Otmoor. 17th October.

Little Egret.  Ashgrave.

Kestrel.  Ashgrave.

Aston: 17th October

 

Merlin (female type)

J Dexter




photos (c) J.Dexter

Otmoor 16th October

Ringtail Hen Harrier Otmoor this afternoon.

Both photos courtesey of Tezzer

Farmoor 16th October

Caspian Gull (ad) in the roost this evening (per Nic & The Wickster)
Little Gull 1stw (per Dai)

1st winter Little Gull Farmoor photo courtesey of Dai

 

The Insomniac Birder

Lollingdon Hill, 16th Oct

1 Merlin (fem)
1 Stonechat
2 Wheatear
1 Chiffchaff

Farmoor 15th October

 
Rock Pipit 3
Little Gull 1
Jack Snipe 1

(per Dai)

Farmoor One

First winter Caspian Gull
3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 First winter, 1 adult).

(per Nic Hallam)

Otmoor 15th October

Great White Egret again on Greenaways 16:10 (per Andrew Marshall) Still present flew towards Ashgrave c17:35 (per JT) Marsh Harrier Merlin  m (per Peter Coombes et al) Bearded Tit 2 Marsh Tit on feeders 17:00 Fieldfare 8 Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Juvenile Gannet - Farmoor, 14th October

A juvenile Gannet arrived at Farmoor during a heavy rain shower at about 17.45 this evening. It scattered all the gulls on F.2. and then sat around on the water for a few minutes looking rather bewildered. It made another circuit of F.2 before moving off at speed over F.1 and disappearing into the gloom.

This is only the sixth for Farmoor, the last in 2002. 

Islip: 14th October

Islip
Raven

Michael Hunt

Lollingdon hill, 14th Oct

2 Wheatear
1 Stonechat

Farmoor 13th October

Little Gull (1stw) F2 Dunlin Rock Pipit 1+ Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Farmoor

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Little Gull

4 Rock Pipits, 1 1st w Little Gull, this afternoon.

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II: 12th October

Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor II
Little Gull
2 Rock Pipit

Joe Harris

Common Crane over Moreton, Thame?

Unconfirmed report of a Common Crane flying west over Moreton (near Thame) at 10:30am (Joe Gleed).

Parsonage Moor: 12th October

Parsonage Moor
3 Siskin

Mark Merritt

Rushey Commmon 12th October

Red-crested Pochard 31 Black-tailed Godwit Dunlin 3 Snipe 2 (per Clackers) Stanton Harcourt Golden Plover 20+ Lapwing 200+ Teal 40+ Plovers

Farmoor 12th October

Spotted Redshank 2 briefly on causeway c08:30 then flew s/w Dunlin 2 Little Gull 2 (both imm) F2 Rock Pipit Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Lockinge: 12th October

Lockinge
3 Common Crossbill: Over to N with Redwings.

Leo Bateman

Kestrel on Otmoor courtesey of Andy Last

Stonesfield: Stonesfield Common: 11th October

Stonesfield: Stonesfield Common
3 Reed Bunting
6 Bullfinch
2 Chiffchaff
2 Fieldfare
Redwing
Marsh Tit
2 Meadow Pipit: Over.
5 Skylark: Over.

Paul Wren

Grimsbury Reservoir: 11th October

Grimsbury Reservoir
Common Sandpiper

Mark Ribbons

Thame Town Centre 11th Oct

Peregrine Falcon flying low over buildings along main high street

Otmoor.A.M. 11th October.

Bittern (over Reedbeds).
5 Snipe.

Cormorants at pit 60

Radley 10th October

No sign of Yellow-browed Warbler near Orchard Lake 7:30-11:30. Belated report of a possible Y.b.Warbler Friday near the white metal gates adjacent to Orchard Lake. Chiffchaff 6 Redwing 60+ Fieldfare 3 (per Wayne Bull) Sprawk Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Radley 9th October

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER late afternoon near Orchard Lake
(the small lake near the mound).

(per Mark Chivers)

Great White Egret in Bucks

It looks as though the Otmoor G.W.E. has relocated to the Wilstone pits area. It was reported there yesterday until mid afternoon, by Lee Evans on Bucksbirders site.
Bark

Shiplake: 8th October

Shiplake
8 Ring-necked Parakeet: between Shiplake College and Thames.
5 Egyptian Goose
Little Grebe
Kingfisher

Peter Law

Heron Abingdon

Islip 8th October

Redwing 12
Raven

Michael Hunt

Otmoor 8th October

Bittern 1st screen 11:12 (per Terry Sherlock Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Greenfinch & Chaffinch Otmoor courtesey of Derek Woodard



Devil's Punchbowl: 7th October

Devil's Punchbowl
Merlin: f. Heavy with (unidentified) prey...
2 Stonechat: m&f.

Mark Merritt

Islip: 7th October

Islip
Raven

Michael Hunt

Otmoor. 7th October.

Little Grebe.  First screen.

Bearded Tit.  First screen.

Meadow Pipit.  The Pill.

Otmoor.A.M. 7th October.

1 Marsh Tit (feeders)
3 Bearded Tits (Reedbeds. per T.S.)

Pill Ground:
1 Stonechat (m)
3 Snipe
C. 100 Meadow Pipits.

Otmoor 6th October

Bearded Tit 3 from the 1st screen late morning
Whinchat 2

No sign of the Great White Egret by 1p.m
Belated report of an eclipse Garganey friday.

Bodicote: 6th October

Probable 2 Raven

Martin Wyatt

Farmoor, 5th October evening

Wheatear, F2 east side

Rock Pipit, F2 west side

Photos (c) Nigel Forrow

2 Little Stint
1 Dunlin
1 Ringed Plover
1 Common Sandpiper

Otmoor, 5th October afternoon

Buzzard, Ashgrave

Kestrel hovering over Greenaways

Photos (c) Nigel Forrow

Otmoor RSPB reserve 5th October

Great White Egret Showing well late afternoon on Greenaways along main channel.

Nick Truby

 

 

Both pictures courtesey of Nick Truby

 

Lollingdon Hill 5th Oct

4 Wheatear
1 Whinchat
3 Chiffchaff

Farmoor 5 October

Little Stint (c) Stephen Burch

Click here for hi res version

Otmoor 5th October

photo courtesey of Andy Last Great White Egret still on Otmoor 11:47am from Wetlands Watch Hidem  (per Badger) Great White Egret Ashgrave courtesey of Andy Last please view at 720p HD Golden Plover Redwings Whinchat 1 in the reedbeds Stonechat 3 along the fence line behind the W.W.Hide Wheatear 1 Noke Farm (per Bark) Otmoor Birding

Farmoor 5th October

Little Stint still along the causeway this morning. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Yellow Wagtail Otmoor courtesey of Derek Woodard

Yellow-browed Warblers 5th October

No sign of Y.b.Warbler at Port Meadow or Abingdon Science Park this morning by 10a.m Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Otmoor 4th October

 

 

GREAT WHITE EGRET still on Greenaways 17:58 (per Andy Last)

 

Both pictures courtesey of Derek Woodard

Farmoor Reservoir: 4th October

Little Stint along causeway mid afternoon (per Tim Clark)
Rock Pipit 2 yesterday (per RBA)

Abingdon 4th October: Another Yellow-browed Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler at Abingdon Science Park Barton Lane here this morning.

Still present at 5:30pm this afternoon in trees outside the Sophos building (per Badger)

The Yellow-browed was discovered by two visiting Lincolnshire birders here on work this week
and has been present since wednesday. It has also been seen amongst the roving tit flock around
Longmead Lake and along the hedgerow/cycletrack which borders the 'Sophos' site.
Please keep to public rights of way.

Also

Chiffchaff 3
Cetti's Warbler
Water Rail
Hobby

Port Meadow 4th October: Yellow-browed Warbler Still

The Yellow-browed Warbler is still present this morning in the same place, calling frequently and showing well on and off.

Still present at 5:30pm though mobile with long-tailed tit flock (per Steve Jennings)

NB it seems to be much easier to see in the morning and much more elusive in the afternoon.

Port Meadow 3rd October Yellow-browed Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler

Port Meadow 3rd October, Yellow-browed Warbler Still

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER still this morning near the car park off Walton Well Road in willows between the road and the Meadow and showing well on and off. Still present 12:30 pm at least (per Ian Smith) Car park on south side of road; requires 50p for an hour or £1.05 for up to three hours. No change given. Bird in those same pollarded willows on the north side of road, between 10.30 and 12.30 but difficult to get a decent view. Best located by call or when chased by Chiffchaff. Immediate vicinity looked an excellent sheltered feeding area to retain the bird, so worth the trip. Nearest Post Code for Sat Nav: OX2 6GE Ian Smith Yellow-browed Warbler call The third recording is typical. Please email me or Adam if your county list needs amending.

Otmoor..A.M. 3rd October.

1 Turtle Dove (J)
5 Golden Plover (over)
1 Stonechat
1 Raven
1 Hobby
1 G.W.Egret (12:00)

Distant Hobby.

Otmoor 3rd October

Great white Egret still on Greenaways this morning c09:30 (per Lyn & Richard Ebbs) Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Henley Road GP, 3rd Oct. Spoonbill

A Spoonbill at the western end of the main lake this morning viewed distantly from the entrance road.

Great Skuas - Farmoor. 2nd October

The tranquility of the Farmoor roost was shattered this evening by the arrival of a flock of Great Skuas. Two birds appeared at about 18.15 and powered through the gulls on F.2. panicking the entire roost. They made a couple of circuits of the reservoir, with one bird settling on the water and briefly harrying gulls before circling up above the western bank and then remarkably joining two more individuals. The four then gained height and headed off to the west.

The murky gloom this evening provided typical conditions for Skua arrival at Farmoor and this group were presumably moving through quite high up, with two of them attracted down to the reservoir to try their luck in the gull roost.

All the birds appeared to be in active wing moult and were presumably adults.

Farmoor 2nd October

4 GREAT SKUA  on F2 til c18:15 before flying off west and no further sign by dark.

(per Nic)

Port Meadow 2nd October: Yellow-browed Warbler

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER this evening doing what looks like a feeding circuit around the trees by the Port Meadow car park at the bottom of Walton Well Road (see here). During the half an hour that I watched it, it started in the copse of mixed trees between the car park and the road before it worked its way slowly along the Willows on the Meadow side of the road before flying to the Willows in the car park by the gate to the Castle Mill Stream and then back to the mixed copse. It only seemed to call when it flew from one area to the next. Still present at 6:20 pm when I had to leave.

Adam

Port Meadow Birding

Otmoor. 2nd October Great White Egret

 

GREAT WHITE EGRET still present at 14:15 on Greenaways and showing on and off

(per the Wickster).

Showing well from the hide (wetlands watch) at 12:00. (per Paul Greenaway & Karen)

Apparently the Egret was first seen yesterday on the reserve.

Great White Egret.  From the hide.

Jack Snipe

Greenshank 3

(per The Wickster)

+Bittern

Drayton St.Leonard 22nd September

Marsh Harrier: 1st year / fem. Confirmed with 3 photos emailed to a friend who writes for 'Birdwatching' magazine. Lovely to see, but a long way off, over marshland to the NE of the village.

Islip 1st October

Redwing 2 Islip (per M. Hunt)

Farmoor Reservoir: 1st October

Farmoor Reservoir
4 Rock Pipit: along causeway.
4 Common Sandpiper

Peter Law

Otmoor: South Pill Ground: 1st October

Otmoor: South Pill Ground
3 Stonechat: 2m1f.
Whinchat

Barry Batchelor

September Round-up

Wryneck on Otmoor courtesey of Andy Last

September, a month traditionally offering up some choice birds to the discerning birder and low down dirty county lister's alike, sadly held few surprises .This month the highs referred more to the weather than the numbers of migrants and scarcities we were seeing, and no doubt the absence of any flood water on Port Meadow and very little on Otmoor has compounded these autumnal county doldrums.

However September has not all been bad...

A second Wryneck for the year was discovered on the aforementioned Otmoor on the 3rd of September but remained typically and frustratingly elusive on the reserve and was unfortunately only seen by a handful of lucky souls before melting away back in to the myriad of Blackthorn.
Judging by how secretive these birds invariably are, it's tempting to speculate that the total number of Wrynecks migrating through our county must be considerably higher than the two recent finds.

Marsh Harriers were still very much in evidence in September with the long staying female being seen sporadically on Otmoor throughout the month, being briefly joined by another bird on the 2nd.
A female/juvenile was at Pit 60 near Standlake between the 8th-14th with what was most likely to have been the same individual seen between Vicarage pit & Dix pit Stanton Harcourt on the 14th.
Another female was seen near Abingdon Marina and 1066 on the 13th and not to be out done a female was seen quartering Shrike Meadow at Farmoor on the 21st.

Marsh Harrier Otmoor courtesey of Derek Woodard

A Honey Buzzard was reported along the Berks/Oxon border on the 10th with the all important,
flight in to Oxon airspace securing a second record for the county this year.

Osprey Radley courtesey of Mike Kosniowski

Continuing with the raptor theme a juvenile Osprey was a welcome discovery at Radley Lakes on the 29th stopping off and feeding on route to its wintering grounds on the west coast of Africa.

Slavonian Grebe courtesey of Nigel Forrow

A Black-necked Grebe graced Farmoor on the 2nd with a further two birds bookending the month
with their arrival on the 27th. A superb Slavonian Grebe joined its smaller cousin on the 29th.

Away from the traditional locations within the county Mandarin Ducks were seen on the 9th at Farmoor and at Standlake on the 14th. The 2 unringed Ruddy Shelduck of unknown origin brought a splash of the exotic to the B.O.S Bicester Wetlands Reserve on the 23rd. A female/juvenile Garganey was amongst the Teal at Radley on the 14th.

Ruddy Shelduck B.W.R courtesey of Alan Peters

Wader numbers continued to ebb and flow including 2 Little Stints at Farmoor on the 4th with a another single bird there at the tail end of the month. The 5th found 11 Ringed Plover at Farmoor and a supporting cast of two fly-through Curlew Sandpiper on the 5th and 7th respectively, much like their predecessors last month, neither decided to stop. 4 clockwork Sanderling were much more obliging on the 7th. 2 Ruff found Pit 60 to their liking on the 12th and 13th as did a single bird along the causeway at Farmoor on the morning of the 24th.

Fly-through Curlew Sandpiper Farmoor courtesey of The Gun-slinger

 

3 Sandwich Terns briefly touched down at Pit 60 before continuing on to Marlow GP's in Bucks on the 9th. Black Tern numbers peeked at 11 on the 5th at Farmoor with a single bird present on the 29th. Lurking amongst the Larids in the roost at Farmoor on the 25th were two fine Caspian Gulls an adult and a juvenile, hopefully these two and last months two juvs could be forerunners to a good winter for this species in the county...one can at least hope.

 

Sandwich Terns (c) Antony Collieu

There was speculation that the two juvenile Turtle Doves on Otmoor could constitute a third brood for what has been, on Otmoor at least, a successful year for these engaging little doves.

3 Redstarts refuelled on Otmoor on the 1st with birds still present on the 21st and the 23rd. Singletons were at Cholsey on the 3rd and at Grimsbury Res on the 7th. Whinchats were well represented with many sightings at a number of locations, high counts included up to 20 birds at Otmoor on the 1st.

Whinchat courtesey of Steve Burch

Meadow Pipits started to move through Oxfordshire in increasing numbers mid month and
Rock Pipits were at Grimsbury Reservoir on the 15th and Farmoor Reservoir on the 22nd & 27th
with two birds present on the causeway on the 28th. Rather less predictable was the Tree Pipit found near West Lockinge also on the 28th.

October could still yet redeem this birding autumn for the county, perhaps a Yellow-browed Warbler staccato amongst the branches and tumbling leaves could set pulses racing. however the arrival of the first Bittern and Goosander on Otmoor by months end harbour the seasons true intent...

Back in Time – St Abbs Head

25^th May 1993 saw 4 of us; Ian Lewington, Martin Hallam, Graham Etherington and I make for St Abbs Head in the borders for a Marmora’s Warbler.

If I recall it was a bit of a white knuckle ride as Graham was driving and he had a rather sporty looking car and I’m sure he was in contention for an F1 spot, racing along small country lanes to get us there.

Still we made St Abbs shortly after dawn and found the Marmora’s still present, it was a 1^st summer male and a beauty of a bird.

St Abbs head is a national nature reserve on the coast of Berwickshire in the Scottish borders and a very scenic spot, also the home to a large seabird colony that nest on the cliffs that are part of the reserve, a place I would certainly visit again.

After taking our fill of the Marmora’s Warbler we decided to head back south and on the way back we decided to drop in on the Farne Islands as we had heard that “Elsie” the Lesser Crested Tern had been seen recently among the Tern colony there.
We got to Seahouses and managed to take the boat over to Inner Farne, the weather was good and the sea relatively calm. On arrival we spoke to one of the wardens present who said that Elsie had not been seen for a few days, none the less we would still make the most of a visit to these beautiful islands and take in the wealth of seabird’s present breeding on and around the islands.

We wound our way around the various footpaths on the island and constantly being attacked by Arctic Terns that were breeding close to the paths, Martin actually ended up with a small cut on his forehead from a Tern that made contact!

Whilst getting our fill of all the Terns and Auks that were around and scanning some of the coastal rocks I noticed a group of around 50 Sandwich Terns so I promptly set up my ‘scope and went through them one by one and to my surprise found one with a big orangey-yellow bill, that was Elsie!

I called the others over and we sat and enjoyed our 2^nd tick of the day.

We stayed on the island a little longer to enjoy the many Terns and Auks present around and take in the atmosphere of the Farne islands.

A very satisfying day, in fact May 1993 was a superb month for rarities with a White Stork at Sidlesham, (Red-headed Bunting) Ipswich, Citrine Wagtail Fleet, Oriental Pratincole Gimmingham, the Marmora’s and Elsie, Great Reed Warbler Elmley, Sardinian Warbler Dungeness, and a Pacific Swift to round off the month at Cley, also other trips to Norfolk, Suffolk, Portland and the Oxon birdrace (107 species), almost 200 species seen that month and many miles driven!

Paul Chandler.