Blog Header Text
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
Oxford 31st December
Milton-under-Wychwood 31st December
Standlake: 31st December
Ring-necked Duck 2, mf still on 27
Goosander 24, pit 27
Friday 30 December 2022
Oxford 30th December
Rushy Common: 30th December
Pintail: fem. In with wigeon. 13:37.
Great White Egret 13:37.
Pintail: fem. In with wigeon. 13:37.
Mick Cunningham
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 |
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.
Standlake Pit 60: 29th December
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
Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course: 29th December
Woodcock 17:54.
Barn Owl 17:54.
Luke Marriner
: 29th December
2 Raven: A pair overhead at daybreak calling loudly. SU6883.
John Taylor
Port Meadow: 29th December
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
Bittern: Right hand end of the reedbed at the north end of the lake. 16:12.
Marek Walford
Appleford GPs: 29th December
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
Port Meadow: 29th December
6 Goosander: 4males 2 fem. Near to St Edward's rowing club. SP487094. 08:27.
Matthew Southwell
Wednesday 28 December 2022
Chimney: Chimney Meadows: 28th December
2 Marsh Harrier: fem/imm and a subadult male.
Pintail
Egyptian Goose
550 Lapwing
19 Snipe
Woodcock
Mark Merritt
Kings Lock: 28th December
2 Stonechat: In the favoured location by Thames path upstream from King's Lock. 15:30.
Andrew Siantonas
Dix Pit 28th December
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
136 Teal
2 Wigeon
Raven
Little Egret
Little Owl: Calling at about 11 am, near Park Farm.
Tom Evans
Port Meadow: 27th December
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
Port Meadow 27th December
Fyfield Wick: 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
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
Sunday 25 December 2022
Stanford-in-the-Vale: 23rd December
Merlin: male. Perched on small tree by A417- per Josh Cleeter. 13:00.
Jed Cleeter
Saturday 24 December 2022
Kingston Bagpuize: 24th December
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
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
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
Merlin: fem/imm.
2 Grey Partridge
3 Raven
10 Corn Bunting
Golden Plover
Mark Merritt
Friday 23 December 2022
Otmoor 23rd December
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
Abingdon: Peep-o-Day Lane: 22nd December
Great White Egret: On the right hand side of the path standing on the bank of the stream. 03:30.
Harrison Silcock
Marsh Baldon: 23rd December
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 |
Thursday 22 December 2022
Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 22nd December
Marsh Harrier: Hunting low over the reeds. 11:00.
Harrison Silcock
Blenheim: 22nd December
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
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
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
Lesser Redpoll: On feeder in garden. SU565999. 11:35.
Paul Torevell
Fyfield Wick: 21st December
Grey Plover: Flew West fairly high over garden calling. A garden & patch tick. 14:42.
Jed Cleeter
Standlake: 21st December
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
4 Chiffchaff: Together. 18:24.
Mick Cunningham
Hinton Waldrist: 20th December
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
8 Goosander: 4m/4f. On river upstream from Perch landing stage. 15:00.
Andrew Siantonas
Port Meadow: 20th December
Monday 19 December 2022
Appleford: Appleford GP: 19th December
Great White Egret: Looking unhealthy. 15:00.
Red-crested Pochard 15:00.
William Lester
Sunday 18 December 2022
Otmoor 18 December
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
Courtesy of Andy Last. |
Courtesy of Yacky Morris |
Male Goldeneye courtesy of Brian Walker. |
Fyfield Wick: 17th December
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.
Standlake: 17th December
Goosander 5, pit 27
Pintail 1, pit 27
Goldeneye 2, pit 27
Little Owl 1
Snipe 2, pit 60
Otmoor: 16th December
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
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
Friday 16 December 2022
Water Eaton: 16th December
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
Kingfisher 1
Henley Road GPs: 16th December
Great White Egret: On the north bank of the heronry lake. 15:26.
Marek Walford
Oxford: Christchurch Meadow: 16th December
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
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
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
Oxford: Christchurch Meadow: 15th December
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
Firecrest: In ivy covered trees by Jackdaw Lane entrance. Also 1 Chiffchaff here. 12:30.
Ben Sheldon
Wednesday 14 December 2022
Fyfield Wick: 14th December
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
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
Oxford: Aston's Eyot: 13th December
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
Snow Geese 87
Scaup f (per RBA)
Port Meadow: 12th December
6 Goosander: 4m/2f. On river upstream from Perch landing stage. 15:00.
Andrew Siantonas
Blenheim 12th December
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
Christchurch Oxford 11th December
Saturday 10 December 2022
Standlake Pit 60: 10th December
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.
Courtesy of Terry Godfrey. |
Port Meadow: 10th December
Stonechat: m.
50 Snipe: Approx count: large number to the north of the frozen floods feeding on the softer grass.
Adam Hartley
Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park: 10th December
Peregrine: ad fem. 16:05.
Nicholas Boyd
Otmoor: 10th December
Wantage: Lark Hill: 10th December
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
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
Dix Pit: 10th December
4 Lesser Redpoll: Feeding in alders just North of car park. 13:05.
4 Great White Egret 13:05.
Simon Bradfield
Frilford: 10th December
Stonechat: male. Midway between Shell Garage and the River Ock on vegetation on roadside verge of A417. 10:00.
Jed Cleeter
: 10th December
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
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
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
Tar Lakes: 8th December
2 Great White Egret 15:30.
90 Red-crested Pochard 15:30.
Richard Catling
Wednesday 7 December 2022
Farmoor Reservoir: 7th December
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
2 Stonechat: m & f. Still in the thistles along the east shore of the floods.
Adam Hartley
Chimney: Chimney Meadows: 7th December
30 Egyptian Goose 11:00.
Denis Kennedy
Tuesday 6 December 2022
Appleford: Appleford GP: 6th December
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
Woodstock: Woodstock Church: 6th December
Hawfinch: Single bird seen twice in church yard in yew tree. 11:00.
Gareth Casburn
Blenheim: 6th December
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
Caspian Gull: ad.
3 Yellow-legged Gull: 2 x ad, 2w.
Adam Hartley
Fyfield Wick: 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