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 30 September 2023

South Leigh: 30th September

South Leigh
2 Raven 18:20.

Richard Catling

Chipping Norton: 30th September

Chipping Norton
2 Raven: Over woods near Chastleton W of CN. SP258283. 14:00.
16 House Martin: SP258283. 14:00.

Steve Akers

Farmoor Reservoir: 30th September

Farmoor Reservoir
Great White Egret: On Shrike Meadow with a couple of Little Egrets. SP438060. 11:00.

Brian Walker

Courtesy of Brian Walker.


Caulcot: 30th September

Caulcot
24 Golden Plover 10:24.
4 Grey Partridge 10:24.

Colin Oram

Didcot Lydalls Road: 30th September

Didcot Lydalls Road
Ring-necked Parakeet: Flew through garden. SU524904. 07:29.

William Lester

Friday 29 September 2023

Chipping Norton: 29th September

Chipping Norton
Raven: Over woods near Chastleton W of CN. SP258283. 15:30.
Kestrel: SP258283. 15:30.
30 House Martin: SP258283. 15:30.

Steve Akers

Standlake Pit 60: 29th September

Standlake Pit 60
3 Marsh Harrier: As I've suspected for a few days, a new cream crown has joined the regular juv cream crown and the adult male that appears periodically. The cream crowns are v similar but there are subtle plumage differences. 15:38.
Great White Egret 15:38.
Hobby: juv. Hunting ... High over reserve. 15:38.
44 Teal 15:38.
2 Shoveler 15:38.
Meadow Pipit: 22. 15:38.

Mick Cunningham

Sarsgrove: 29th September

Sarsgrove
Whinchat: ad male. With the Stonechat. 10:30.
4 Stonechat: 2m, 2f. 10:30.
100 Meadow Pipit: At least 100 probably more. 10:30.
18 Skylark 10:30.
3 House Martin 10:30.
8 Buzzard: Five over Sarsgrove Wood; three very high over toward Chipping Norton. 10:30.

Steve Akers

Green Sandpipers Bicester Wetlands
Courtesy of Patricia Clissold.

 

Farmoor Reservoir 29th September

Mediterranean Gull 1w F2 a.m (D.L)

Rock Pipit along causeway yesterday.

Thursday 28 September 2023

Farmoor Reservoir: 28th September

Caspian Gull 1w early evening 
Cattle Egret

(per Lew)

30 Barnacle Goose: approx. 11:00.
80 Snow Goose: Approx. 11:00.
2 Common Sandpiper 11:00.
10 House Martin: Minimum. 11:00.
Wheatear 11:00.
Yellow-legged Gull 11:00.
4 Grey Wagtail 11:00.

(per Simon Cousins, J Blunt)

Caspian Gull courtesy of Lew


Notice Otmoor rspb

Unfortunately there has been a recent spate of cars being broken in to and valuables taken at the Otmoor rspb carpark.
PLEASE do not leave anything of value on view in your car.

Sarsgrove: 28th September

Sarsgrove
5 Stonechat: 3m, 2f. SP303250. 10:00.
120 Meadow Pipit: Mippits everywhere - filling the sky - beautiful! SP303250. 10:00.
2 Chiffchaff: SP303250. 10:00.
23 Swallow: SP303250. 10:00.
11 Yellowhammer: SP303250. 10:00.
Kestrel: juv fem. SP303250. 10:00.

Steve Akers

Wednesday 27 September 2023

Sarsgrove: 27th September

Sarsgrove
70 Goldfinch: Large flock by Sarsgrove Farm. 16:30.
23 Meadow Pipit 16:30.
7 Mistle Thrush 16:30.
40 Starling 16:30.
2 Kestrel 16:30.

Steve Akers

Farmoor - 27 September 2023

 

5 Adult Whooper Swans. Initially on F2, they left to the East at 1150 before returning onto F1 and then leaving at 1240

Chipping Norton: 27th September

Chipping Norton
2 Stonechat: ad male. In scrub beyond small lake near Cornwell. 11:00.
2 Chiffchaff 11:00.
40 Swallow: 40 probably more migrating through. 11:00.
6 House Martin 11:00.
7 Meadow Pipit 11:00.
2 Reed Bunting: ad male. 11:00.
Kestrel: ad. 11:00.

Steve Akers

Tuesday 26 September 2023

Chipping Norton: 26th September

Chipping Norton
2 Spotted Flycatcher: Close to small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 16:30.
4 Stonechat: 2m, 2f. SP283268. 16:30.
2 Chiffchaff: SP283268. 16:30.
18 House Martin: SP283268. 16:30.
2 Reed Bunting: SP283268. 16:30.
7 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 16:30.

Steve Akers

Hobby with Swallow Culham 23/9 courtesy of Jim Bennett.

 

Aston Upthorpe: 26th September

Aston Upthorpe
4 Whinchat: Two separate groups of 2 2 located at SU537828 and the other 2 at SU543828. SU537828. 18:00.
3 Stonechat: SU544828. 18:00.

Steve Violette

Farmoor Reservoir 26th September

No sign of the 1w Grey Phalarope
Common Sandpiper 2
Dunlin 
Yellow-legged Gull 

(per Jacek, D.Dine)

Courtesy of D.Dine



Long Hanborough: 26th September

Long Hanborough
3 Spotted Flycatcher: SP406143. 13:14.

Emma Hollis

Sarsgrove: 26th September

Sarsgrove
4 Stonechat: 2m, 2f. 10:15.
24 Meadow Pipit 10:15.
Kestrel 10:15.

Steve Akers

Woodstock: Shipton Slade Farm: 25th September

Woodstock: Shipton Slade Farm
500 Goldfinch: At least 500 flying to and from a field of sheep alongside Sansom's Lane near Budds Close.
10 Skylark: At least 10 in field near Budds Close.

Woodstock
2 House Martin: still feeding young at nest site in Randolph Avenue.

Bob Pomfret

Monday 25 September 2023

Aston Upthorpe: 25th September

Whinchat
Stonechat
Wheatear

John Taylor

Blenheim: 25th September

Blenheim
2 Great White Egret: Roosted on Queen Pool island with 3 little egrets. No remaining cattle egrets. 19:15.

Gareth Casburn

Farmoor Reservoir 25th September

Grey Phalarope 1w still present on F1 off of the N/E bank late afternoon. 
(D.L H.W & Ralph Watts, RBA).

Dunlin (per Ralph Watts).
Goosander 18:45 off S/W bank ofF2 with Greylag flock (per Steve Sansom).

No sign of reported Black-necked Grebe or Scaup.

Goosander courtesy of Steve Sansom.


Chinnor: 25th September

Chinnor
Wheatear: In field south of barn. SP753018. 13:00.
Raven: Flying north. SP753018. 13:00.

David Stracey

Chalgrove: 25th September

Chalgrove
Reed Warbler: by Monument Business Park. 14:30.

Nicholas Boyd

Chipping Norton: 25th September

Chipping Norton
2 Raven: Over Chastleton Down woods W of CN. 10:00.

Steve Akers

Green Woodpecker Culham 23/9 
Courtesy of Jim Bennett.

 

Otmoor rspb 25th September

Crane 3 this morning but mobile (K.N).

Sunday 24 September 2023

Farmoor Reservoir 24th September

Black-necked Grebe reported on F2 17:15 (per RBA)
Scaup female type reported 23/9 (per Birdguides).

3 Yellow Wagtail: 3 flavas on east bank F1. 
(Per Mick Cunningham).

Farmoor Reservoir: 24th September

Grey Phalarope: still on F2 close by causeway
18:00 (per Peter Law et al).

Turnstone 6 (per SNT)



Standlake Pit 60: 24th September

Standlake Pit 60
Marsh Harrier: juv. Usual individual. 13:36.
Hobby: juv. High over pit. Hassled by crows. 13:36.
44 Teal 13:36.
Sparrowhawk 13:36.
Great White Egret 13:36.
2 Shoveler 13:36.
Lapwing: 20. 13:36.
14 Cormorant: No DCC! 13:36.

Mick Cunningham

Farmoor Reservoir; 24 September 2023

10-11:00

Grey Phalarope (F2 causeway)



Turnstone 6 (F2 causeway briefly)



Common Sandpiper 3

Old Caley's Diary

Farmoor

Grey Phalarope 



Sarsgrove: 24th September

Sarsgrove
3 Stonechat: 1m, 2f. Still present. 18:30.

Steve Akers

Grey Phalarope Farmoor Reservoir courtesy of Kyle Smith.

Birdwatch Britannia

 


Saturday 23 September 2023

Carterton/Alvescot: 23rd September

Carterton/Alvescot
300 Meadow Pipit: late pm. firstly - at least a 100 put up from stubble by a sparrowhawk. Later I noted flocks totalling c200 descending from very high = c200. 20:43.
11 Yellowhammer: put up by sparrowhawk. 20:43.
2 Siskin: heard twice overhead, nut not seen. Not a wooded area and not recorded here by me. Both times mipits were in the air too. 20:43.

Mick Cunningham

Lye Valley, Oxford: 23rd September

 

Adult male Sparrowhawk, also the first Lesser Redpoll and Siskin of the autumn overhead. 

Farmoor Reservoir 23rd September

GREY PHALAROPE found by Dave Lowe and still present off N/E bank of F1. 17:16.
(per Yacky Morris, Glen Pascoe, Nick Truby et al).



Marsh Harrier over F1 09:42 (per Dave Lowe).
No sign of the Common Scoter.

Courtesy of Yacky Morris.



Courtesy of Dave Lowe.

Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course: 23rd September

Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course
2 Stonechat 08:30.
12 Meadow Pipit 08:30.
27 Little Grebe 08:30.
3 Cormorant 08:30.
Grey Wagtail 08:30.
4 Gadwall 08:30.
15 Chiffchaff 08:30.
15 Linnet 08:30.
35 Swallow 08:30.
3 Yellow Wagtail 08:30.

Nick Marriner

Friday 22 September 2023

Farmoor Reservoir 22nd September

Common Scoter still present on F2 off of western bank 17:14 (D.L)
Turnstone 2 along causeway 10:25 (per RBA).
Great white Egret flew south over F1 17:17 (A.L)
Goosander 19:10 at southern end of F2 (D.L)

Common Scoter courtesy of D.L.


Farmoor Reservoir: 22nd September

Farmoor Reservoir
Mediterranean Gull: 1st cyc. 19:10.

Mick Cunningham

Farmoor, 22nd September

 

Turnstones © David Hastings

Sarsgrove: 22nd September

22nd September

Sarsgrove
3 Stonechat: SP305250. 10:30.
Raven: SP305250. 10:30.
100 Swallow: Over 100 through from 10.00-11.00 migrating low and fast in a line North/South over the fields and over Sarsgrove Wood - this seems a traditional established route for generations of Hirundines and I have observed this here over many years. SP305250. 10:00.
50 House Martin: In mixed groups with Swallow. SP305250. 10:00.
15 Meadow Pipit: SP305250. 10:00.
8 Skylark: SP305250. 10:00.

Steve Akers

Port Meadow: 22nd September

Port Meadow
50 Barnacle Goose: In middle of meadow opposite Burgess Field gate. 13:40.
Goosander: fem. On river upstream of the Perch. Possibly juvenile as it appeared small. 13:40.

Andrew Siantonas

Otmoor rspb 22nd September

Cattle Egret 18
Crane 3 (2 unringed birds on Ashgrave).

(per Richard Ebbs).

Thursday 21 September 2023

Sarsgrove: 21st September

Sarsgrove
115 Meadow Pipit: Large number of Meadow Pippit circling over field closest to road and settled to roost; smaller groups on wires cleaning and preening feathers. 18:00.
Raven 18:00.
80 Goldfinch: Close to the equestrian yard. 18:00.
3 Mistle Thrush 18:00.
Yellowhammer: male. Flying with the Pippits. 18:00.
Kestrel: juv. 18:00.

Steve Akers

Farmoor Reservoir 21st September

Common Scoter above and below courtesy of Bryan Manston.



Chinnor: Chinnor Hill: 21st September

Chinnor: Chinnor Hill
Firecrest: 100 metres north of the car park. SP767003. 10:00.

David Stracey

Farmoor Reservoir 21st September

3 Knot: on F1 causeway. 11:00 -11:15 then flew north.

Common Scoter: drake. Still on F2, viewable from causeway. 11:30.

(per Peter Law)

Both photos courtesy of Peter Law.

Three Knot along F1 causeway from 11:00 to 11:15, then flushed by moving vehicle and flew north

A fourth (?) Knot at 11:50

Grimsbury Reservoir: 21st September

Grimsbury Reservoir
Wheatear
3 Common Sandpiper

Gareth Blockley

Wednesday 20 September 2023

Farmoor Reservoir 20th September

Common Scoter still on F2 off of western bank near hide at 17:53 (per Paul Butler).

Tuesday 19 September 2023

Farmoor Reservoir 19th September

Caspian Gull imm in roost (per Mick Cunningham).

Stanton St. John: Stanton St. John Pit: 19th September

Stanton St. John: Stanton St. John Pit
21 Little Grebe
110 Mallard
14 Tufted Duck

Blenheim: Queen Pool
2 Great White Egret
2 Cattle Egret
Little Egret
31 Gadwall
Sand Martin: with 100 + house martins feeding over the lake.
100 House Martin: At least 100, probably many more, feeding over the lake.

Bob Pomfret

Sonning Eye GPs: 19th September

Sonning Eye GPs
Yellow-legged Gull: ad. 12:54.

Marek Walford

Harwell Laboratory: Rutherford Laboratory: 19th September

Harwell Laboratory: Rutherford Laboratory
Hobby

Mark Merritt

Monday 18 September 2023

Farmoor Reservoir 18th September



1700-1830hrs

Black Tern 1 - juvenile
Ringed Plover 1

Tubney/Frilford Heath Golf Course: 17th September.

Dartford Warbler: one recorded calling yesterday at dusk, just south of Tubney, where the public footpath begins to cross Frilford Heath Golf Course, about here (per Jan Kamler). 

Farmoor

Knot - 2 
Ringed Plover - 5 (1 on causeway and 4 flying over F2)





Sarsgrove: 18th September

Sarsgrove
4 Stonechat: 2m, 2f. In hedge close to Sarsgrove Farm (Private Rd). SP304246. 11:00.
Yellow Wagtail: SP304246. 11:00.
3 Pied Wagtail: SP304246. 11:00.
5 Meadow Pipit: Feeding close by the Stonechat. SP304246. 11:00.
60 Goldfinch: Large flock perched on wires over the equestrian yard. SP304246. 11:00.
6 Mistle Thrush: 3 adults, 3 juv. SP304246. 11:00.
2 Kestrel: Juv made unsuccessful attempt to predate goldfinch flock - everything scattered for cover. SP304246. 11:00.
20 House Martin: Flying through heading SSE. SP304246. 11:00.
5 Swallow: SP304246. 11:00.

Steve Akers

Otmoor rspb 18th September

Crane 2 on the Closes 11:37 (K.N)

All photos courtesy of Richard Stevens.






Woodstock: Old Woodstock: 18th September

Woodstock: Old Woodstock
Stonechat: In field adjacent to Field Barn Farm. 09:30.

Gareth Casburn

Farmoor Reservoir 18th September

Knot 2 along causeway 09:32 

(per Conor MacKenzie) 

Sunday 17 September 2023

Sarsgrove: 17th September

Sarsgrove
3 Stonechat 18:15.
Swallow 18:15.
Green Woodpecker 18:15.

Steve Akers

Farmoor 17th evening

2 Ruff
Dunlin
2 ringed plover
Yellow wagtail

Morning:
1 Ruff through
Peregrine
4 common sandpiper


Sent from my iPhone

Ringed Plover Farmoor Reservoir 16/9
Courtesy of John Workman.

 

Chipping Norton: 17th September

Chipping Norton
Peregrine: ad male. At the small lake near Cornwell - flew over quite low heading SE over the copse and toward CN - put up lots of the local Stock Dove and Wood Pidgeon. SP283268. 13:00.
3 Reed Bunting: SP283268. 13:00.
10 Swallow: SP283268. 13:00.
6 House Martin: SP283268. 13:00.
3 Chiffchaff: SP283268. 13:00.

Steve Akers

Saturday 16 September 2023

Farmoor Reservoir: 16th September

Farmoor Reservoir
Caspian Gull: 1st cycle. evening roost. 23:34.
Common Sandpiper 23:34.
Ringed Plover: juv. 23:34.

Mick Cunningham

Churn: 16th September

Churn
4 Stonechat: 2m, 2f. 17:30.
30 Linnet 17:30.
2 Yellowhammer: m. 17:30.

Steve Akers

Blewbury: 16th September

Blewbury
2 Wheatear: In ploughed field beneath Blewbury Hill near footpath. 16:00.

Steve Akers

Shilton: 16th September

Shilton
2 Spotted Flycatcher: Possibly more. 15:04.

Mick Cunningham

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 15th September

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
3 Great White Egret
Cattle Egret: 1.
6 Little Egret
2 Kingfisher
24 Barnacle Goose
6 Egyptian Goose
Mandarin Duck: male.
Teal: fem.
4 Shoveler
30 Great Crested Grebe

Bob Pomfret

Sarsgrove: 16th September

Sarsgrove
Peregrine: Circled over then flew S over Sarsgrove Wood. 10:30.
2 Stonechat: ad pair. 10:30.
Raven: High over. 10:30.
Green Woodpecker: H/O. 10:30.
20 Goldfinch 10:30.
6 Swallow 10:30.

Steve Akers

Dix Pit: 16th September

Dix Pit
Kingfisher: My first record in nearly 30 visits over 2.5 years. 09:15.
Willow Warbler: With group of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Lont Tailed Tits, Goldcrest... chased away by a Chiffchaff. 09:15.
4 Wigeon: 1m3f. 09:15.

Glen Pascoe

Bicester Wetland Reserve Saturday 16th September

 37 Snipe
6 Green Sandpiper
80 Teal
8 Gadwall
1 Kingfisher
2 Cetti's Warbler

A Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Otmoor rspb 16th September

Crane 3 on Ashgrave 08:22 (J.U).


Farmoor Reservoir 16th September

Ringed Plover 3 (per Andy Last).

Friday 15 September 2023

Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park: 15th September

Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park
Redstart: f.
Also, on Wednesday per Steve Lavington


Adam Hartley

Farmoor Reservoir 15th September



Mediterranean Gull 1  -  juvenile moulting into first winter plumage
Ringed Plover 2
Dunlin 4

Blewbury 15th September

Manx Shearwater taken in to care at Oxford Wildlife Rescue.

Farmoor Reservoir 15th September

Ringed Plover 2
Dunlin 3
Common Sandpiper 
Little Egret 

(Per CRW)

Woodstock 15th September

In the fields north of Woodstock.

Cattle egret - 6 with the cattle near Stratford Bridge. 7 yesterday in the perfect part of the field for viewing them. 

Hundreds of swallows and house martins moving south yesterday and today. Meadow pipits noticeable too.

Lesser whitethroat - 1

Bullfinch - 4





 


Chipping Norton: 15th September

Chipping Norton
70 Swallow: Swallow gathering to migrate - Oxon/Glocs border near Chastleton. SP253275. 10:00.
4 Chiffchaff: SP253275. 10:00.

Steve Akers

Thursday 14 September 2023

Farmoor Reservoir 14th September



Little Gull 1 juvenile present until dusk
Caspian Gull 1w 16:00 (per RBA)
Mediterranean Gull 1 juvenile in gull roost
Dunlin 3
Common Sandpiper 2
Common Starling leucistic individual still
Little Egret 6


Farmoor - 14 Sept 2023

Juv/1st winter Little Gull

Juv Med Gull

3 Common Gulls

3 Dunlin




Little Gull

Chinnor: Cement Works: 14th September

Chinnor: Cement Works
Spotted Flycatcher: South of Fishing Lake. 11:00.

David Stracey

Farmoor Reservoir: 14th September

Farmoor Reservoir
Hobby: Forgot to add this. 18:54.

Mick Cunningham

Faringdon 14th September

Yellow-browed Warbler reported at Eaton Wood 
c51.6651-1.6250 (per RBA).

Willow Warbler Devils Punchbowl Courtesy of Lew.

RSPB Otmoor 14 September

Hobby 2
Kestrel 2
Marsh Harrier 1
Cattle Egret 8
Little Egret 2


Standlake Pit 60: 14th September

Standlake Pit 60
Marsh Harrier: juv. The cream crown with brown breast and small pale shoulder patch. 15:53.
2 Common Sandpiper 15:53.

Mick Cunningham

Hobby Otmoor rspb 
Courtesy of Mitch Harris

 

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 14th September

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Crane: Calling from Ashgrave outside wetlands watch hide. 15:38.

J Blunt

Farmoor Reservoir: 14th September

Farmoor Reservoir
Turnstone: juv. Flew in from North. Landed bit flushed by walkers. Went NE. could still be around. Thought I heard rock pipit but couldn't see so not recorded. Worth a look for. 13:48.
Dunlin: juv. With some 1w scaps. 13:48.

Mick Cunningham

Wednesday 13 September 2023

Farmoor (Pinkhill) 13th September

 

Little Egret © David Hastings

Iffley Meadows 13th September

Whinchat (per Wayne Bull).


Farmoor Reservoir 13th September


Dunlin 8
Ringed Plover 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Little Egret 7
Water Rail 1
Common Raven 2

Yellow Wagtail 1
Common Starling 1  leucistic individual still in starling flock around the works buildings


Sarsgrove: 13th September

Sarsgrove
31 Meadow Pipit 17:30.
Green Woodpecker: juv. 17:30.
Kestrel: fem. 17:30.

Steve Akers

Church Farm Backwaters, Day's Lock, 13/9/23

 Juv/female Garganey, still present but elusive.

Cattle Egret, at least 9 this a m.

Great White Egret, ACX colour ring from RSPB Ham Wall still present.

Little Egret, 3.

Ruff, 2 flew over south 

Golden Plover, 1 over.

Hobby.









Blenheim 13th September

Barnacle goose - 30 of the naturalised UK flock have been present for a few days. I managed to see a couple with yellow darvic rings. Sightings can be reported on the Waterbird Colour-Marking Group website. Below shows the history of a couple of these birds present at Blenheim.