Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 31st January

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
3 Marsh Harrier: 2f, 1m. 15:00.
Kestrel 15:00.
Great White Egret 15:00.
5 Grey Heron 15:00.
1000 Golden Plover: Estimate. 15:00.
3 Snipe: Pair over and heard at dusk. 15:00.
2 Water Rail 15:00.
5 Cetti's Warbler 15:00.

Steve Akers

Otmoor

White-fronted Goose - 2+ distantly on Ashgrave

Jack Snipe - flushed by Marsh Harrier along with a group of Snipe

Dunlin - 25+

Ruff 

Appleford: 31st January

On partially flooded farmland near Appleford Level Crossing: 
Caspian Gull - 1 seen
Black-backed Gull - 300+
Herring Gull - 75+
Great Black-backed Gull - 2 seen
Black-headed Gull - 20+

Adult Caspian Gull from today (in centre of frame)

Blenheim: 31st January

Blenheim
Oystercatcher: Possibly one of last year's returning birds. 20th Feb was the first record last year. 14:00.

Gareth Casburn

Chipping Norton: 30th January

Chipping Norton
2 Stonechat: On bramble bushes on Addlestrop Hill. SP257286. 14:00.
2 Brambling: fem. In the Chaffinch and Tit flock in the Beech woods. SP257286. 14:00.
Sparrowhawk: juv. Hunting low just outside the wood - they are very active here - seeing them almost daily. SP257286. 14:00.

Steve Akers

Otmoor rspb 30th January

White-fronted Goose 4 still present (P.W).

Farmoor Reservoir 30th January

Marsh Harrier 

Oystercatcher 

(D.J)

Courtesy of Bryan Manston.

Churn/Blewbury Down: 30th January

1 Yellow-legged Gull
40+Lesser Black-backed Gull
20+ Common Gull
500+ Lapwing (right on Berks county boundary - mobile)
100+ Golden Plover (In and amongst Lapwing flock)
20+ Corn Bunting
15+ Meadow Pipit 

Adult Yellow-legged Gull from today (still frame from a video)

Bicester Wetland Reserve 30th January

 1 Green Sandpiper
13 Gadwall
270 Teal
2 Little Egret 
3 Shoveler

1 Sparrowhawk caught a Great Tit

A Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Stonefield Common 29th January

Jack Snipe amongst 61 Common Snipe

(per Paul Wren).

Port Meadow 29th January

6 shelduck

2 gadwall

c.60 shoveler

c.20 pintail

1 GWE

9 dunlin

1 redshank

1w Casp gull

1 sibe chiff (ringed)

1 peregrine unsuccessfully going for mixed wader flock

(per Joe Woodman).

Chipping Norton: 29th January

Chipping Norton
18 Lapwing: Over. SP201265. 14:30.
Little Egret: On new wetland area near Swailsford Bridge. SP201265. 14:30.
4 Grey Heron: SP201265. 14:30.

Steve Akers

Farmoor 29th January

Great northern diver 

Mediterranean gull - 1 adult in roost

Dunlin - 1

Common sandpiper - 1

Cowley, Oxford: 29th January

 42 Ring-necked Parakeets in a tree behind Iffley Turn Practice at dusk today

RSPB Otmoor WeBS Count 29th January

Barnacle goose - 1
Black-headed gull - 24
Canada goose - 609
Coot - 192
Cormorant - 3
Curlew - 2
Dunlin - 11
Egyptian goose - 2
White-fronted goose - 4
Gadwall - 56
Golden plover - 750
Great-crested grebe - 1
Grey heron - 4
Grey plover - 1
Lapwing - 6752
Mallard - 149
Moorhen - 6
Mute swan - 5
Pintail - 498
Pochard - 36
Ruff - 5
Shelduck - 3
Shoveler - 741
Snipe - 42
Teal - 3266
Tufted duck - 124
Water rail - 2
Wigeon - 2190

Otmoor rspb 29th January

White-fronted Goose 4 still on Ashgrave 16:00 

(per Gareth Casburn, Glen Pascoe et al). 

Otmoor - 28 January

Four Eurasian White-fronted Geese on the closes this afternoon. I think one adult and three first winters: adult clearly standing guard while the youngsters grazed.

Red-crested Pochard 2 from the 2nd screen

Ruff

Dunlin 40+

(per Bark).

Hen Harrier ringtail hunting at dusk over the moor just as Starling arriving- stunning.

Merlin 15:30.

3 Marsh Harrier: Seen throughout the afternoon hunting along the hedge line and over the reed beds - one on ground in late afternoon eating prey. 15:30.
3000 Lapwing: Estimated number across the reserve - huge numbers circling in the air with Golden Plover flocks filling the sky. 15:30.
2000 Golden Plover 15:30.
2 Snipe 15:30.
30 Shoveler 15:30.
3 Water Rail 15:30.
4 Cetti's Warbler 15:30.
3 Stonechat: 2 male; 1 fem. 15:30.

(per Steve Akers)

Shifford: 28th January

Shifford
Chiffchaff: In overgrown orchard near church. 17:58.

Mick Cunningham

Standlake Pit 60: 28th January

Standlake Pit 60
300 Pintail: Approximate .. Between 270 and 300. 17:43.
Nuthatch: Only second record for the site. 17:43.
2 Marsh Harrier: m and f. 17:43.
2 Great White Egret: Water level falling. 17:43.
Blackcap: m. 17:43.
Chiffchaff 17:43.
3 Goldeneye: 1 m 2 bh. Amongst good numbers of wigeon teal and other ducks. 17:43.
3 Goosander: 1 m 2 f. 17:43.

Mick Cunningham

Nuneham Courtenay: Nuneham Courtenay Arboretum: 28th January

Nuneham Courtenay: Nuneham Courtenay Arboretum
Stonechat: male.

Bob Pomfret

Milcombe: 28th January

Milcombe
Sparrowhawk: Beautiful, but not useful while doing Big Garden Birdwatch! 14:45.

Mary Clifton

Port Meadow: 28th January

Port Meadow
Great White Egret 10:38.
4 Egyptian Goose 10:38.
8 Dunlin 10:38.
26 Golden Plover 10:38.

Ian Elkins

Siberian Chiffchaff (unringed) near the gate to Burgess Field (per Steve Jennings).

Farmoor Jan 28th (am)

Great northern Diver - Juv still on south side of f2
Lapwing - 600
Dunlin - 14
Snow goose - 88
Sent from my iPhone

Woodstock: Woodstock Water Meadows: 27th January

Woodstock: Woodstock Water Meadows
Brambling 13:00.

Tom Evans

Radley GP: Thrupp Lake: 27th January

Radley GP: Thrupp Lake
2 Goosander: male. 14:30.

Adrienne Hopkins

John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford: 27th January

 At least 300 Pied Wagtails in the roost at 17:00 

Port Meadow: 27th January

Port Meadow
6 Pintail: male and fem. SP493086. 17:21.

Matthew Southwell

Kings Lock: 27th January

Kings Lock
120 Barnacle Goose: In field by Thames Path upstream from King's Lock. 17:10.
6 Stonechat: 3m/3f. By Thames Path upstream from King's Lock. 17:10.

Andrew Siantonas

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common: 27th January

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common
Great White Egret: Edge of Rushy Common. 13:20.
Oystercatcher: Early FoY - usually arrives late Feb. 13:20.
Caspian Gull: Briefly flew in over Rushy Common and landed on the island, took off after only a few mins heading West. 13:20.
2 Red-crested Pochard: pair on the Rushy Common island. 13:20.
2 Snipe: new workings opposite car park. 13:20.
6 Teal: lower numbers compared to previous years - landscape of the new workings area has changed a lot, water levels elsewhere generally high. 13:20.
Scaup: fem. flew in with small flock on male Tufted Duck, settled near to the hide. My 100th species recorded at this site in 78 visits over just under 3 years! 13:20.

Glen Pascoe

Port Meadow: 27th January

Port Meadow
2 Siberian Chiffchaff: Ringed & unringed bird.
Great White Egret
Redshank
Stonechat: f.
4 Dunlin
63 Pintail
Great Crested Grebe

Steve Lavington, Mary McDougall

Wytham Woods south side

3 Cattle Egrets still in field by black barn at 10:30
Sent from my iPhone

Abingdon, 27th

Peep o day lane,

Cattle egret 1
2 shelduck
Stonechat
Corn bunting


Sent from my iPhone

Farmoor Jan 27th (a.m.)

 Great Northern Diver - 1 Juv still present on south side of F2 

Shelduck - 2 flew through 

Wigeon - 18 

Goosander - pair on the Thames 

Dunlin - 1

Siskin - 1 

Snow Goose - 88. free flying feral flock present in fields to the south 

Barnacle Goose - 30. as per Snow Goose

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 26th January

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Bittern: - many thanks to James. 16:00.
1000 Lapwing: Estimate. 16:00.
3 Marsh Harrier 16:00.
4 Water Rail: Heard from four separate locations. 16:00.
3 Cetti's Warbler 16:00.
50000 Starling: Estimate of number of Starling in the murmuration this evening - probably more. 16:00.

Steve Akers

Glympton: 26th January

Glympton
200 Lapwing: At least 200 over fields between Glympton and Killingworth Castle with Golden Plover. SP434205. 15:00.
20 Golden Plover: Estimate. SP434205. 15:00.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 26th January

Chipping Norton
133 Lapwing: In field beside A361 road to Banbury - largest number here along this ridge this Winter. SP344287. 11:30.

Steve Akers

Port Meadow: 26th January

Port Meadow
Siberian Chiffchaff
6 Shelduck
23 Dunlin
84 Pintail
Stonechat: m.
Gadwall

Adam Hartley, Matthew Lloyd, Steve Lavington

Peep-O-Day Lane: 26th January

1 Cattle Egret - In horse paddock west of Stonehill Rd Pit, then flew over to grassy meadow adjacent to Stonehill Rd (north side).  

8+ Chiffchaff - Loads as usual near sewage works
5+ Goldcrest - Minimum nr sewage works
20+ Lapwing - Minimum
10+ Pied Wagtail - Minimum - likely many more - all over filter beds at sewage works.  
1 Treecreeper

Full species list: https://app.bto.org/birdtrack/pubcon/shared?subId=SUB47956612

Cattle Egret today

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 26th January

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
Caspian Gull: Behaviour as described by Gareth Casburn a couple of weeks ago. Seen from the Grand Bridge, busy flight here there and everywhere.

Bob Pomfret

Farmoor Reservoir 26th January

Great Northern Diver 1  first winter favouring southern side of F2

Greater Scaup 1f  off causeway on F1

Great Black backed Gull 1 adult

Otmoor rspb 26th January

White-fronted Goose 3+ on Closes viewable from the Wetlands Watch hide 14:02 (per Oz).

Henley Road GPs: 26th January

Henley Road GPs
22 Pintail: 8m+14f. North lake. 13:15.
Goosander: rh. 13:15.

Marek Walford

Brize Norton 25th January

Waxwing 18 at RAF Brize Norton (per RBA).

Long Hanborough 25th January

Waxwing 21 in trees & bushes adjacent to the playing fields/cricket club although mobile until c13:30 when they flew east. (Glen Pascoe, Badger, Moth et al).

Waxwings by Moth

Waxwings by Moth

Waxwings by Moth

Waxwings by Moth

RSPB Otmoor 25 January

Raven 1
Kingfisher 1 

Marsh Harrier 2

Water Rail 3

Goldcrest 1

Yellowhammer 1

Lye Valley, Oxford: 24th January

It's turning out to be a good winter for small finches: 160 Siskin and 15 Lesser Redpoll in the alder woods, plus occasional glimpses of a Water Rail.  

Henley Road Gravel Pits - Wednesday 24th January 2024

Egyptian Geese x 2 (m & f Heron Island), Little Egret x 2, Grey Heron x 2, Wigeon x 20+ (m & f), Gadwall x 6 (3m 3f), Pochard x 8 (5m 3f), Cormorant x 9, Great Crested Grebe x 5, Green Woodpecker, Bullfinch x 3 (2m 1f), Redwing x 20+, Fieldfare x 3.

Farmoor Reservoir 24th January

Marsh Harrier over Shrike Meadow this afternoon 

(per Debbie Cummins)

Courtesy of Debbie Cummins 

St Mary's church, Thame: 24th January

St Mary's church, Thame
2 Peregrine: male and fem. At dusk on church tower. Female considerably larger than male. SP7024. 16:45.

Angus Lachlan

Abingdon 24th January

Waxwing 2 briefly on Gibson Close c12:00 then flew north.

(per Andy Last)

Farmoor Reservoir 24th January

Knot still along causeway (per RBA).

Chipping Norton: 24th January

Chipping Norton
Brambling: fem. In Beech woods next to Addlestrop Hill near Chastleton - other Brambling probable. SP257286. 12:30.
Sparrowhawk: fem. Hunting through wood very fast, very low. SP257286. 12:30.
Great Spotted Woodpecker: SP257286. 12:30.
Nuthatch: With large group of Great, Blue and Long tailed Tits. SP257286. 12:30.
11 Skylark: On Addlestrop Hill - starting to pair up. SP257286. 12:30.
2 Mistle Thrush: SP257286. 12:30.

Steve Akers

Standlake Pit 60: 23rd January

Standlake Pit 60
4 Goldeneye: 2 x male 1 x fem 1 x 1w. 15:00.
3 Goosander 15:00.
2 Great White Egret 15:00.
Marsh Harrier: juv bird. 15:00.
85 Pintail: Minimum. 15:00.
20 Red-crested Pochard: Minimum on pit 28 - 

Full species list: 

https://app.bto.org/birdtrack/pubcon/shared?subId=SUB47946418

J Blunt

Rushy Common: 23rd January

Rushy Common
Goldeneye: f. 11:30.
2 Great White Egret 11:30.
16 Pochard 11:30.
120 Wigeon: Minimum - Full Species list: . 11:30.
https://app.bto.org/birdtrack/pubcon/shared?subId=SUB47945546

J Blunt

Henley Road GPs: 23rd January

23rd January

Henley Road GPs
2 Pintail: m+f. Water ski lake. 12:25.
6 Pintail: 2m+4f. North lake. 12:30.

Marek Walford

Blenheim 23rd January

No sign of the drake Scaup this morning 

(per Gareth Casburn).

Garford: 22nd January

Garford
Woodcock: Flew over the A338 following the River Ock. 17:20.

Jed Cleeter

Farmoor Reservoir 22nd January

Knot 1

Common Sandpiper 1

Greater Scaup 1f

Eurasian Teal 4

European Stonechat 2

Great Black backed Gull 2

Long Wittenham: 22nd January

Long Wittenham
Peregrine: juv. Seen flying low over waterlogged fields. Large numbers of Fieldfares (200+), Redwings (50+), Linnets (40+) and Yellowhammers (20+)feeding in fields. Peregrine was likely to be targeting these birds. SU534935. 15:00.

Steve Violette

Warburg Reserve: 22nd January

 

2 Brambling (Inc 1 @ feeders)
1 Bullfinch
1 Lesser Redpoll (heard only)
8 Coal Tit
10 Marsh Tit
2 Tawny Owl (calling)
Full species list:

https://app.bto.org/birdtrack/pubcon/shared?subId=SUB47941013

Cowley Parakeet roost: 22nd January

 30 Ring-necked Parakeets at a pre-roost gathering in a tree on Henley Avenue, Oxford. 

Abingdon 22nd January

Waxwing again briefly in garden off of Ock Street 09:15 (per Martin Green).

Blenheim 22nd January

Scaup - a drake this morning with the tufted ducks was quite a surprise. Initially on the Queen Pool before moving over to the Great Lake.

Port Meadow: 22nd January

Port Meadow
Great White Egret: in ditch at the north end of Burgess Field late morning
Siberian Chiffchaff: By Burgess Field gate
8 Shelduck
40 Dunlin
Some Pintail (not counted)

Thomas Miller, Ben Sheldon, Mary McDougall, Gnome

Otmoor rspb 21st January

Hen Harrier rt again from the 1st screen midafternoon (per RBA).

Chipping Norton: 21st January

Chipping Norton
17 Skylark: SP257286. 12:30.
2 Bullfinch: ad pair. SP257286. 12:30.
Raven: Flew over Addlestrop Hill persued by other Covids - clipped it's wings and turned on back before tumbling in flight several times. SP257286. 12:30.

Steve Akers

Farmoor Reservoir 21st January

Knot still along the causeway

Great white Egret

 (per Steve Liptrot).

Courtesy of Steve Liptrot.

Chimney: 21st January

Chimney
Ruff: With golden plover and lapwings. I think this is remnant flock from Cote in autumn as this looks like the red legged male ,(?) from then, plus the leucistic golden plover is present. 13:22.
400 Golden Plover: Hard to count as often hunkered down in vegetation or views obscured by trees. Last autumn leucistic bird present. 13:22.
29 Dunlin: Hard to count in vegetation. 13:22.
Brambling 13:22.
Peregrine: The juvenile male from later last year. 13:22.

Mick Cunningham

Port Meadow: 21st January

Port Meadow
Siberian Chiffchaff: Still by Burgess Field gate.
Caspian Gull: 1w. Showing down to 10m at times.
36 Dunlin
2 Stonechat
61 Pintail 

Grey Plover yesterday.

Steve Lavington

Abingdon 21st January

Waxwing briefly in garden off of Ock Street (M.G).

Above & below courtesy of Martin Green.

Blenheim: Palace Garden: 21st January

Blenheim: Palace Garden
20 Brambling: Approx. 09:00.
Great White Egret 09:00.
5 Mandarin Duck 09:00.

Liam Russell

Oxford 21st January

Waxwing 2 again at northern end of Plater Drive 09:26 and still present 11:11.

(per Andy Last,Paul Butler et al).

Cholsey 20th January

Waxwing 5 flew N/E over Green Lane c14:50 

(per Alan Dawson)

Freeland 20th January

Waxwing 16 along Wroslyn Road in garden at 11:05 (per RBA).

Port Meadow 20th January

Caspian Gull 1 first winter

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common: 13th January

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common
Marsh Harrier: male. 20:52.

Mick Cunningham

Standlake Pit 60: 19th January

19th January

Standlake Pit 60
13 Dunlin: on ice - excuse late entry. 20:48.
Marsh Harrier: cc. 20:48.

16th January
534 Pintail 20:48.
2 Great White Egret 20:48.

Mick Cunningham

Chimney: 20th January

Chimney
13 Dunlin: Not sure what to call the area from Great Brook towards Tadpole Bridge. On field floods min 13 dunlin - poss more, but trees obscured views - nb saw similar flock on 19th Jan. 20:43.
29 Snipe: same area as dunlin but flew up in a flock. 20:43.
300 Golden Plover: same area as Dunlin - poss more as obscured by Trees. 20:43.
8 Shelduck: near Great Brook. 20:43.
2 Marsh Harrier: male and female. 20:43.

Mick Cunningham

Venn Mill: 20th January

Venn Mill
Peregrine
25 Snipe

Mark Merritt

Chipping Norton: 20th January

Chipping Norton
2 Stonechat: ad pair. On bramble bushes beside Chipping Norton Brook near Swailes Bridge. SP282265. 13:30.
4 Lapwing: On the newly created wetland - an increase in number. SP282265. 13:30.
73 Black-headed Gull: SP282265. 13:30.
2 Grey Heron: ...but no sign of the Great White Egret. SP282265. 13:30.
2 Pied Wagtail: SP282265. 13:30.

Steve Akers

Boarstall Decoy: 20th January

Boarstall Decoy
21 Woodcock: Another record day count for me, all fields frozen solid and most found in sheltered and not so frozen woods. SP618150. 12:00.
2 Snipe: SP618150. 12:00.

Colin Oram

Standlake Pit 60: 18th January

Standlake Pit 60
10 Dunlin: Small flock flew low over the ice. 11:00.
2 Great White Egret 11:00.
Goosander: Female. 11:00.
Pintail: 100s on ice and in patches of open water. 11:00.
3 Goldeneye: 1m,2f. 11:00.

Stephen Burch

Oxford 20th January

Waxwing 2 at the northern end of Plater Drive again 13:35

Blackcap

(per Paul Wren, Mark Pidgeon, Pete Roby et al).

Courtesy of Paul Wren.

Farmoor 20th

Great Northern diver
Knot

Scaup f (per RBA)  
Goldeneye
Common sandpiper
Siskin
2 stonechat


Sent from my iPhone

Standlake: 20th January

5 Waxwing: Circled Rack end garden calling before heading back north. Shame I chucked loads of apples etc from garden at pit 60 last autumn. 10:36.

Mick Cunningham

Otmoor rspb 20th January

Crane 2 09:20 (per Matthew O'Byrne). 

Blenheim Park 20th January

Large flock of Brambling near to the bridge c10:12

Great white Egret 

Ross's Goose esc

(per Jacek)

Wytham 20th January

Great white Egret in field west of A34 and just past the Wytham road c09:34 

(per Gareth Clair) 

Abingdon: Peep-o-Day Lane: 19th January

Abingdon: Peep-o-Day Lane
Cattle Egret 15:30.
3 Little Egret 15:30.
20 Snipe: - 

Full list.
https://app.bto.org/birdtrack/pubcon/shared?subId=SUB47927534

J Blunt

East Hendred: East Hendred Downs: 19th January

East Hendred: East Hendred Downs
25 Chaffinch: Minimum. 11:00.
5 Common Gull 11:00.
20 Corn Bunting: Minimum. 11:00.
50 Fieldfare: Minimum. 11:00.
3 Raven 11:00.
15 Stock Dove: Minimum. 11:00.
10 Yellowhammer:  

Full list:

https://app.bto.org/birdtrack/pubcon/shared?subId=SUB47927527

J Blunt

Farmoor Reservoir 19th January

Knot still present along the causeway.

Oxford 19th January

5 Waxwing: In trees at junction of Aristotle Lane and Plater Drive in Jericho and still present 11.20am where they have been reported on previous days. 

(Andrew Siantonas et al)

 

Video courtesy of Gnome

South Hinksey: 19th January

South Hinksey
10 Lapwing: In field just west of A34. 17:32.

D Moden

Henley on Thames: 19th January

Henley on Thames
2 Common Gull: Both stood on posts in river near to Hobbs of Henley booking office. SU762825. 15:15.

Jonathan Yardley

Henley Road GPs: 19th January

Henley Road GPs
5 Pintail: 3m+2f. North Lake. SU738753. 13:04.

Marek Walford

Oxford 18th January

Courtesy of Connor Pimm.

Waxwing up to 8 in gardens along Rutherway off Walton Well Road tho mobile c12:44. (per Pete Roby et al)  No further sign between 14:00-15:00

5 were originally found this morning again at the end of Plater Drive/Aristotle Lane 09:05 (N.L).

).

Chipping Norton: 18th January

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: Feeding at dusk with herons on the new wetland just beyond Swailes Bridge - present for several days now. SP282265. 16:45.
4 Grey Heron: SP282265. 16:45.
2 Lapwing: First sightings here since new wetland created. SP282265. 16:45.
7 Moorhen: SP282265. 16:45.
Sparrowhawk: SP282265. 16:45.
4 Pied Wagtail: SP282265. 16:45.
300 Jackdaw: Estimate of number of birds in the very noisy roost...and three Roe Deer feeding along hedge margin. SP282265. 16:45.

Steve Akers

Otmoor: 18th January

Otmoor
4 Cattle Egret: Over Noke Fields. 17:01.

Peter Alfrey

Mixed wildfowl courtesy of Peter Alfrey.

Farmoor Reservoir 18th January

Great northern Diver F2

Marsh Harrier 

Scaup f

Knot

(per RBA)

Song Thrush courtesy of Paul Wyeth.

 

Fyfield Wick: 18th January

Fyfield Wick
Merlin: fem. Flew medium height at full tilt then into a stoop towards fields near Kingston Bagpuize. 16:37.

Jed Cleeter

Henley Road GPs: 18th January

Henley Road GPs
13 Pintail: 4m+9f. North Lake. 13:35.
3 Pintail: 1m+2f. Water ski pit. On a tiny patch of open water. 13:19.

Marek Walford

Port Meadow: 17th January

Port Meadow
7 Waxwing: 2 x ad, 5 x 1w.

Again between Plater Dr & Aristotle Lane, in the Silver Birch and feeding on the Sorbus berries. Found at 15:55 and present until 16:20 when they flew off low north east.

Found by Tom Dale

A blurry photo in the fading light, courtesy of Gnome

Also
1w Caspian Gull on the ice this evening
20 Dunlin on the ice earlier in the day

Thomas Miller, Jacek Szymanski

Kidlington: Oxford Canal: 17th January

Kidlington: Oxford Canal
Waxwing: One flew over calling; heading towards Yarnton. 16:00.
Kingfisher 16:00.

Simon Myers

Shiplake: 17th January

Shiplake
20 Egyptian Goose: Plus birds in field seen near pub on A4155 road driving past. Most days. SU759779. 13:45.

Ralph Watts

Snipe Otmoor rspb courtesy of Malcolm Bowey.

 

Churn: 17th January

Churn
25 Common Gull: Minimum - a few 1w, mainly adult. 10:30.
500 Fieldfare: Minimum. 10:30.
80 Lapwing: Minimum - 300+ Golden Plover mobile but only seen on Berks side. 10:30.

J Blunt

Harwell: 17th January

Harwell
2 Peregrine: Two flying over southwards, much squabbling and calling. SU493893. 13:48.

Philip Chapman

Farmoor Reservoir 17th January

Great northern Diver juv

Scaup f

Knot 1

Dunlin 25 over

Peregrine 

(D.L)

Bicester Wetland Reserve 17th January

 All water frozen, except Langford Brook

1 Water Rail
1 Chiffchaff
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Green Sandpiper
85 Teal

Key Holder Reserve
A Peters

Blenheim 16th January

Gadwall - 80-100 on Queen Pool.

Wigeon - 18

Pochard - 1

Ross's Goose - 1. Presumably the same one that was seen at Grimsbury and (I think) along the Cherwell Valley over the past month. One for my "others" list at Blenheim. A nice bird all the same.

Great white egret - 4

Little egret - 2

Chimney: Chimney Meadows: 16th January

Chimney: Chimney Meadows
8 Shelduck 10:00.
300 Lapwing: Minimum. 10:00.
10 Golden Plover 10:00.
7 Egyptian Goose 10:00.
Great White Egret 10:00.
2 Marsh Tit: At feeders. 10:00.
3 Skylark 10:00.
2 Yellowhammer 10:00.
Stonechat: Full species list https://app.bto.org/birdtrack/pubcon/shared?subId=SUB47914493. 10:00.

J Blunt

Chipping Norton: 16th January

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: Feeding in the margins of the small lake and then on the marsh on Cornwell Estate. SP283268. 12:00.
3 Stonechat: 2m, 1f. Single male on the marsh; and a pair on teasels and other plants beside brook near Swailes Bridge. SP283268. 12:00.
200 Black-headed Gull: At least 200 following the plough on field opposite the lake and then put up by a shoot and then settled on the small lake. SP283268. 12:00.
10 Mute Swan: Pair on the lake; adult pair and six juv birds feeding at far end of marsh. SP283268. 12:00.
Green Woodpecker: SP283268. 12:00.
7 Long-tailed Tit: SP283268. 12:00.
2 Pied Wagtail: SP283268. 12:00.

Steve Akers

Farmoor Reservoir 16th January

Great northern Diver juv F2

Knot 2 along causeway 

Scaup f

(per RBA).

RSPB Otmoor: WeBS 15th January

Black-headed gull - 93

Canada goose - 282

Coot - 99

Dunlin - 22

Gadwall - 238

Golden plover - 310

Great crested grebe - 1

Greylag goose - 198

Lapwing - 3065

Mallard - 139

Mute swan - 5

Pintail - 548

Pochard - 22

Shoveler - 642

Teal - 6968

Tufted duck - 61

Wigeon - 2336 

Chipping Norton: 15th January

Chipping Norton
Great White Egret: Return of the Great White Egret. Feeding with four Grey Heron on the newly created wetland close to Swailes Bridge. Amazing views against the evening setting sun. SP283268. 15:30.
4 Grey Heron: SP283268. 15:30.
Stonechat: male. On marsh grass close to the small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 15:30.
5 Redwing: SP283268. 15:30.

Steve Akers

Warburg Reserve - Monday 17th January 2024 on a cold and frosty morning.

Raven, Brambling x 2 (m f), Sparrowhawk (f), Red-legged Partridge x 11, Lesser Redpolls x 8 (m f), Siskin (f), Song Thrush, Marsh Tit x 4, Coal Tit x 2, Bullfinch (f) Fileldfare x 5, Redwing x 4, Chaffinch x 8 (m f).

Kennington: River Thames: 15th January

Kennington: River Thames
2 Goosander: pair. 15:34.

Steve Roby

Henley Road GPs: 15th January

Henley Road GPs
17 Pintail: 7m+10f. Water ski pit. 12:25.

Marek Walford

nr. Rushy fen: 14th January

nr. Rushy fen
Great White Egret: flying towards gravel works to south. SP378060. 14:43.

John Pimm

Common Sandpiper Farmoor courtesy of John Workman.

 

Port Meadow: 14th January

Grey Plover: in amongst the Golden Plover

Also,
2 Shelduck
50 Dunlin
Caspian Gull: 1w.
2 Yellow-legged Gull: 1w & ad.
 

Steve Lavington

Cote: 14th January

Cote
6 Shelduck: been here since 1st Jan. I've been unable to post until today. 20:26.

Mick Cunningham

Farmoor Reservoir, Sunday 14th January 2024

11-13:00 All F2

Great Northern Diver

Knot 2

Greater Scaup

Common Sandpiper

Grey Wagtail

Great Black-backed Gull 2

Old Caley's Diary

North Moreton: 14th January

North Moreton
5 Shelduck: SU568890. 16:49.
200 Lapwing: Approx count. Birds distant. SU568890. 16:49.

Michael Pocock

Radley GP: Thrupp Lake: 14th January

Radley GP: Thrupp Lake
8 Goosander: 4 male 4 fem. 15:52.

David Eccles

Chipping Norton: 14th January

Chipping Norton
6 Brambling: 2m, 4f. In mixed flock of Tits, Nuthatch and Chaffinch feeding around puddle at side of road to Chastleton House near footpath sign. SP257286. 13:30.

Steve Akers

Farmoor Reservoir 14th January

Great northern Diver juv 12:37 on F2

Scaup f (per RBA).

Knot 2 still along the causeway 10:14 

(per Sandra Bletchley)

Chipping Norton: 14th January

Chipping Norton
4 Bullfinch: 3m, 1f. In The Leys. SP308267. 12:15.

Steve Akers

Didcot 14th January

No sign of any Waxwings on the Ladygrove Estate by 12:00 (et al).

Thame: Cuttle Brook: 14th January

Thame: Cuttle Brook
2 Knot: Two presumed Knot distantly in with Lapwings- pics here: https://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2024/01/cuttlebrook-few-goodies.html. 10:00.

Peter Alfrey

Stonechat Port Meadow 13/1 courtesy of
Debbie Cummins 

 

Lower Arncott: 14th January

Lower Arncott
Great White Egret: Flying West. SP611179. 10:39.

Jon Holt

Sutton Courtenay

13/01 

Shelduck - 2 in fields east of Peep-o-Day lane 

Caspian Gull - Ad in flooded field next to train crossing in Appleford village. 

12/01 

Report of 6 Cattle Egret down Peep-o-Day Lane. 

Red Kite courtesy of Nick Truby.

 

Port Meadow: 13th January

Port Meadow
Caspian Gull: 1w.
40 Dunlin
100 Golden Plover

Thomas Miller, Jacek Szymanski

Appleford 13th January

Caspian Gull ad in field in gull roost this afternoon 

(per RBA).

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 13th January

13th January

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Merlin: Flew fast across the main field just before dusk from left to right then turned back fast and low to the left chasing a flock of small birds before disappearing behind reeds. 16:20.
Peregrine: Seen just after the Merlin went through, chasing Teal and Lapwing across the main field. 16:20.
2 Stonechat: Pair by the cattle pens. 14:30.
15 Pintail: At least on the floods. 14:30.
2 Great White Egret 14:30.
2 Marsh Harrier 14:30.

Rob Andrews

Boarstall Decoy: 13th January

Boarstall Decoy
7 Woodcock: SP618150. 14:00.

Colin Oram

Thame: Cuttle Brook: 13th January

Thame: Cuttle Brook
2 Great White Egret: One present in area since mid-December and two this evening going to roost. 14:00.

Peter Alfrey

Farmoor Reservoir 13th January

Knot 2 (along west bank of F2)

Great Northern Diver 1 juv

Greater Scaup 1f

Common Sandpiper 1

Little Grebe 17

Great Black-backed Gull 1

Lower Shiplake: 13th January

Lower Shiplake
2 Egyptian Goose: In usual field seen from car A4155 road near Pub. SU759779. 14:30.

Ralph Watts

Grove Airfield: 13th January

Grove Airfield
Green Sandpiper: SU394894. 16:37.
2 Stonechat: SU394894. 16:37.

Brian Walker

Dix Pit: 13th January

Dix Pit
54 Pintail 16:22.
12 Goldeneye 16:22.

Simon Bradfield

Ladygrove Estate near Blackwater Way, Didcot: 13th January

Ladygrove Estate near Blackwater Way, Didcot
11 Waxwing: Single bird seen and heard calling. Then a group of 10 plus located approximately 100 metres away. SU529913. 15:45.

Steve Violette

Forest Hill 12th January

A belated and unconfirmed report of 2 White Storks flying over the A40 c09:30 (per Birdguides).

Kennington 13th January

Waxwing briefly on Cranbrook Drive 12:37 but no further sign by 13:20.

(per Tom Wickens).

Farmoor Jan 13th (a.m.)

Great Northern Diver - Juv still on F2

Scaup - female still on F2

Common Sandpiper - 1 on F2 

Wigeon - 2 

Knot - 2 still on causeway

Siskin - 30 

Little Egret - 1 

Lapwing - 200 (west) 

Somerton Cherwell Valley 13th January

736 wigeon 

32 pintail 

56 Teal 

Gadwall 2 

Shoveler 37

Dunlin 7

Lapwing 180

Peregrine 

Stonechat 2

Chiffchaff 2

(S.B).

Buckland Warren: 12th January

Buckland Warren
6 Lesser Redpoll 11:00.
2 Siskin 11:00.
5 Coal Tit 11:00.
Goldcrest 11:00.

J Blunt

Tadpole Bridge: 12th January

Tadpole Bridge
1000 Lapwing: Minimum - in flooded meadow to North-east of Tadpole Bridge with Golden Plover. 14:09.
500 Golden Plover: Minimum. 14:09.
10 Egyptian Goose 14:09.
6 Goosander: Various points on Thames 3km east and west of Tadpole Bridge. 14:09.
4 Great White Egret: Flooded meadows West of Rushey Lock. 14:09.
Marsh Harrier: juv bird. Flying over meadows containing Lapwing. 14:09.
3 Snipe 14:09.
Stonechat 14:09.
2 Little Egret 14:09.

J Blunt

Farmoor Reservoir: River Thames: 12th January

Farmoor Reservoir: River Thames
Goosander: 1f. on Thames near Pinkhill Meadow. 12:00.

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
2 Knot: still present, very tame; on west edge of F2. 12:00.

Anthony Cheke

Port Meadow: 12th January

Port Meadow
Jack Snipe: Found with thermal imager in the dark. Two were found the same way yesterday.
Caspian Gull: 1w.
Yellow-legged Gull: 1w.
Siberian Chiffchaff: The ringed bird by Burgess Field gate.
 

Thomas Miller

Blenheim: Queen Pool: 12th January

Blenheim: Queen Pool
35 Brambling: Willow tree beside the lake just down from town entrance. With a few chaffinch.

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
2 Great White Egret
3 Little Egret
2 Snipe
4 Pochard
75 Tufted Duck
65 Gadwall

Bob Pomfret

Wootton nr Woodstock: Stratford Bridge: 12th January

Wootton nr Woodstock: Stratford Bridge
2 Stonechat
Little Egret
60 Fieldfare
Kestrel

Bob Pomfret

Farmoor Reservoir 12th January

Knot 2

Greater Scaup 1f

Great Northern Diver 1

Chipping Norton: 12th January

Chipping Norton
5 Brambling: 3m, 2f. Feeding with Chaffinch and Tits in flock at side of road to Chastleton near footpath into Beech woods. SP257286. 12:00.
3 Nuthatch: SP257286. 12:00.
Stonechat: ad fem. Lone female perched grasses on open ground on Addlestrop Hill. SP257286. 12:00.
2 Redwing: SP257286. 12:00.

Steve Akers

Port Meadow 11th January

Caspian Gull 2 (3w +1w) this afternoon (per RBA)

Thame: 11th January

Thame
2 Egyptian Goose: ad pair. Flew over Phoenix trail near Home Farm. SP728049. 15:00.
150 Fieldfare: Large numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing feeding on berry laden Hawthorn hedges, but no sign of Waxwing. SP728049. 15:00.
50 Redwing: At least 50. SP728049. 15:00.
Green Woodpecker: SP728049. 15:00.
Great Spotted Woodpecker: SP728049. 15:00.
15 Linnet: SP728049. 15:00.
2 Yellowhammer: SP728049. 15:00.
2 Long-tailed Tit: SP728049. 15:00.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 10th January

Chipping Norton
Brambling: f. In the Beech woods at Addlestrop Hill. SP257286. 14:00.
Sparrowhawk: Hunting almost at footpath level just above the ground the wood. SP257286. 14:00.
30 Skylark: SP257286. 14:00.

Steve Akers

Wantage/Grove, 11 January

Waxwing: The single bird near Medivet between Wantage and Grove at 13:25 just before flushed and chased by a Sparrowhawk! SU400892. 

No sign at 15:00.

Waxwing © Stephen Burch

Waxwing © Stephen Burch

Crop of photo above © Stephen Burch

www.stephenburch.com

Blenheim 11th January

Caspian gull - I believe this is the same bird I've seen a number of times over the past few years at Blenheim. It did a couple of laps of the lakes this morning before flying south. It's very inquisitive and behaves in the same way every time I've seen it.

A34 nr Milton: 10th January

A34 nr Milton
Short-eared Owl: A poss SEO - seen from the car, as we headed south nr the Milton interchange... no wing beats, cruising, over the wet grassy fields on E side of carriageway... could not make it into any other species... SU481920. 15:30.

Mike Amphlett

Thame 11th January

No sign of any Waxwings along Phoenix Trail east of Thame 14:40-15:38 (per Peter Law).

Grove, nr Wantage 11th January

A single Waxwing feeding on a Rowan tree early afternoon near the Medivet in Grove, near Wantage (about here). Still present at 13:08.

(per John Kearvell)

Courtesy of John Kearvell.

Oxford 11th January

No sign of the Waxwings in Plater Drive/Aristotle Lane by 10:45.

Phoenix Trail, Thame: 10th January

Phoenix Trail, Thame
50 Waxwing: Approximate count, on berries on Phoenix Trail. Per Karen Lunan. SP728049. 13:15.

Nicholas Boyd

Port Meadow: 10th January

Port Meadow
2 Waxwing periodically throughout the day (click here for location)

For those interesting in seeing these birds, they spend a lot of time sitting in an Ash tree half way along the connecting path between Aristotle Lane and Plater Drive. Periodically they fly down to a Sorbus bush just at the Plater Drive end of the connecting path. They generally are around for up to an hour at a time but can fly off elsewhere for a good couple of hours. There is limited parking in Aristotle Lane though please note that access is prevented at the start or end of the school day by electric bollards. There is also Pay & Display parking at the end of Walton Well Rd where you can then walk through the Waterside development to the location. All nearby on street parking is restricted to residential permit only.

Courtesy of Ben Sheldon

Courtesy of Badger.

 

Courtesy of Gnome

 

Port Meadow 10th January

 

Blenheim: 10th January

Blenheim
Goosander: Female. 08:30.
Cattle Egret: Unexpected on Queen Pool island this morning, presumably having roosted. 08:30.

Gareth Casburn

Port Meadow: 10th January

 One of the 2 waxwings along path between Plater Dr and Aristotle Ln just before flying off at 10.45.

Farmoor 10th Jan (a.m.)

 Great Northern Diver - 1 (F2) 

Scaup - female on F2 

Knot - 2 on causeway

Dunlin - 1 on causeway 

Pintail - c25 west 

Didcot 10th January

No sign of any Waxwings in Tescos car park or in a brief search of the Ladygrove Estate 08-09:00,

nor between14:00-15:00 (Badger, James Hammond).

Appleford - 9th January

 Caspian Gull 4 (3 ads, 3w)

Warburg Reserve: 9th January

Warburg Reserve
Brambling: f. SU719879. 12:00.

Steve Goddard

Warburg Reserve - Tuesday 9th January 2024

Lesser Redpoll x 7 (m f), Siskin x 2 (m), Marsh Tit x 4, Bullfinch x 3 (2m 1f), Coal Tit x 2, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker (f), Wren, Chaffinch x 11(m f), Redwing x 7, Fieldfare x 5, Buzzard x 2, Kestrel x 2, Red Legged Partridge x 9, Wood Pigeon x 50+.

Otmoor rspb 9th January

Hen Harrier rt still present (per RBA).

Farmoor Reservoir 9th January 2024

 Knot. One of two present this morning favouring the west bank of F2