Clifton 28th February

Mid-Cherwell Valley south of Clifton and Malins farm.

4 Ruff

3 Dunlin, 

c200 Golden Plover and good nos of wildfowl.

(JFT)

Playhatch pit on A4155: 28th February

Playhatch pit on A4155
Great White Egret: SU745764. 16:53.

Mick Hannington

Ardley 28th February

Green-winged Teal drake still present on pit adjacent to the ERF site 14:25 

Green Sandpiper 2

(per Kevin Heath)

Park in lay-by on B430, cross road and take footpath east from the ERF site entrance to view pit on right.

Chinnor

 Black Redstart - still present on houses along Chalkpit lane 

Stratfield Brake: 28th February

Stratfield Brake
Great White Egret 10:30.

Jason Coppock

Henley Road GPs: 28th February

Henley Road GPs
Great White Egret: At the back of the garden centre pit. 12:24.

Marek Walford

Chipping Norton: 28th February

Chipping Norton
Siskin: ad fem. 11:23.
Goldcrest: In gardens in The Leys. 11:23.

Steve Akers

Woodstock 28th February

Courtesy of Thomas Miller

 

3 Hawfinches still present in Woodstock churchyard on Hensington road 11:02 (D.D)

Hawfinch in treetops between Churchill close & Wessex court 09:26 (P.W)

RSPB Otmoor Thursday 27 February

Hen Harrier 2cy female (P.S)

Courtesy of PJS Wildlife Photography 

Courtesy of PJS Wildlife Photography 

Courtesy of PJS Wildlife Photography 

Great White Egret 3
Curlew 10
Redshank 3
Oystercatcher 2
Bittern 1
Little Grebe 1
Water Rail 2 

Chipping Norton: 27th February

Chipping Norton
2 Stonechat: pair. On the patch of marsh grass by bridleway at small lake nr Cornwell. SP283268. 13:00.
2 Teal: ad drk. On small lake - others whistling constantly from within the marsh. SP283268. 13:00.
Snipe: SP283268. 13:00.
3 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 13:00.
Grey Heron: SP283268. 13:00.
Sparrowhawk: SP283268. 13:00.
Green Sandpiper: On Swailsford Bridge wetland nr Cornwell. SP284265. 14:40.
Grey Wagtail: On the fast flowing section of the brook. SP284265. 14:40.
6 Pied Wagtail: SP284265. 14:40.

Steve Akers

Ardley ERF Lagoon: 27th February

27th February

Ardley ERF Lagoon
Green-winged Teal: Still present on adjacent quarry. 13:30.
Egyptian Goose: With Canada gees on adjacent quarry. 13:45.
Green Sandpiper 13:45.

Laurie Bryant

Farmoor Reservoir: 27th February

Farmoor Reservoir
Cetti's Warbler: Heard but not seen. 14:05.
2 Reed Bunting 14:05.

Richard Parsons

Port Meadow: 27th February

Port Meadow
6 Redshank
8 Dunlin
7 Oystercatcher
 

Thomas Miller

Blenheim 26th February

Oystercatcher - 2. Would appear to be the returning pair.

Great White egret - 1

Barn owl - 1

Farmoor Reservoir 26th February

Eurasian Teal 24

Gadwall 6

Eurasian Wigeon 1m

Water Rail 1

Common Sandpiper 1 usually to be found on or around the pontoon on the south side of F2

European Stonechat 2 pair

Common Chiffchaff 1

Chipping Norton: 26th February

Chipping Norton
Green Sandpiper: On the wetland at Swailsford Bridge nr Cornwell. SP284265. 13:45.
4 Lesser Black-backed Gull: Flying over. SP284265. 13:45.

Steve Akers

East Hanney: A338: 26th February

East Hanney: A338
2 Shelduck: On flood on field left side of A338 just before village heading south towards Wantage. 13:42.

Jed Cleeter

Blenheim: 25th February

Blenheim
Barn Owl: Hunting on fields West of the waterfall, where the River Glyme and River Evenlode meet. 18:05.
Little Owl: Flushed from top of a log pile along the Hanborough Community Path. 18:05.

Glen Pascoe

Chipping Norton: 25th February

Chipping Norton
2 Stonechat: pair. On hedge and marsh grass next to the small lake nr Cornwell. SP283268. 13:00.
11 Teal: SP283268. 13:00.
Grey Heron: SP283268. 13:00.
Green Woodpecker: SP283268. 13:00.
Grey Wagtail: SP283268. 13:00.

Steve Akers

Otmoor: 25th February

Otmoor
2 Crane: 2 Cranes distantly north over Floodfield from Greenways at 17:10. 

c24 Dunlin - flushed from Big Otmoor. 

10+ Curlew 

8 Redshank 

8 Oystercatcher 

18 Golden Plover 

2 G-W Egret 

2 Barn Owl 

6 Stonechat 

1 Barnacle Goose - Ashgrave 

1 Peregrine 

3 Chiffchaff. SP561129. 17:00.

Theo De Clermont

Chinnor: Cement Works: 25th February

Chinnor: Cement Works
Black Redstart: Female still on the roof of the flats at the corner of Chalkley Lane. SP754001. 11:15.

David Stracey

Pinkhill Reserve Farmoor 25th February

Sand Martin 08:23 (per Paul Butler)

Chipping Norton: 24th February

Chipping Norton
Barn Owl: Remarkable - closest encounter of my life - Barn Owl quartering hedge flew within 4ft of me and over to quarter hedge alongside the marsh. SP283268. 17:50.
Probable Sparrowhawk: ad fem. Large hawk attacked flock of Jackdaw at dusk going to roost and pursued single bird relentlessly but no kill. SP283268. 17:50.
Tawny Owl: Heard. SP283268. 17:50.
150 Jackdaw: Going to roost. SP283268. 17:50.

Steve Akers

Farmoor Reservoir: 24th February

Farmoor Reservoir
Common Sandpiper: On far side of F2. 16:33.
2 Grey Wagtail 16:33.
7 Little Grebe 16:33.

Richard Parsons

Otmoor rspb

Grey Herons courtesy of John Reynolds 

Cranes 24th Feb
Courtesy of John Workman 

Curlew courtesy of John Reynolds 

Leucistic Pochard 'Luke'
Courtesy of John Reynolds 

 

Port Meadow 24th February

Sand Martin 2 briefly 12:38 (Paddy Lewin)

Also
5 Dunlin
3 Oystercatchers
1 Stonechat (f)
Redshank

Thomas Miller, Gnome, Ben Sheldon

Woodstock: Green Lane: 24th February

Woodstock: Green Lane
Barn Owl: Flew into the cemetary. 09:24.
Chiffchaff: First singing chiffchaff of the year for me. 09:24.

Bob Pomfret

Barn Owl West Oxon
Courtesy of Jason Hornblow

 

Letcombe Regis: Blandys Farm: 23rd February

Letcombe Regis: Blandys Farm
3 Brambling: At least 3 in with 40+ Chaffinch.
5 Grey Partridge

Letcombe Regis
2 Raven

Mark Merritt

Chipping Norton: 23rd February

Chipping Norton
Grey Wagtail: On the gravel islets in the fast flowing section of the brook nr Swailsford Bridge. SP284265. 10:30.
2 Lapwing: pair. Over. SP284265. 10:30.
Grey Heron: SP284265. 10:30.
Meadow Pipit: SP284265. 10:30.
Goldcrest: SP284265. 10:30.

Steve Akers

Abingdon 23rd

Peep o day lane:
Marsh harrier
Med Gull (ad)
Great white egret
Green sandpiper
Snipe

Sent from my iPhone

Otmoor rspb 23rd February

Cranes calling this morning on the reserve. Video & photo courtesy of Michael Enticott 

Wytham: Field Station: 23rd February

Wytham: Field Station
15 Cattle Egret: In usual setting with cattle (also single little egret) near field station; approx count. 12:55.

Simon Myers

Ardley ERF Lagoon: 22nd February

Ardley ERF Lagoon
Green-winged Teal: m. 15:40.

Beryl Tillin

Blenheim 23rd February

Curlew - 1 over calling around Bladon Bridge early morning.

Lower Windrush Valley Pit 3 23rd February

Ringed-necked duck - female present before flying east with most of the Tufted and Pochard flock

Red-crested pochard - 30 approx

Goldeneye - 2 on Pit 4.

Oystercatcher - 2

Cetti's warbler - 1 in surrounds of Pit 10

Dix Pit: 23 February

White-fronted Goose 5ad, briefly around noon
Redpoll 4
Oystercatcher 1
GW Egret 2

Radley GP: Thrupp Lake: 23rd February

Radley GP: Thrupp Lake
Oystercatcher 07:30.
4 Egyptian Goose: 2 pairs. 07:30.

Ian Elkins

Churn 22nd February

Brent Goose adult dark-bellied bird on groundwater flood on large triangular field east of old railway line, on water patch nearest the railway. Seen with flock of gulls (mostly LBB), but remained when these flew off at 15-30, still present at 16-00.  (N.B via Berks Birds)

Dix Pit Stanton Harcourt 22nd February

Great white Egret 3 (J.S)

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 22nd February

Hen Harrier 2cy f (et al)

2 Crane: Bugling and dancing, great sight. 17:24.
2 Oystercatcher: Big otmoor. 17:24.
Redshank 17:24.
4 Dunlin 17:24.
Peregrine: Noke sides, perched in dead tree. 17:24.
4 Stonechat 17:24.
Great White Egret 17:24.
2 Shelduck 17:24.

(per Simon Myers)

Black-tailed Godwit on Big Otmoor (J.S)

Letcombe Regis: 22nd February

Collared dove by the Richmond Village lake in Letcombe Regis

Sonning Eye GPs: 22nd February

Sonning Eye GPs
Stonechat: Along the conveyer belt off Spring Lane. 12:29.

Marek Walford

New Marston: New Marston Meadows: 22nd February

New Marston: New Marston Meadows
2 Stonechat: On Marston Hamms, still. 10:12.

Steve Jennings

Clifton 22nd February

Green-winged Teal drake still present below Aynho Wharf on flood S/W of Warf Farm 08:26

Park at bridge adjacent to Great Western Arms and walk south along canal (W.B)

Dunlin

Curlew

Shelduck 2

Ardley 21st February

Green-winged Teal drake still present on pit adjacent to the ERF site 13:48 (per RBA, et al)

Park in lay-by on B430 cross road and take footpath east from the ERF site entrance to view pit on right.

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 21st February

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
2 Crane: Flew on to Ashgrave 7:30. 08:11.

Kosmo Dossett

RSPB Otmoor 20 February 2025

Crane 2
Pied Wagtail 40
Goldcrest 1 

Little Grebe 1

Redwing 1

Water Rail 2

Cetti's Warbler 5

Bicester Wetland Reserve 20th February

40 Snipe
1 Green Sandpiper
96 Teal
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Little Grebe
42 B-h Gulls
1+ Chiffchaff

A Peters C Oram
Key Holder Reserve

Otmoor: 14th February

Otmoor
2 Curlew: Ashgrave, distant, Noke end.
40 Barnacle Goose: about -hard to count as compact group, initially on their own, but later mixed with Canadas.

Anthony Cheke

East Hendred: East Hendred Downs: 18th February

East Hendred: East Hendred Downs
4 Stonechat: 3m1f. 20:57.

Anthony Cheke

Port Meadow: 19th February

Port Meadow
Caspian Gull: 2w.
4 Yellow-legged Gull: 2 x 2w, 2 x ad.
3 Shelduck
30 Pintail
Marsh Harrier: flew over slowly to the south this morning.
Great White Egret
30 Common Gull: This morning.
2 Peregrine: m & f.

Adam Hartley, Thomas Miller

Barn Owl Otmoor rspb courtesy of Paul Wyeth 

 

Chipping Norton: 19th February

Chipping Norton
4 Stonechat: Pair on the marsh; a further pair on the scrub at the brook nr Swailsford Bridge. SP283268. 13:00.
10 Teal: On the small lake nr Cornwell. SP283268. 13:00.
Snipe: SP283268. 13:00.
2 Grey Heron: SP283268. 13:00.
2 Black-headed Gull: SP283268. 13:00.
2 Kestrel: SP283268. 13:00.
6 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 13:00.
30 Chaffinch: Flock in trees bordering the marsh. SP283268. 13:00.
Goldcrest: SP283268. 13:00.

Steve Akers

Ardley 19th February

Green-winged Teal drake again on pit adjacent to the ERF site 10:11 (G.C)

Chipping Norton: 18th February

Chipping Norton
Stonechat: juv fem. On the marsh nr Cornwell. SP283268. 15:00.
Snipe: SP283268. 15:00.

Steve Akers

Chinnor: Cement Works: 18th February

Chinnor: Cement Works
Black Redstart: Female still on the roof of the flats at the corner of Chalkley Lane. SP754001. 12:04.

David Stracey

Standlake Pit 60: 17th February

Standlake Pit 60
2 Oystercatcher 20:39.

William Lester

Compton Downs, Blewbury - Monday 17th February 2025

 Red-legged Partridge x 20+, Buzzard x 5, Pied Wagtail, Stonechat x 2 (m & f),Yellow Hammer x 2, 

Corn Bunting x 5, Fieldfare x 20+, Long tailed tits x 8, Common Gull x 5, Lapwing x 20+, 

Skylark x 20+

Corn Bunting

Ardley Quarry 17th February

Green-winged teal - drake back on the quarry lake this morning.

Caspian gull - 1 adult on quarry workings

Port Meadow: 17th February

Port Meadow
Mediterranean Gull: ad.
Caspian Gull: 2w.
3 Yellow-legged Gull: 1w,2w,ad.
30 Pintail
Oystercatcher

Adam Hartley, Thomas Miller, Steve Lavington, Matthew Lloyd

Sonning Eye GPs: 17th February

Sonning Eye GPs
Great White Egret 15:25.

Ralph Watts

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 17th February

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
Barn Owl: Daylight hunting over the reeds on the edge of the lake.
Great White Egret
16 Grey Heron: Already at least 6 nests on the island.
7 Little Grebe
8 Great Crested Grebe
190 Tufted Duck
9 Pochard
42 Wigeon
76 Gadwall
5 Egyptian Goose
10 Siskin
160 Mallard
40 Coot
14 Moorhen
130 Canada Goose
85 Greylag Goose
7 Cormorant

Woodstock: Central
21 Mallard: The town centre possee continues to grow.

Bob Pomfret

Kingston Bagpuize 17th February

c40 Cattle Egret at Kingston Hill Farm off A415 from Kingston Bagpuize to Standlake in cow field opposite lay by at top of hill 14:16 (J.C, et al)

Ardley 17th February

Green-winged Teal drake again on the quarry pit 10:16 (per Gareth Casburn)

Henley Road GPs: 17th February

Henley Road GPs
2 Pintail: 1m 1f. On water ski pit Just flown to far site. 11:00.

Mick Hannington

Linch Hill (LWV Pit 18): 16th February

Linch Hill (LWV Pit 18)
Scaup: ad drk. Loosely associating with Tufted Ducks. 17:15.
3 Goosander: drk and two rh. 17:15.

Ian Elkins

Scaup courtesy of Ian Elkins

Play Hatch: 16th February

Play Hatch
Great White Egret: In normal field in play Hatch triangle driving past seen from road it's favourite place. SU746763. 11:25.

Ralph Watts

Sutton Courtenay flood 16th February

Black-tailed Godwit

Pintail 2

(T.W, et al)

Viewable from start of track to campsite off of B4016.

Standlake: 16th February

Standlake
2 White-fronted Goose: In field by church. 14:13.

Ian Elkins

Clifton 16th February

Green-winged Teal drake still present below Aynho Wharf on flood S/W of Warf Farm 08:52

Park at bridge adjacent to Great Western Arms and walk south along canal 

Peregrine 

Shelduck 5

(per Wayne Bull).

Radley GP: 16th February

Radley GP
2 Pintail: pair. Roosted overnight, but disturbed by dog-walkers, and flew off E at c.07:44. 07:30.
2 Goosander: pair. 07:30.

Ian Elkins

Port Meadow: 15th February

Port Meadow
2 Caspian Gull: 2 x 2w.
30 Barnacle Goose
20 Gadwall
30 Pintail

Adam Hartley

Waterstock: River Thame: 15th February

Waterstock: River Thame
Merlin: male. Watched as plucked prey in open meadow. 09:30.

97 Canada Goose 09:30.
2 Egyptian Goose 09:30.
3 Cormorant 09:30.
65 Fieldfare 09:30.
3 Gadwall 09:30.
6 Golden Plover 09:30.
Grey Wagtail 09:30.
600 Lapwing 09:30.
65 Linnet 09:30.
2 Little Egret 09:30.
12 Meadow Pipit 09:30.
23 Pintail 09:30.
55 Redwing 09:30.
2 Reed Bunting 09:30.
3 Shelduck 09:30.
6 Shoveler 09:30.
16 Snipe 09:30.
405 Teal 09:30.
150 Wigeon 09:30.
Woodcock 09:30.

Nick Marriner 

Farmoor 15th February

Grey plover - fly through mid afternoon.
Common sandpiper

Sent from my iPhone

Radley GP: Thrupp Lake: 15th February

Radley GP: Thrupp Lake
Red-crested Pochard: drk. 17:00.
2 Goosander: pair. 17:00.
2 Egyptian Goose 17:00.

Ian Elkins

A40: Woodstock Road roundabout: 15th February

A40: Woodstock Road roundabout
Hawfinch: male. feeding on the ground in my garden. SP448170. 15:14.

Paul Willis

Red Kite courtesy of Steve Liptrot.

 

Ardley 15th February

No sign of the Green-winged Teal on pit adjacent to the ERF site 10:09 (G.C)

Clifton 15th February

Green-winged Teal drake still present below Aynho Wharf on flood S/W of Warf Farm 09:59

Park at bridge adjacent to Great Western Arms and walk south along canal (per JFT).

New Marston: New Marston Meadows: 15th February

New Marston: New Marston Meadows
Woodcock: Marston Hamms. 10:26.
Stonechat: Marston Hamms. 10:26.
Peregrine: Male. Marston Hamms. 10:26.

Steve Jennings

Port Meadow 14th February

14th February
Great White Egret

13th February
Great White Egret
Oystercatcher: (first of year) flew along the river

12th February
Black-tailed Godwit  (first of year)

Ian Mackay, Thomas Miller

Witney Lake: 14th February

Witney Lake
Marsh Harrier: fem. Initially over Snipe Meadow being mobbed by LBB Gull; later flying over the lake. 15:05.

Andrew Mann

Farmoor Reservoir 14th February

Common Sandpiper 1 - this is the third year in succession one has wintered on the reservoir

European Stonechat 2 - m/f

Little Grebe 12

 

Stratfield Brake 14th February

Hawfinch in hedge along western side of football pitch c10:25 then flew west.

Blenheim 13th February

Oystercatcher - 1. First record for the year here.

Yellow-legged gull - 1 (3CY)

12th Feb

Goosander - 1 (first of the winter here). 3 seen earlier in the day by Dave Doherty.

Farmoor Reservoir 13th February

Marsh Harrier Shrike Meadow (D.J)

Childrey Field, 13 February

Great Bustard still present in the same place with Roe Deer.

Stephen Burch

Christ Church Oxford 13th February

Again no sign of the 1w male Black Redstart 

Peregrine 

(per Phil Barnett)

Hatford: Sandpit: 13th February

Hatford: Sandpit
2 Shelduck 07:35.

Jed Cleeter

Curlew Otmoor rspb 
Courtesy of Malcolm Bowey 

 

Otmoor rspb 12th February

Hen Harrier 2cy f

Marsh Harrier 4+ (inc wing taged)

Peregrine 

White-fronted Goose with Canada Geese on Noke Sides 

Bittern

(per Thomas Miller et al)

Ardley 12th February

Green-winged Teal drake no sign at 13:45 on quarry pit adjacent to the ERF site (I.S, et al)

Reported earlier on RBA in an area with no general access.

Park in lay-by on B430 cross road and take footpath east from the ERF site entrance to view pit on right.

Blenheim 11th February

Shelduck - 2 (m&f). Infrequent visitors these days.

Wigeon - c40

Pochard - 5

Great white egret - 2

The heronry is up and running on the Queen Pool island.

Chipping Norton: 11th February

Chipping Norton
Green Sandpiper: Flew up from the brook at Swailsford Bridge wetland - one of at least two wintering here. SP284265. 14:10.
Grey Wagtail: SP284265. 14:10.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 11th February

Chipping Norton
3 Stonechat: ad male; 2 ad fem. Pair in centre of marsh nr Cornwell; fem on bullrushes close to Alders. SP283268. 12:30.
7 Teal: On the small lake. Others heard whistling from the marsh. SP283268. 12:30.
Snipe: SP283268. 12:30.
Water Rail: Heard. SP283268. 12:30.
5 Moorhen: SP283268. 12:30.
2 Grey Heron: One on marsh; one roosting in the old oak. SP283268. 12:30.
6 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 12:30.
Cormorant: SP283268. 12:30.
2 Kestrel: SP283268. 12:30.
100 Fieldfare: SP283268. 12:30.

Steve Akers

Play Hatch: 11th February

Play Hatch
Buzzard: Near Shiplake College seen from road driving past. SU768783. 12:40.

Ralph Watts

Ardley 11th February

Green-winged Teal drake still present on pit adjacent to the ERF site 

Caspian Gull 2

Green Sandpiper 2 on ERF lagoon 

(per RBA et al)

Bicester Wetland Reserve 11th February

1 Green Sandpiper
90 Teal
4 Shoveler
18 Gadwall
1 Sparrowhawk

A Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Ardley 10th February

Green-winged Teal drake still present on quarry pit adjacent to the ERF site 12:51

Caspian Gull

Green Sandpiper on ERF lagoon

(per Ewan Urquhart)

Great Tew 10th February

Hawfinch St Michael's churchyard (per RBA)

Farmoor Reservoir 9th February

Caspian Gull 2cy

Mediterranean Gull ad

(per Ben Sheldon)

Chipping Norton: 9th February

Chipping Norton
Green Sandpiper: On the brook at Swailsford Bridge. SP284265. 16:00.
Little Egret: SP284265. 16:00.

Steve Akers

A329 near Moulsford: 9th February

A329 near Moulsford
6 White-fronted Goose: Still in field adjacent river, hard to see in 'misty' conditions, close to some Canada's and Graylag's. SU5985. 15:30.

Mike Amphlett

Mid Cherwell Valley: 9th February

Mid Cherwell Valley
1000 Lapwing: On the floods below Wharf Farm nr Souldern. 13:15.
500 Golden Plover 13:15.
120 Teal: No sign of the Drake Green Winged Teal in the flock. 13:15.
17 Pintail 13:15.
14 Shoveler 13:15.
100 Wigeon 13:15.
2 Gadwall 13:15.
Grey Heron 13:15.
3 Little Egret: Up in field close to Aynho Wharf. 13:15.

Steve Akers

Cholsey: Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve: 9th February

Cholsey: Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve
6 White-fronted Goose: Back on the Cholsey side with canadas and greylags. Viewable distantly from Ferry Road or from the muddy Thames path. SU595851. 14:47.

Michael Pocock

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 9th February

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
Pochard: LEUCISTIC Common pochard at first screen. 14:11.

Kosmo Dossett

New Marston: Ferry Road: 9th February

New Marston: Ferry Road
Brambling: One picked out eventually in huge mixed finch flock. Also an otter in the Cherwell, just upstream of the bridge. 13:00.

Simon Myers

Appleford: 9th February

Appleford
12 Egyptian Goose: SU513947. 13:32.

William Lester

Great Tew: 9th February

Hawfinch 1, briefly at St Michael's Church

Christ Church Oxford 9th February

Black Redstart 1w male still present 11:14 (per Phil Barnett)

Ardley 9th February

Green-winged Teal Still present in quarry pool. 10:15.
Green Sandpiper 10:15.

Simon Myers

Clifton 9th February

Green-winged Teal drake still present below Aynho Wharf on flood S/W of Warf Farm early morning.

Park at bridge adjacent to Great Western Arms and walk south along canal (per RBA).

Souldern: 8th February

Souldern
200 Teal: On the floods below Wharf Farm by the canal. 15:30.
17 Pintail: drk. Also several females. 15:30.
11 Shoveler 15:30.
24 Wigeon 15:30.
4 Gadwall: At least two pairs. 15:30.
1000 Lapwing: Incredible display with all birds in the air wheeling back and forth. 15:30.
150 Lesser Black-backed Gull 15:30.
100 Black-headed Gull 15:30.

Steve Akers

Otmoor rspb 8th February

Hen Harrier 2cy f

Marsh Harrier 5

Bittern 3

Barn Owl

(J.E, et al)

Marsh Harriers 6th Feb
Courtesy of Malcolm Bowey 

Clifton 8th February

Green-winged Teal drake still present below Aynho Wharf on flood S/W of Warf Farm c13:35.

Park at bridge adjacent to Great Western Arms and walk south along canal (per RBA).

North Stoke: 8th February

North Stoke
6 White-fronted Goose: Back at Little Stoke, settled in the Canada goose flock, viewed from the road corner.https://maps.app.goo.gl/uQkMKoDWxa9X9Six5 16:40.

Michael Pocock

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common: 8th February

Tar Lakes, Rushy Common
7 Goldeneye: Flew low North. 12:00.
Great White Egret 12:00.

Jed Cleeter

Cholsey 8th February

6 Russian White fronted Geese in the field just west of Cholsey Marsh visible from half way down Ferry lane 11:24 Originally found by Paul Rainsden at Little Stoke.

Above & below courtesy of Alan Dawson 

Port Meadow 8th February

Caspian Gull 2w (per RBA)

Christ Church Oxford 8th February

Black Redstart 1w male still present 09:04 (per Phil Barnett)

Ardley 8th February

Green-winged Teal drake still present midafternoon 

White-fronted Goose with Canada Geese but no further sign by 10:52

Caspian Gull 2 ad (J.T)

Green Sandpiper on ERF lagoon 

(per Kevin Heath, Kyle Smith, Stuart et al)

Courtesy of Kevin Heath

Piddington: 7th February

Piddington
Woodcock 17:37.

Colin Oram

Chipping Norton: 7th February

Chipping Norton
Green Sand.: SP284265. 12:00.
2 Stonechat: ad pair. SP284265. 12:00.
2 Pied Wagtail: SP284265. 12:00.
Grey Wagtail: SP284265. 12:00.
2 Kestrel: SP284265. 12:00.
2 Grey Heron: SP284265. 12:00.
3 Mute Swan: SP284265. 12:00.
50 Linnet: SP284265. 12:00.
Teal: drk. SP284265. 12:00.
Gadwall: fem. SP284265. 12:00.

Steve Akers

Aynho Wharf 7th February

GREEN-WINGED TEAL drake c13:00

Below Aynho wharf. Park at the bridge adjacent to Great Western Arms and walk south along the canal towards Somerton. In flood field below the farm on right hand side.

(per Sandra Bletchly)

Courtesy of Sandra Bletchly 

New Marston: New Marston Meadows: 7th February

New Marston: New Marston Meadows
Brambling: Seed fields N of MF road. Also 1k+ linnet, 85+ yellowhammer, and c. 300 chaffinch. 10:06.

Steve Jennings

Ardley 7th February

Green-winged Teal still present at Ardley Quarry 13:20 (per Mark Ribbons JFT)

Courtesy of Kevin Heath

Otmoor: 6th February

Otmoor
2 Barn Owl: Hunting over Greenaways and Ashgrave. 16:30.
Bittern 16:30.

Matthew Lloyd

Ardley ERF Lagoon: 6th February

Ardley ERF Lagoon
Green-winged Teal: Bird still present at 1600. Observed with Justin Taylor who had found it earlier. 15:15.

Laurie Bryant

Ardley Quarry 6th February

GREEN-WINGED TEAL drake 14:38 on Quarry Pit adjacent to Ardley ERF (per Justin Taylor).

Follow footpath east from the entrance to the ERF site to view pit on right.

Courtesy of Justin Taylor 

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 6th February

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
2 Bittern: One flying over reeds with another booming. 09:00.
3 Water Rail: Under feeders and crossing bridleway. 09:00.
Curlew: (heard). 09:00.

Simon Myers

2cy female Hen Harrier 4/2 
Courtesy of Paul Wyeth 

 

Port Meadow 6th February

Caspian Gull 2w (per RBA)

Oxford: Magdalen College: 6th February

Oxford: Magdalen College
Tawny Owl: fem. Heard. 03:40.

Nick Suckling

January Review

Highlights

After 2024 somewhat underperformed, 2025 got off to a flyer, bringing some hope that this year might do a little better on the county list and rarity front. Three species not recorded in 2024 came in the first couple weeks of the year and provided a welcome lift to any lingering January blues! The first of these and arguably the highlight of the month came from Balscote Quarry on the 2^nd January when a Bewick’s Swan was found resting on the small lake there. A rare bird pretty much anywhere that isn’t a WWT site these days and getting less abundant at these sites due birds stopping on the continent as climate change makes sites more and more attractive. With the most recent record coming not that long ago in 2023, when a pair stopped off at Otmoor before heading over to Slimbridge, this was still a very welcome way to ring in the New Year for county birders. As with the previous records the chances were that this bird was almost certainly enroute to Severn Estuary and so time was bound to be limited to enjoy this beautiful arctic visitor. 

The Bewick's Swan courtesy of Badger

Having spent the afternoon and early evening basking in the winter sun and providing the lucky few with some fantastic viewing opportunities, as expected the bird departed that even and arriving at Slimbridge overnight. As with a lot of the Bewick’s that arrive at Slimbridge this bird underwent the usual scrutiny of its unique bill pattern to figure out whether it has been recorded before and what it’s history is if so. This individual, likely a male, arrived as a yearling in 2023 with its parents ‘Orkney Reid’ and ‘Doodled’ who has been coming to Slimbridge for 6 years now, and when it arrived in 2023 it was, as all newcomers are, named – ‘Cardington’. But after some liaising between one of our own and Slimbridge folk the bird was renamed ‘Balscote’ in honour of its little excursion into the county. Hopefully in years to come we can track the movements of this young bird over the coming year and whether it continues to return like its mother for many years to come. More information can be found here on the WWT blog - https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/news/bewicks-blog-winter-20242025

Balscote & chums Slimbridge WWT

Waders

Although occasionally the county can have a busy and interesting winter when it comes to waders – see Cote in 2023 when it seemingly became twinned with Thames Estuary, normal service has been resumed this winter with little birds of note. Dunlin were the only uncommon species to be recorded this month with three records from two sites. Pit 60 had two on the 4^th, whilst Port Meadow, attractive as it always is, had five on 9^th rising to 12 on the 10^th. The wintering Common Sandpiper continued its stay at the big concrete bowl of Farmoor with sporadic records in January. It was briefly joined by a 2^nd bird on the 13^th, at least showing the site is attractive to more than one bird in the winter. As I may have mentioned before, if anyone has any literature on wintering fidelity of Common Sandpiper I’d be very interested! 

Farmoor Common Sandpiper courtesy of Ewan Urquart

Elsewhere, wintering Green Sandpiper continued to be somewhat thin on the ground with only three sites reporting birds in January. Chipping Norton continued to hold up to two birds with a one regular bird reported during the month. Peep-o-Day Lane then also hosted a single bird between the 18^th and 27^th of the month, whilst Ardley ERF in the far north of the county had one lone bird on the 25^th. Records of Jack Snipe were fairly widespread and sporadic in their reporting, as is to be expected from this elusive species. Records came from at least four sites in January, with Waterstock hosting the most birds with three here on the 12^th. With other sites hosting more typical numbers with singles, which included Days Lock and New Marston Meadows in the latter part of the month. Woodcock, however, were much more numerous in abundance and sites which recorded them. At least six sites recorded birds this month, often several together. The largest count came from Chipping Norton where at least ten birds were reported across the estate land there. A somewhat surprising count of five came from Peep-o-Day Lane with birds seen flying from roost into the old landfill site for a night of probing for earthworms. Other sites recorded single birds and included Piddington, a site that usually has double figure counts, Abingdon and lower Heyford.

The first Oystercatcher of the spring (?!) arrived over East Challow on the 14^th although been a nocmigged record it was potentially just transiting the county to elsewhere. Either way this bird is the 2^nd earliest arrival since the turn of the century (12^th January 2021) and beating the median arrival date of the last decade by more than 3 weeks! This was followed by birds at Rushy Common on the 22^nd and Lower Windrush Valley on the 26^th with a pair at the latter site. All arriving earlier than in previous years. As is often said about such events ‘changing baselines before our very eyes’. The only other bird of the note for the month came in the form of a pair of Curlew back at Otmoor and although not the first birds to have returned this winter, the haunting call of a Curlew back across the county’s premier birding site is something worth celebrating!

Common Sandpiper courtesy of John Workman

Wildfowl etc

Wildfowl season really got underway this month with several county rarities recorded and enjoyed for long periods of time, a nice change for those of us not always able to react to news straightaway! Arguably the rarity of the month came in the form of a drake Green-winged Teal at Otmoor on the 24^th. Just pipped to the top highlight spot by Bewick’s Swan, mostly due to a personal love of that species having spent the early part of my career volunteering in the research department at Slimbridge, Green-winged Teal is very much a top level county rarity. Although the last record came in early 2024 at Day Lock, this belies the true status of this species at a county level. Since 2000 there have been four records previous to this one, with the last two all but untwitchable. A drake showing at close range from the 1^st screen then, was very likely to be a popular bird. Thankfully the bird did the right thing and remained present until the next day and in fact through the remainder of the month into February. It took some sifting through the hordes of ‘standard’ Teal,  especially with the constant threat of hunting Marsh Harrier causing absolute chaos and creating an avian version of musical chairs - just as you were fairly confident you had sorted through one half of the birds. A bit of patience though was well rewarded with some great views of a great bird. 

The Green-winged Teal, above courtesy of Conor MacKenzie


Green-winged Teal courtesy of Gareth Casburn

Somewhat overshadowed in rarity value but certainly not in aesthetics, a pair of Smew from far south of the county got most of the county birders moving to a part of the county that doesn’t always get that much attention. A redhead and a drake, easily the prettiest duck pairing, were present at Henley Road GP’s from the 12^th until at least the 29^th with a constant stream of admirers making the worthwhile pilgrimage to the border with Berkshire. This was the first record of the species since a somewhat epic record from Port Meadow in 2023, where a redhead briefly made an appearance on the vast flood that forms on the site every winter. 

The drake Smew, above courtesy of Ben Sheldon and below Johnathan Mercer

 

Also making the site worthy of a visit was the wintering Great Northern Diver which was present at the end of 2024. Although the Diver seemingly preferred the larger sailing lake on the other side of the causeway to the Smew pair. Having already spent quite a bit of the winter at the site, it was somewhat unsurprising that it continued until the end of the month and into February. 

Courtesy of Marek Walford

The female Ring-necked Duck which put in a brief appearance at the end of 2024 made a reappearance at Dix Pit on the 12^th before bunking again. It did finally pop up again 3 days later but this time at West Oxon Sailing Club Pits and from there became much more reliable, been recorded all the way through to the 31^st except for a brief return to Dix Pit on the 19^th.  Also a Dix Pit on the 19^th was another good county bird with a Brent Goose present in the afternoon roost. It seemingly changed its mind in the last few hours of daylight and departed the site to pastures new. One bird that caused some discussion in the early part of the month was a possible Ferruginous Duck present on Dix Pit on the NYD, a mighty find for the local patch birder there. Unfortunately it departed and that seemed to be it until it reappeared, just as the Ring-necked Duck did, at West Oxon Sailing Club later in the month where it was much easier to scrutinise. With some good photos, it was possible to see that this bird unfortunately had some Pochard in its lineage and was a hybrid of some kind. The bird continued to be reported from the gravel pits sporadically until at least the 26^th. 

Courtesy of Nick Truby

It doesn’t quite feel like the winter birding season until we get a wintering Scaup at Farmoor, such is the regularity and reliability of the species at this site. It had been getting a bit late in the day for one to make an appearance, so it was a relief when one finally was found at Farmoor on the 12^th. The lone drake continued at the site only until the 15^th, a surprisingly short stay for a species which often can be present from November until March. Astonishingly the drake then turned up a Hinksey Lake the following day – a fantastic find for the local birder who patches here and for such an urban patch, in what presumably is a first record for the City of Oxford?! With its new found home so small and accessible it continued to show extremely well during its short stay until at least the morning of the 18^th , when it departed not to be found elsewhere in the county as of writing. 

The Scaup at Hinskey courtesy of Gareth Cashburn

Scaup at Farmoor courtesy of Debbie Cummins

A trio of White-fronted Goose at Standlake also have plenty of admirers this month, with the group being present from the 1^st until at least the 26^th. Three different birds were also at Otmoor on the 17^th and were presumably being pulled there by the masses of Greylag and Canada Goose. Also at Otmoor this month was a 1w male  Garganey, found within the masses of Eurasian Teal from the 1^st screen on the same day as Green-winged Teal. 

Garganey courtesy of Badger

Not an unusual occurrence these days, with almost annual wintering records in the county. But if you thought the Green-winged Teal was difficult to pick out of the hundreds of wildfowl present from the 1^st screen constantly changing places, you can see why no reports followed this initial sighting. 

The White-fronted Geese courtesy of Steve Burch

Shelduck were only reported from four sites this month, with Peep-o-Day Lane providing the most records this month. A single bird was present for a few days in the latter part of the month with the bird at Appleford GPs on the 27^th presumably the same bird. Port Meadow had two birds on the 17^th and Chimney Meadows hosted a single on the 22^nd. Goldeneye were surprisingly more spread than usual this month. Two were present at Henley Road GP’s on the 11^th, whilst Farmoor hosted up to five birds between the 13^th and 16^th. Radley GP also hosted a single bird on the 19^th until at least the 15^th, whilst Dix Pit, the county’s premier site, hosted a maximum of 15 throughout January. Goosander were present at a minimum of 7 sites this month, typically in pairs or small groups. The max count came from Dix Pit where at least four were present on the 20^th. At least two sites hosted Mandarin this month. A drake continued briefly at the Ducklington which continued to be probably the most discussed Mandarin in the county’s history. Whilst Blenheim had two females on the 3^rd. 

Goldeneye courtesy of Debbie Cummins

 Herons, egrets etc

Cattle Egret were a little more numerous and widespread in January with the usual large feeding flock present in the Wytham area for much of the month, with a maximum of 25 here on the 6^th. Additional records came from a minimum of five sites with small feeding parties of between 3-5 at most sites with the exception of a single bird at Peep-o-Day Lane for much of the early part of the month. Great White Egret however were again at a whopping number of sites with a minimum of 17 sites hosting between 1 – 3 birds in January. Otmoor and Blenheim both hosted three birds at some point this month, on the 25^th and 22^nd respectively. At least two sites hosted two birds, namely Peep-o-Day Lane and Henley Road GPs on the 7^th and 10^th respectively. Who knows how many birds are actually present in the county at any one time, but with a maximum of 13 present at one sight last year you have to wonder if 2025 might finally be the year we get our first breeding record of the species?!

Bittern & Marsh Harrier Otmoor rspb courtesy of Malcolm Bowey

In a somewhat groundhog day round up of this group the Great Bustard continued in its favoured field at Childrey in the New Year, often in the company of Roe Deer but not exclusively so. Possibly some disturbance to the field meant the giant bird was only present until at least the 13^th, although she did finally return early the next month. The Great Bustard Group kindly provided some interesting information on this bird after a bit of digging around. Apparently, she spends most of her time up on the Oxon Downs since being rescued as an egg from Spain and released on Salisbury Plain in 2019. She did however return to the plain last spring to breed but seemingly couldn’t stay away from Oxon Downs too long and returned for the winter. Apparently she is one of the only birds who doesn’t stick with the main droves of Great Bustard during the winter, maybe one day some others will follow her! 

"Our" Great Bustard, courtesy of Geoff Dymott

 Gulls and Terns

A very quiet month this month, with most of the action coming from Port Meadow in January. A range of ages of Caspian Gull were present in the sites evening roost – 1^st winter, 2^nd winter and the odd adult too. Farmoor also had at least one bird this month, a 2^nd CY on the 13^th, whilst Cassington and Ardley ERF hosted a single and two birds respectively in the 2^nd half of the month. Mediterranean Gull were present at two sites this month, including the usual lone bird on Port Meadow – an adult in the roost on the 18th and 21^st. Sonning Eye GPs also hosted a single bird on the 12^th. 

Adult Caspian Gull on Port Meadow courtesy of Thomas Miller

Passerines

After given many folk the runaround last month the Bearded Tit at Radley GPs became somewhat more reliable although still not at all easy to pin down. It took several people, myself included, multiple visits and hours to get decent views of this local mega. Records came fairly frequently during the early part of January and then tailed off in the latter part with less people on site, although the last record came on the 29^th. Hawfinch records subsided substantially into the New Year, with only four sites recording birds this month. A far cry from the spread of records the previous two months, only one site was a new one - an unconfirmed report from Otmoor on the 17^th . East Lockinge continued to host at least a couple birds from New Years Day until at least the 4^th. Great Tew was the most reliable site this month with between one and three birds present from the 16^th until at least the 20^th. Woodstock had a flock five over the aptly named secret garden on  the 21^st, with plenty of habitat for birds to disappear into. 

Bearded Tit courtesy of Thomas Miller

The Black Redstart in Oxford and Chinnor continued their winter residency throughout the whole of January. The 1^st winter male continued to garner admirers feeding in the winter sun along the walls and ivy of Christchurch College. Interestingly the female type returned to the site on the 3^rd after a long absence but was gone again by the 11^th. Quite where it has been in the interim is not entirely certain, but a clue might be in the fact the 1^st winter male turned up at the Radcliffe Camera on the 31^st. The female type remained at Chinnor Quarry or more accurately the new housing estate here from the 2^nd until at least the 29^th, with few reports in between. 

Black Redstart Chinnor courtesy of Jez March

The Christ church male Black Redstart courtesy of Ewan Urquart

Siberian Chiffchaff also remained in situ at their favoured wintering sites, with the ringed bird still present at Port Meadow on the 10^th and 15^th at least. Abingdon STW also continued to host its two birds with both present on the 7^th and again on the 24^th. A new bird was also present this month, with a single at Didcot STW also on the 24^th, a good indication that many more birds are out there at underwatched sites across the county. Along with the two Sibe’s present at Abingdon STW were a unprecedented amount of Common Chiffchaff, with a minimum of 80 birds present in the early part of the month and probably 100 birds all together between the sewage treatment works and the rest of Peep-o-Day Lane. What is more surprising is that nothing rarer than the two Siberian Chiffchaff were plucked out of the wintering hordes of Phylloscopus on site.

Siberian Chiffchaff Didcot courtesy of Ian Lewington

The Port Meadow Siberian Chiffchaff courtesy of Thomas Miller

Raptors

At least three sites hosted Hen Harrier in January, a nice increase from the previous month and inlcuding an stonking adult male up on the Oxon Downs. The other two consisted of a ringtail hunting close to Didcot, whilst a 2^nd calendar female did the rounds at Otmoor rspb entertaining the local birders at that site. Short-eared Owl were present at several sites this month, with the Oxon Downs hosting likely double figures at one point whilst another site in the south county also hosted at least three birds in what is proving to be another good year for the species. 

The Otmoor rspb Hen Harrier 
Above & below courtesy of Malcolm Bowey

Merlin also were present on at least three sites this month, with all three been immature or female type birds. At Appleford one flew over at dusk on the 2^nd, whilst Childrey Fields hosted one sporadically between the 3^rd and the end of the month. Chipping Norton also hosted a single bird on the 20^th. 

Wing-tagged Marsh Harrier Blenhiem courtesy of Gareth Casburn

 

The wing-tagged Marsh Harrier that had been at both Pit 60 and Otmoor earlier in the winter period then turned up at Blenheim on the 8^th, having been ringed in Cambs in the summer of 2024 it will be interesting to see if the bird remains at Otmoor or if it continues to be nomadic for a little while longer.

Barn Owl Otmoor rspb courtesy of Zeke Ng

 

Patchwork challenge

Patch	Birder	Points	Species	Highlight
Aston eyot	Ben Sheldon
Ardley ERF	Gareth Casburn	54	50
Dix pit	Simon Bradfield
Grimsbury reservoir	Gareth Blockley
Lye valley	Tom Bedford
River Thames	Geoff Wyatt	95	85	Jack Snipe
Sutton Courtenay	Conor MacKenzie	85	79	Siberian Chiffchaff
Radley GP’s	Ian Elkins	72	70	Bearded Tit, Goldeneye and Goosander
Freeland	Glen Pascoe
South Hinksey	Alex Figueiredo
Cholsey	Alan Dawson

Oxon Big Year 2025

A few of us are attempting a bit of an Oxon Big Year in 2025, with the aim of someone or all of us cracking 200 species in the county in a single calendar year. Given the sorry state of the county year list in 2024, which barely scraped by 200 and the general downward trend of the county year list year on year this may be a tough ask. The 200 barrier has been broken a couple times, most recently in 2009 when the county recorded 213 species in the year but also included some subspecies such as American Black Tern. 2025 has already got off to a good start with three new species recorded not seen in 2024, so momentum for a better year total seems to be there but who knows what the Spring will bring with it. For this year’s Oxon Big Year list were going to be following eBird taxonomy (Clements List), as this allows us to keep easy track of progress throughout the year and it also counts a few of the non-BOU species i.e Great Bustard – we're going to need all the help we can get on that front!  Depending on how it goes and what the next couple months look like, I will do my best to bring some updates on our individual and collective progress in this quest for the mythical 200.

Name	Total
Ben Sheldon	121
Thomas Miller	116
Neil Hayward	104
Conor MacKenzie	114

GWT A great addition to any year list!
Courtesy of Richard Stevens

Birding Reminiscences - Spotted Sandpiper - Farmoor, 1990.

by Phil Barnett

 
By 1990, I was enjoying county birding. I was living with my parents in Beckley, which was ideal for spending days on Otmoor. Despite the remoteness and fascination of the place, I was always interested in what else was going on in the county and elsewhere. At the time transport was hard to come by, and a few of us teen-birders (including Justin Taylor, John Prowse and Jason Coppock) used to rely on the monthly RSPB outings to places like Radipole and Portland (where I had 17 'lifers' on my first outing on April 26th 1987) and Dungeness (another 15, the next month).
 
Towards the end of 1988 my Mum was OK with me going on the bus and I used to get up to Farmoor on occasions and sometimes Dorchester and other places. I got the occasional lift and, on one such time, had two lifers at Farmoor on December 30th 1988 - two Great-northern Divers and a male Snow Bunting which flew in and landed on the causeway for a couple of minutes before flying off. I was still hurting, though, from dipping Leach's Petrel and Grey Phalarope there in September.
 
Throughout 1988 and 1989 we continued to go on the RSPB coach outings. In September 1988 we ticked Ortolan Bunting at Portland Bill, which I wrote down at the time was "truly stunning and beautiful in immaculate male plumage." We had spent some time looking for the right place, so when we saw it at reasonably close range, it was a brilliant feeling. September the following year saw us get another lifer, another species prominent on the wanted list, this time a Red-necked Phalarope at Dungeness. We knew beforehand it was there, so when Justin told us that Jason wasn't coming, as he had a hangover, we knew something was wrong. Teenage pursuits had taken over, but he's back birding now.
 
In 1989 in Oxfordshire, after several attempts, I got Ferruginous Duck (still needed by Stuart Thomson and others in the county) at Dorchester in March and Hoopoe at Dix Pit in April, exactly a month later on April 12th. It flew up and landed in a willow, a euphoric moment after all the effort. I left some details on the Birdline answer phone, and was somewhat star struck when Richard Millington left a message with my sister for me to phone him back about it.
 
A bird that I was fascinated by seeing was a summer plumaged Spotted Sandpiper and I used to occasionally try and distract myself from lessons by drawing it (and other species) in exercise books. I remember doing this around the time of May 1st (May Day) 1989, a date I have always thought was a good one for birding after I saw my first Marsh Harrier, on Otmoor, on that date in 1988.
 
On May 1st 1989 I was walking around the rifle range on Otmoor in the evening (in the days when there were Marsh Fritillaries and Nightingales, and you didn't need a permit), when I met a birder who told me he had been at Farmoor that morning and there was nothing there but six Common Sandpipers. It turned out he had looked at only the first two or three of the flock. I was more than a little shocked when I turned up at Farmoor on the 3rd by bus, to see from reading in the log book that in fact there had been five Common Sandpipers and a summer plumaged Spotted Sandpiper on the 1st. The Spotted Sandpiper was a county first, which Bob Burgess and Carl Salmon had found. I forlornly walked around the area knowing that it wasn't going to be there, but maybe there was just a chance. There wasn't.

Towards the end of 1989 I was starting to 'twitch' birds outside the county by train and I saw Dark-eyed Junco at Portland (along with Rose-coloured Starling) in December 1989. In 1990 I saw the last twitchable Dusky Thrush in the UK in February, at Chingford in Essex. It was of the form Naumann's (there's since been one record of either of the forms, another Naumann's near there in 1997). The Naumann's Thrush is one of three species I've seen in the UK that Justin hasn't.
 
By this time lifers on the RSPB coach outings were getting hard to come by, though I had two on March 17th 1990 at Chew Valley Lake - Ring-billed Gull and Water Pipit. This was the second last time (the last the following month to Elmley) I went out with the RSPB group. Older friends, like Justin, were soon to pass their driving tests. During the day someone phoned Birdline and we found out about Woodchat Shrikes at Portland and Plymouth, the first March records of the species in the UK. The Birding World editorial noted that "rare birds abounded in March, mainly due to the exceptional warm weather - indeed on some days regular Birdline listeners could have been forgiven for thinking it was May!"
 
A week later on March 24th, I got the train to Dawlish Warren and had a three tick day. The Great-spotted Cuckoo which had arrived there on the 20th (I painted it when I got home and gave the painting to my Mum for an Easter card), then I got a lift for the Woodchat Shrike near Plymouth and we saw Cirl Bunting on the way back. The Woodchat Shrike looked pristine and beautiful in the coastal sun, another euphoric moment.
 
That spring seemed to be a magical time for birding, with major rarities turning up in the UK almost every day for a while. Alpine Accentor on the Isle of Wight (which I saw with Justin), Tree Swallow (Scilly), Least Tern (Sussex, it had been there since 1983 though the news broke in 1990), Pallas's Sandgrouse (Shetland), White-throated Robin (Skokholm). But most spectacular was the Ancient Murrelet on Lundy. For a short time the phone box in Beckley was not working properly and you could make phone calls for no charge, ideal for phoning Birdline. I remember phoning Birdline from there and hearing about the Ancient Murrelet. It was the first and only time I'd not heard of the species mentioned on Birdline and I didn't have any idea what it was either (I thought well maybe it's a type of parrot). I was desperate to see it (I'd since found out it was an auk) for the three summers it was there, but my Mum had other ideas.
 
I was enjoying the school summer holidays that year and at the beginning of July was working at the local Pick Your Own farm in Stanton St John. I was payed £1:63 an hour - a figure I inquired about once, but was shown a table of agricultural wages which showed that that was the starting wage for a farm labourer. The weather was good (it was a warm spring and summer), and things seemed much less complicated then. I guess they were.
 
In those days finding out about local rarities depended upon having a network of contacts. I'd met many of the county birders, including Bob Burgess (when I asked him if his initials were MO, which I'd seen several times in the county bird report, he pointed out they stood for 'many observers'), but was only on phone terms with a few. In those days there were no mobiles, pagers, websites, email groups and text alerts, so finding out about things was a much more haphazard affair.
 
I arrived home shortly after 5pm on July 4th and my Mum told me that my friend from Aylesbury, Andrew Taylor (who I had first met on a YOC holiday in 1988), had phoned. He'd left a message with details about a sandpiper at Farmoor. As she looked for the piece of paper, I thought the most likely bet is Pectoral (which I'd seen, with him the previous autumn at Startop's Reservoir, Tring) and phoned Birdline Midlands for the details....."in Oxfordshire, the summer plumaged Spotted Sandpiper is still at Farmoor Reservoir" (or something like that).....now I wanted to get to Farmoor as soon as possible. My Mum gave me a lift to Headington, where I got a bus to Oxford, then a bus to Farmoor. From there I ran the short distance to the reservoir, then up the causeway. I passed a few birders, including Carl Salmon, who told me it was still there and round the back of F1. A few minutes later I was watching it, getting good views. Steve Heath had found it the day before and it seems likely it was the same bird that had been present on May 1st the previous year. There had been a summering bird in Yorkshire in 1990, last seen on June 25th, so perhaps that was the Farmoor bird.

Farmoor Spotted Sandpiper (this one from May 2014) courtesy of Roger Wyatt

The day could improve even more though, as England were playing Germany (West, as it was then) in the World Cup semi-final whilst I was at Farmoor. The feel good feeling for the World Cup had been increased by the New Order (Englandneworder) song 'World in Motion' which had been Number 1 for two weeks in June, until knocked of by Elton John with 'Sacrifice'/'Healing Hands', who was replaced at Number 1 by Partners in Kryme with 'Turtle Power'. I'd been a fan of New Order since 1987 when I was mesmerized by the song 'True Faith' - a record released that year that seemed to be in stark contrast with most of the charts, dominated largely then by the various Stock, Aitken & Waterman acts.

The England New Order song lyrics were ambiguous enough so they could apply to anything that is important - John Barnes rapped "we ain't no hooligans, this ain't a football song." One phrase, sung twice in the song, is "when something's good, it's never gone." Though England lost the semi-final on penalties, that day was perhaps the one I've enjoyed the most in Oxfordshire birding.