to resort to hunting prey from the perimeter wall of F1


Lye Valley, Oxford: 14th December

 

Yesterday a photograph from a member of the public emerged of a Jack Snipe in the ponds at the top of the Lye Valley, which was taken on Sunday. Isaac and I went out first thing this morning, there were at least 4 Common Snipe around the ponds (a rare bird here in itself) and the Jack Snipe was still present, stationary on the far bank, a remarkable city record!


Above, with Wren
At dawn there was frost on the tertials and tail of this bird. 

Tom Bedford & Isaac West

Tuesday 13 December 2022

Blenheim 13th December

Water rail




Clifton Upper Cherwell Valley 13th December

Caspian Gull in field nr Clifton (per RBA).

Oxford: Aston's Eyot: 13th December

Oxford: Aston's Eyot
25 Lapwing: A flock of 25 flew southwest - first time I've recorded this species at this site in almost daily visits over last 2 years. 09:42.

Ben Sheldon

Monday 12 December 2022

Farmoor Reservoir 12th December

Gull roost F2 1430-1530hrs

Mediterranean Gull 1 adult
Yellow legged Gull 4 - 3 adults/1 first winter
Greater Black backed Gull 1 adult

Snow Geese 87

Scaup f (per RBA)

Yellow-legged Gull Cassington courtesy of Terry Godfrey.

 

Port Meadow: 12th December

Port Meadow
6 Goosander: 4m/2f. On river upstream from Perch landing stage. 15:00.

Andrew Siantonas

Blenheim 12th December

Goosander - 3 drakes. The first for me here this winter.
Wigeon - 12
Teal - 30+. A marked increase on recent weeks.
Great White egret - 2
Little egret - 1
Snipe - 2
Redshank - 1. A bit of a surprise, only the second I've seen at Blenheim.
Common gull - 2 over this afternoon, Farmoor bound.
Kingfisher - 1

Woodstock Water Meadows
Lesser redpoll - 8



Lye Valley, Oxford: 12th December

 



A dusting of snow and finally some cold weather movement: 12 Golden Plover flew over the Lye Valley in Oxford this morning, a long-anticipated new addition to the patch list.

Sunday 11 December 2022

Saturday 10 December 2022

Standlake Pit 60: 10th December

Standlake Pit 60
2 Stonechat: m n f. Present since Thursday. 22:17.
Great White Egret: Late pm. Water is mostly frozen over. 22:17.
4 Snipe 22:17.
Marsh Harrier: m. Harassing the few remaining ducks. 22:17.
Peregrine: juv. 22:17.

Mick Cunningham

Cassington GPs 7th December's

This adult Caspian Gull was seen at Cassington on the 7th December and has an interesting history. Thanks to Terry Godfrey for sharing the research and the photo.

June 2016: Ringed at Grabendorfer See, Germany 
as a nestling.
December 2017: Observed in Asturius, Spain
August 2018: Observed at Cley Marshes, England
July 2019: Observed at Warta Boleslawicka, Poland
December 2022: Observed Cassington, England

Courtesy of Terry Godfrey.



Port Meadow: 10th December

Port Meadow
Stonechat: m.
50 Snipe: Approx count: large number to the north of the frozen floods feeding on the softer grass.

Adam Hartley

Harwell Campus - 10 December

Fieldfare © Stephen Burch

 

Stanford-in-the-Vale: 10th December

Stanford-in-the-Vale
Woodcock
11 Grey Partridge

Mark Merritt

 

Otter & wildfowl Otmoor rspb courtesy of Malcolm Bowey.

Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park: 10th December

Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park
Peregrine: ad fem. 16:05.

Nicholas Boyd

Otmoor: 10th December

Hen Harrier: Ringtail hunting over greenways 14:00. 14:12.

Luke Marriner

Above & below courtesy of Luke Marriner.





















Wantage: Lark Hill: 10th December

Wantage: Lark Hill
Woodcock: Spotted a woodcock in our garden this afternoon. Very exciting to see such a rare sight. We're fairly near Lark Hill. 15:15.

Amy Glenn

Tar Lakes: 10th December

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common
Great White Egret 09:15.
2 Shelduck: On Rushy Common. 09:15.
44 Red-crested Pochard: On Tar Lakes. 09:15.
2 Pochard: On Rushy Common. 09:15.

Glen Pascoe

Farmoor 10th

Scaup still on F1

Sent from my iPhone

Dix Pit: 10th December

Dix Pit
4 Lesser Redpoll: Feeding in alders just North of car park. 13:05.
4 Great White Egret 13:05.

Simon Bradfield

Frilford: 10th December

Frilford
Stonechat: male. Midway between Shell Garage and the River Ock on vegetation on roadside verge of A417. 10:00.

Jed Cleeter

: 10th December

Bletchingdon
15 Raven: A flock of at least 15 flew overhead kronking towards Otmoor - biggest I've seen. SP501176. 08:58.

David Watkinson

Friday 9 December 2022

Oxford: Christchurch Meadow: 9th December

Oxford: Christchurch Meadow
Black Redstart: Imm/female type on roof of Christ Church College buildings overlooking the meadow. 13:05.

Ben Sheldon

Thursday 8 December 2022

Garford: 8th December

Garford
2 Barn Owl: Hunting mid-afternoon. 14:30.
150 Lapwing: Various flocks totalling c150. 14:30.
Little Egret: Near River Ock. 14:30.
Chiffchaff: With mixed Tit flock. 14:30.
6 Goldcrest: At least with mixed Tit flocks. 14:30.
2 Kestrel: Attempting to rob a Barn Owl of its prey. 14:30.

Jed Cleeter

Oxford City 7th December

Black Redstart f at Christ Church yesterday a.m (KAW).

Tar Lakes: 8th December

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common
2 Great White Egret 15:30.
90 Red-crested Pochard 15:30.

Richard Catling

Otmoor rspb 7th December

Hen Harrier rt still present yesterday (per RBA).

Wednesday 7 December 2022

Farmoor Reservoir: 7th December

Farmoor Reservoir
Caspian Gull: 1w. dropped onto Northern edge of F1, offering close views then took off and I was unable to relocate. 12:55.
Kingfisher 12:55.
Common Sandpiper: regular bird. 12:55.
2 Stonechat: m. reedbeds to N of F1. 12:55.

Glen Pascoe

Port Meadow: 7th December

Port Meadow
2 Stonechat: m & f. Still in the thistles along the east shore of the floods.

Adam Hartley

Aston, 7th December

 

Long-tailed Tit © David Hastings

Grimsbury Reservoir: 7th December

Grimsbury Reservoir
Dunlin
Goosander: redhead.

Gareth Blockley

 

Pied Wagtail courtesy of Caroline Walker.

Chimney: Chimney Meadows: 7th December

Chimney: Chimney Meadows
30 Egyptian Goose 11:00.

Denis Kennedy

Tuesday 6 December 2022

Appleford: Appleford GP: 6th December

Appleford: Appleford GP
Great White Egret 13:39.
Red-crested Pochard: With 5 Pochard & a female Ring-necked duck. Flew from the river pit across Thames where a shoot was in progress. Hope they survived. . 13:39.
Ring-necked Duck: fem. 13:39.

William Lester

Kestrel over Otmoor courtesy of Malcolm Bowey.

 

Woodstock: Woodstock Church: 6th December

Woodstock: Woodstock Church
Hawfinch: Single bird seen twice in church yard in yew tree. 11:00.

Gareth Casburn

Blenheim: 6th December

Blenheim
Caspian Gull: Adult again. 09:00.
4 Teal 09:00.
Wigeon: Single female. 09:00.
2 Great White Egret 09:00.
Peregrine: Female on monument. 09:00.
Meadow Pipit 09:00.
2 Kingfisher 09:00.

Gareth Casburn

Bicester Wetland Reserve 6th December

 2 Stonechat on posts in the meadow behind new ditch pool
1 Kingfisher Works Pool

Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Monday 5 December 2022

Port Meadow: 5th December

Port Meadow
Caspian Gull: ad.
3 Yellow-legged Gull: 2 x ad, 2w.

Adam Hartley


Some video footage of the adult Caspian Gull

Fyfield Wick: 5th December

5th December

Fyfield Wick
50 Golden Plover: Flew high East. 13:36.
80 Lapwing: Put up by Peregrine. 14:00.
Peregrine: male. Through hunting to the south. 14:00.
215 Greenfinch: Counted in to roost this evening and is a record number for this roost. 16:00.
Sparrowhawk: male. The splendid looking regular adult Male made 2 attempts to grab a Greenfinch trying to get into the roost and then sat giving great close views. 16:00.

Jed Cleeter

Blenheim 5th December

Caspian gull - adult again this morning giving good views over both lakes. At one point it hassled the otter that was swimming with a fish.

Great white egret - 3

Little egret - 2

Peregrine - 2

Snipe - 5

Cetti's warbler - 1