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Saturday, 19 April 2025

Friday, 18 April 2025

Beckley: Otmoor Lane: 18th April

Beckley: Otmoor Lane
4 Redshank: SP559126. 21:57.

Jo Amor

Chipping Norton: 18th April

Chipping Norton
Peregrine: Perched on tree branch on the wetland at Swailsford Bridge when I arrived - then flew off up the Swail Valley; also four Roe Deer Does out playing and grazing. 19:14.

Steve Akers

Farmoor 18th




Sent from my iPhone

Farmoor Reservoir 18th April

Grasshopper Warbler 2+ Pinkhill 
Lesser Whitethroat 
Yellow Wagtail along causeway 
Oystercatcher 2

(per Andy Last & Hannah)

Lark Hill 18th April

Wheatear m (per Steve Burch)

The Sprins , Witney: 17th April

17th April

The Sprins , Witney
2 Raven: Tumbling about probable breeding display. Some conflict with crows. SP363094. 02:25.

North Cross Valley Way
Peregrine: male. Flew in from West and perched on pylon to East. SP367084. 15:15.
Yellow Wagtail: Could've been more. On banks of 'floods' to west nr. road to tar lakes. SP367084. 15:15.

John Pimm

Thursday, 17 April 2025

Farmoor Reservoir: Causeway: 17th April

Farmoor Reservoir: Causeway
2 Sanderling: Still present on F2 side. 19:45.

Matthew Lloyd

Peep-o-Day Lane/ Drayton 17th April

Black-tailed Godwit still on 1066
Little-ringed Plover 3
Great white Egret 
Shelduck 2
Raven 2

RSPB Otmoor Thursday 17 April

Whinchat 1
Grasshopper Warbler 4
Whitethroat 3
Cuckoo 3
Bittern 1 (booming at 1st screen)

male whinchat near hide
Male Whinchat near Hide


Grasshopper Warbler near Hide



















Farmoor Reservoir 17th April




Grasshopper Warbler


Sanderling


Grasshopper Warbler 3 poss 4 reeling males

Sanderling 2
Common Sandpiper 6
Common Redshank 1

Northern Shoveler 3
Little Egret 1
Cuckoo 1

Sand Martin 60+
Swallow 2

Farmoor

 Sanderling - 2




Farmoor: 17th April

Grasshopper warbler in the scrub near Pinkhill Lock courtesy of Geoff Dymott 

2 Sanderling: Along the causeway (F2).
Grasshopper Warbler: In scrub at Pinkhill.
4 Whitethroat
5 Sedge Warbler
2 Reed Warbler
3 Cetti's Warbler
4 Willow Warbler
2 Garden Warbler
Common Sandpiper
Kingfisher

Richard Parsons

Lark Hill Wantage 17th April

Whinchat still present this afternoon 
Wheatear 4

(per Kevin Heath)

Berinsfield

Redstart - male
Wheatear - male 

Baulking: 12th April

Baulking
Cuckoo: Belated report of a singing male last Saturday. 12:35.

Jed Cleeter

Otmoor: 17th April

Otmoor
Hobby 11:30.
Grasshopper Warbler 11:30.
Cuckoo 11:30.

Nick Suckling

Northern cross valley way: 17th April

Northern cross valley way
2 Ringed Plover: SP363078. 08:30.
3 Little Ringed Plover: SP363078. 08:30.
3 Oystercatcher: SP363078. 08:30.
2 Dunlin: SP363078. 08:30.
Green Sandpiper: SP363078. 08:30.
Yellow Wagtail: SP363078. 08:30.
Cuckoo: SP363078. 08:30.
Great White Egret: SP363078. 08:30.
2 Egyptian Goose: SP363078. 08:30.

Simon Myers

Garford: 16th April

Garford
2 Swallow: Back in their normal place at the farm. 11:00.

Richard Parsons

Chipping Norton: 17th April

Chipping Norton
Green Sandpiper: On the wetland at Swailsford Bridge Cornwell then flew to the faster flowing section. SP284265. 09:15.
Mandarin Duck: Drake flying over with Mallard. SP284265. 09:15.
2 Sedge Warbler: SP284265. 09:15.
Grey Wagtail: ad male. SP284265. 09:15.
Grey Heron: SP284265. 09:15.
Green Woodpecker: SP284265. 09:15.
Kestrel: ad male. SP284265. 09:15.
2 Blackcap: SP284265. 09:15.
3 Chiffchaff: SP284265. 09:15.

Steve Akers

Grimsbury Reservoir 17th April

Common Sandpiper 2
Yellow Wagtail 1+
White Wagtail 
Sedge Warbler 3

(per JFT)

Letcombe Bassett: 17th April

Letcombe Bassett
4 Yellow Wagtail: Near track on Holborn hill. 08:01.

Jed Cleeter

Wednesday, 16 April 2025

Farmoor Reservoir: 16th April

Farmoor Reservoir
Turnstone: Resting along the causeway F1 side. 19:05.
Grasshopper Warbler: Reeling along edge of River Thames near Pinkhill. 19:05.
46 Sand Martin: Feeding over F1. 19:05.

Glen Pascoe

Lark Hill 16th April

Courtesy of Russell Allen 












Whinchat along perimeter fence of reservoir
Wheatear 4 (2m)

(Per Moth)

Courtesy of Geoff Dymott 






Sonning Eye GPs: 16th April

Sonning Eye GPs
Raven 14:30.
12 Egyptian Goose: m/f. With 10 well grown goslings. 14:30.
Ring-necked Parakeet: Over the. 14:30.

Ralph Watts

Chipping Norton: 16th April

Chipping Norton
2 Green Sandpiper: On the wetland at Swailsford Bridge Cornwell. SP284265. 09:30.
8 Swallow: SP284265. 09:30.
3 Pied Wagtail: SP284265. 09:30.

Steve Akers

Tuesday, 15 April 2025

Chinnor: Cement Works: 15th April

Chinnor: Cement Works
2 Little Ringed Plover: By the west screen Lake 2b. 10:00.

David Stracey

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 15th April

Otmoor: RSPB reserve
5 Ringed Plover: Big Otmoor. 18:56.
2 Little Ringed Plover: Big Otmoor. 18:56.
3 Dunlin: Big Otmoor. 18:56.

Isaac West

Farmoor Reservoir 15th April


Caspian Gull 1 second calendar year

Grasshopper Warbler 1
Lesser Whitethroat 1


Reed Warbler 
Sedge Warbler
Garden Warbler
Blackcap
Common Whitethroat
Common Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Cetti's Warbler

Sand Martin 30+
Swallow 2

Cuckoo 1
Little Egret 1
Common Sandpiper 3


Stanton St. John: 15th April

Stanton St. John
Cuckoo: One calling on Woodperry estate. SP578102. 17:29.

David Brown

Drayton 1066: 15th April

Drayton 1066
Black-tailed Godwit: One on pit N of Drayton-Sutton Courtenay road. Also: Great White Egret 1 Shoveller 9+ Teal 2 Gadwall 11+ Sedge Warbler 2 singing. SU489942. 16:45.

Phil Chapman

Larkhill, Wantage 15 April

Wheatear © Stephen Burch
Whinchat © Stephen Burch

Larkhill 15th April

Whinchat around perimeter fence of reservoir
Wheatear 4
Corn Bunting 

(per Justin Taylor)

Chipping Norton: 15th April

Chipping Norton
Peregrine: Perched on tree which lies on the wetland at Swailsford Bridge Cornwell - it preened and cleaned for over an hour after bathing. SP284265. 09:45.
Green Sandpiper: SP284265. 09:45.
Yellow Wagtail: SP284265. 09:45.
Sedge Warbler: FOY. SP284265. 09:45.
Little Egret: SP284265. 09:45.

Steve Akers

Abingdon: 15th April

Abingdon
Willow Warbler: One singing on S bank of Thames opposite Abbey Meadows. SU504970. 13:00.

Phil Chapman

Wantage: 13th April

Wantage
Yellow Wagtail: One flew N over the market square late morning. SU398879. 18:07.

Phil Chapman

Port Meadow: 15th April

A round-up of recent sightings on Port Meadow:

Today
Common Tern on the flood
Garden Warbler in Burgess Field

Yesterday
Reed Warbler singing in the Trap Grounds
2 Shelduck

Sunday
3 Yellow Wagtail
2 Shelduck
Little Ringed Plover
Lesser Whitethroat in Burgess Field
 

Thomas Miller, Adam Hartley

Farmoor April 15th 06:00-08:45

Arctic Tern - 1 on F2 buoy, then flew south (07:02)
Common Tern - 1 F2 remained after the Arctic flew off 
10sp Warbler 
Common Sandpiper - 4 
Caspian Gull - 1 2CY
Barn Swallow - 1 



Monday, 14 April 2025

Chimney: Chimney Meadows: 14th April

Chimney: Chimney Meadows
22 Cattle Egret: SP364008. 13:05.

Sam Prior

Venn Mill: 14th April

Venn Mill
4 Little Ringed Plover
2 Shelduck

Hatford: Sandpit
4 Shelduck: 2 pairs - not very happy with each other.

Mark Merritt

Lark Hill

Whinchat
Wheatear - 2




Farmoor Reservoir 14th April

Caspian Gull 2cy
Common Sandpiper 5
Mandarin f flew down the Thames
Garden Warbler 

(per Johnny Eclipse)

Redstart near the zigzag path (D.J)

Abingdon: River Thames: 14th April

Abingdon: River Thames
Sedge Warbler: One singing in scrub on S bank of Thames near the lock - first I've recorded on the patch so probably passing through. SU505970. 12:40.

Phil Chapman

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 14th April

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
5 Goosander: 3 males, 2 females in Combe Creek.
Great White Egret
8 Cattle Egret: On the island in theusual place. I don't think they have started nesting yet.
9 Grey Heron: 7 or 8 nests I think. Down on recent years.
Oystercatcher: on the island.
4 Shoveler

Bob Pomfret

Crog Hill: 14th April

Crog Hill
Wheatear
Yellow Wagtail

Woolstone Down
Wheatear
Raven

Devil's Punchbowl
6 Wheatear

Mark Merritt

Chipping Norton: 14th April

Chipping Norton
4 Green Sandpiper: On the Swailsford Bridge wetland nr Cornwell - highest count this year. SP284265. 07:30.
2 Mandarin Duck: pair. Over. SP284265. 07:30.
4 Pied Wagtail: SP284265. 07:30.
Willow Warbler: FOY. SP284265. 07:30.
Swallow: SP284265. 07:30.
2 Stonechat: pair. On the marsh nr Cornwell. SP283268. 08:15.
8 Teal: SP283268. 08:15.
2 Sand Martin: Over. SP283268. 08:15.
Water Rail: Unusual sighting - seen flying from Salford Brook over to the cover of the marsh. SP283268. 08:15.
14 Reed Bunting: SP283268. 08:15.
2 Grey Heron: SP283268. 08:15.
Great Spotted Woodpecker: SP283268. 08:15.
2 Blackcap: SP283268. 08:15.
2 Kestrel: pair. SP283268. 08:15.
2 Mistle Thrush: SP283268. 08:15.

Steve Akers

Stanton St. John: 14th April

Stanton St. John
Wheatear 08:47.
Yellow Wagtail 08:47.

D Moden

Otmoor rspb 14th April

Grasshopper Warbler Morleys 
Cuckoo 2
Whitethroat 
Bittern 2+

(P.Bh et al)

Sunday, 13 April 2025

Greenshank Cholsey
Courtesy of Alan Dawson 

 

Chipping Norton: 13th April

Chipping Norton
2 Stonechat: pair. Striking male with female perched on the marsh grass at the small lake nr Cornwell. SP283268. 16:00.
2 Kestrel: pair. SP283268. 16:00.

Steve Akers

Whinchat & Wheatears at Larkhill 
Courtesy of Jed Cleeter 

 

Chipping Norton: 13th April

Chipping Norton
Green Sandpiper: On fast flowing section of the brook nr Swailsford Bridge. SP284265. 12:26.
30 Swallow: A nice fall of Hirundines over the wetland -some perched resting and preening. SP284265. 12:26.
9 Sand Martin: Possibly more. SP284265. 12:26.
2 Blackcap: Two singing males. SP284265. 12:26.

Steve Akers

Wantage: 13th April

Wantage
Yellow Wagtail: One flew N over the market square late morning. SU398879. 18:07.

Phil Chapman

Oxford: Christchurch Meadow: 13th April

Oxford: Christchurch Meadow
Mandarin Duck: On Thames. 17:31.

D Moden

Ardley Quarry 13th April

Great White Egret - 1 very briefly on the quarry lake this morning. Only my second record here.

Little Ringed Plover - 8

Yellow wagtail - up to 4 present at the moment.





Waterstock: River Thame: 13th April

Waterstock: River Thame
11 Linnet 07:30.
Little Egret 07:30.
Raven 07:30.
Reed Bunting 07:30.
4 Sedge Warbler 07:30.
5 Swallow 07:30.
Whitethroat 07:30.
5 Willow Warbler 07:30.
Yellow Wagtail 07:30.

Nick Marriner

Waterstock: River Thame: 13th April

Waterstock: River Thame
9 Blackcap 07:30.
13 Chiffchaff 07:30.
Coal Tit 07:30.
2 Common Gull 07:30.
3 Egyptian Goose 07:30.
Goosander: Pr. 07:30.
2 Grey Partridge 07:30.
2 Kingfisher 07:30.
28 Lapwing 07:30.

Nick Marriner

Otmoor: 13th April

Otmoor
Hobby: On Greenaways. 15:24.

Ian Elkins

Lark Hill, Wantage - 13 April 2025

1m Whinchat - on the reservoir perimeter fence SU410871
2 Wheatear

Stephen Burch

Distant Whinchat © Stephen Burch

Farmoor Reservoir: 13th April

Farmoor Reservoir
Whinchat: Male catching flies on hedgerow along Road into pinkhill lock. 14:49.

Yacky Morris

Farmoor Whinchat courtesy of Yacky Morris

 

Day's Lock Area : Sunday 13th a.m.

 


Greenshank, 2 Church Farm Backwaters.

Cattle Egret, 4 still around Bishop's Court Farm.

Crossbill, 3 over Whittenham Wood.


Sunday 13th April, Pinkhill NR

08-11:00

Grasshopper Warbler 2 (mooring triangle)




Sedge Warbler 10+



Common Whitethroat 5+

Cuckoo 2 (Thames by Pinkhill meadow)



Reed Warbler (Thames by sluice)



Good numbers of other Warblers; Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow & Cetti's Warblers

Swallow 3

Sand Martin 2


Old Caley's Diary

Devil's Punchbowl: 13th April

Devil's Punchbowl
2 Wheatear: male. Also 4 female yesterday, various parts of the bowl. 10:00.

Simon Myers

Grimsbury Reservoir: 13th April

Grimsbury Reservoir
Redstart: male.

Gareth Blockley

Farmoor Reservoir 13th April

Grasshopper Warbler 2
Cuckoo
Ring-necked Parakeet 
Dunlin
Yellow Wagtail 1+
White Wagtail east side of F1

(per Ben Sheldon et al)

Courtesy of Ben Sheldon 


Venn Mill: 13th April

Venn Mill
2 Little Ringed Plover 11:00.
Green Sandpiper 11:00.
Yellow Wagtail 11:00.

Anthony Roberts

No sign of the Bar-tailed Godwit (G.P)

Otmoor rspb

Bitterns 12/4 at the 1st screen

All photos courtesy of John Workman 


 

Otmoor rspb 13th April

Bittern
Marsh Harrier 2+
Shelduck
Little Egret 2
Little-ringed Plover Big Otmoor 
Oystercatcher 2
Curlew 4+
Redshank
Wheatear prob 
Cuckoo
Sedge Warbler 
Willow Warbler 
Cetti's Warbler 

(Badger, Bark et al)

Sedge Warbler 
Otmoor rspb 12/4
Courtesy of Mark Chivers


New Marston: New Marston Meadows: 13th April

New Marston: New Marston Meadows
Great White Egret: Marston Hamms. Heading east. 09:15.

Steve Jennings

Saturday, 12 April 2025

Farmoor Reservoir: 12th April

12th April

Farmoor Reservoir
Common Sandpiper: Around F2. 13:30.
Common Tern: Over F2 and then F1. 13:30.
2 Yellow Wagtail: 1 on causeway and 1 went North calling. 13:30.
Cuckoo: male. Singing half a mile North along Thames. 14:25.
Sedge Warbler: Singing Male. 14:25.
Whitethroat: Singing Male. 14:25.
Reed Warbler: Singing Male. 14:25.
4 Willow Warbler: Singing Males. 14:25.
4 Swallow: Flew North. 14:25.
2 Sand Martin: Flew North. 14:25.

Jed Cleeter

Radcot Lock: 12th April

12th April

Radcot Lock
4 Wheatear: Feeding in former flooded field next to Old Man's Bridge. 19:01.

Clanfield
Peregrine 17:01.

Andrew Mann

Venn Mill, 12 April 2025

1 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Yellow Wagtail

Stephen Burch

Bar-tailed Godwit © Stephen Burch

www.stephenburch.com

Otmoor: 12th April

Yellow Wagtail: Over Ashgrave. male. 10:16.
Lesser Whitethroat  
Whitethroat 2
Reed Warbler 4 10:16.
Blackcap 9  
Sedge Warbler 10
Willow Warbler 4
Chiffchaff 13
Cetti's Warbler 15

John Edwards

Cholsey 12th April

No sign of Black Redstart by midday (per Alan Dawson).

Standlake, pit 60: 12th April

Little Ringed Plover 1
Sedge Warbler, in good numbers singing
Wheatear 2, Thames Fields

Venn Mill

 Bar-tailed Godwit





Otmoor rspb 12th April

Cuckoo
Little-ringed Plover on Big Otmoor 

(per Pete Roby)

Bicester Wetland Reserve 12th April

 1 Common Sandpiper 
2 Green Sandpiper
2 LRP
3 Snipe
12 Gadwall
Sedge Warblers singing well

A Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Farmoor Reservoir 12th April

Grasshopper Warbler on Pinkhill
Common Tern

 (per Paul Butler)

Black-tailed Godwit F1 08:06 
Little-ringed Plover 2

(per Dave Lowe)

Yesterday 11th
Little Gull 4 late afternoon (per RBA)

Letcombe Regis: Blandys Farm: 12th April

Letcombe Regis: Blandys Farm
Redstart: m.
4 Yellow Wagtail
45 Fieldfare
6 Grey Partridge

Mark Merritt

Bablockhythe: 11th April

Bablockhythe
6 Swallow: Back on territory at the Ferryman Inn. 07:17.

Jed Cleeter

Wallingford, New Road: 11th April

Wallingford, New Road
Black Red.: SU607891. 14:15.

Mike Amphlett

Friday, 11 April 2025

Cholsey 11th April

Black Redstart  f type late afternoon (per Alan Dawson)

Courtesy of Alan Dawson



Chipping Norton: 11th April

Chipping Norton
Kingfisher: Swailsford Bridge wetland nr Cornwell. 10:35.
Grey Wagtail: ad male. 10:35.
Kestrel: ad fem. 10:35.
Chiffchaff 10:35.
2 Stonechat: ad pair. On the marsh grass next to small lake nr Cornwell. SP283268. 10:35.
12 Teal: SP283268. 10:35.
Green Woodpecker: SP283268. 10:35.

Steve Akers

Ardley Quarry 11th April

Whimbrel - present early morning on quarry before flying off a couple of minutes after my arrival.

Little Ringed Plover - 4

Yellow wagtail - 1







Northern Cross Valley Way

Great White Egret 1

Green Sandpiper 1
Common Redshank 1
Little Ringed Plover 1
Oystercatcher 1
Lapwing 4

Shelduck 2
Egyptian Goose 1
Eurasian Teal 40+
Northern Shoveler 2
Mallard female with 10 ducklings

White Wagtail 7
Pied Wagtail 2

North Oxon, 11th April

Barn Owl (2) this morning in North Oxon






Old Caley's Diary