Oxfordshire

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

RE: Oxfordshire

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

Dragged myself out of bed at 5.45 am this morning and was back at the Long-tailed Shrike site at 6.25. Weather cool with minimal winds, becoming sunny, 11-15*c.

The Long-tailed Shrike showed after a wait of around ten minutes. It was around 30 metres away from the bramble bushes of Tuesday afternoon, in the adjacent field. Much closer in to the public footpath, it spent its time today perching on a single strand fence line, moving up and down the wire, catching prey from time to time. Views were excellent through the bins, didnt even bother with my scope, although photographing the bird was difficult due to grasses and stems swaying in the breeze in front of it.

Other birds of interest in the immediate area :-

Grey Partridge
Red-legged Partridge
Red Kite
Buzzard
Raven
Long-tailed Tit
Blackcap
Whitethroat
Goldcrest
Nuthatch
Spotted Flycatcher
White Wagtail
Linnet

A family party of Whinchat were seen a few days ago, plus a Hobby this morning.

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

As we are currently in the area, went to see the continuing Long-tailed Shrike, on the Oxfordshire/Glocestershire border. The nearest village is Eastleach Turville in Gloucestershire. A ten minute walk from the farmers-field-car-parking brought me to the handsome bird, which showed after 15 minutes. Third for Britain, hot on the heels of the Fife bird. Great views were had through the scope. The bird spent its time catching bees and other insects, sometimes perched up in its favourite bush, sometimes flitting to a nearby wire fence line.

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

En route to Wembley today (Challenge Cup Final), 22 Red Kites between Oxford and Amersham, over the border in Buckinghamshire.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

11-2 today highlights:

1+ Bittern, 3 Marsh Harrier, 3 Yellowhammer: 4 Sedge Warbler, Water Rail, 3 Willow Warbler, Peregrine Falcon, 6+ Red Kite, 3 Blackcap, Barnacle Goose, 40 Linnet, 20 Reed Bunting, 20 Chiffchaff, 10+ Cettis Warbler, 2+ Curlew, 8 Lapwing, Redshank, 3 Common Crane on site but failed to see them.

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

Belated list of birds noted on a break in Oxfordshire last week, including a fleeting visit to RSPB Otmoor.

Red Kite
Hobby
Buzzard
Cetti's Warbler
Garden Warbler
Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Reed Bunting
Common Tern
Common Sandpiper
Redshank
Ringed Plover
Curlew
Lapwing
Cuckoo
Wigeon
Great Crested Grebe
Tufted Duck
Gadwall
Shoveler
Little Egret
Linnet
Yellow Wagtail
Yellowhammer
etc...69 species in total.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

3 hours at Otmoor today with High Peak RSPB group 10.30-13.30. Highlights:

Turtle Dove(1 seen, at least 2 others heard), 2 Common Crane, 2 Hobby, 3 Cuckoo(1 hepatic), 2 Marsh Harrier, 5 Red Kite, 4 Little Egret, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, 7 Sedge Warbler, 5 Common Whitethroat, 6 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 3 Skylark, Gadwall, Stock Dove.

Also Water Vole

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Sunday 23rd April.

Farmoor Reservoir.
Arrived early afternoon at this busy reservoir, with birds and people, again in glorious sunshine.

- Bonaparte's Gull 1st summer (Lifer)
What a delightful little Gull this was, showing feet from the side of the res, it put on a show catching 5 Sticklebacks whilst I was there and was feeding well on the winged insects too, the high number of insects had probably brought the fish to the surface.
Easily picked out since there was only a few Black-headed Gulls around, I wouldn't envy the task of picking one out of a large roost.

Other birds of note...
- Red Kite 3 seen between Slimbridge and here
- Redstart 1m in res side hedge, I thought it was a Robin at first until it called
- Whitethroat 1
- Chiffchaff 1
- Shoveler 1 pair
- Raven 1
- Common Sandpiper 3
- Common Tern approx 6 that I saw
There was 1 that appeared smaller and a lot darker, it flew further away I tried to get the scope on it but I lost it. It was a large reservoir with plenty going on and lots of birds flying around.

Please add an hour on to the times as I forgot to alter my camera time.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 24th of April 2017 09:01:14 PM

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Wednesday 28th September.

RSPB Otmoor with Steve Burke.

- Purple Heron 1 juvenile (Lifer)
Seen in flight a few times, then just its head and neck in long reeds, and then it walked out of the reeds onto the path infront of us (Greenaways), stopped for a minute or so then walked into the reeds on the other side, before eventually flying off more distantly into the marsh.

Other birds of note...
- Grey Heron not counted, many seen
- Snow Goose 1 handsome individual with Greylags
- Common Snipe 6 (all seen in flight only)
- Red Kite seen all day, lost count after 25 early on
- Hobby 3, 1 flew right over us eating a Dragonfly
- Marsh Harrier 3 seen at once (2 juv 1 ad), seen all day, warden said at least 6 individuals
- Kestrel...seen all day and many at once
- Common Buzzard - 6
- Sparrowhawk 1
- Whinchat possibly 5
- Stonechat 5
- Kingfisher 2, 1 hovering over the reeds then caught a fish
- Chiffchaff 1
- Starling murmuration later on, possibly couple 1000?
- Reed Bunting 1 with Finch flock
- constant passage of Skylark and Meadow Pipit possibly in the 100's
- Swallow and House Martin passage too
- Cetti's Warbler heard singing nearby on and off all day

First visit here, strange layout, well worth the visit for the Purple Heron alone.

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

Farmoor Reservoir - 26/11/15

1 x Grey Phalarope

Managed to grab 15 minutes at Farmoor Reservoir on the way down to London. Turned out to be plenty of time to locate the Grey Phalarope which was frequenting the North Reservoir near the car park. It was feeding only a couple of feet from the edge - Great Views. I did not have time to search for the reported Red Necked Grebe and Black Necked Grebe.

Good venue and recommended if you can afford a 20 minute diversion from the M40 !.

steven burke · Status: Offline

farmoor reservoir, 21st may...

black-throated diver showing really well & looking smart in summer plumage, unfortunately I was told that the bird was not well & in the 1hour 30 mins of watching the bird it did not dive or feed

came back today with simon gough but the diver was nowhere to be seen by us & several other birders !
other birds of note from yesterday & this morning...
3 red-crested pochard
1 tufted duck
lots of great crested grebes
3 little egret
at least 8 common tern
1 dunlin
1 red kite
swifts, swallows & house martins all whizzing around.

Adam Jones · Status: Offline

Late post for Friday 15th May.

RSPB Otmoor.
A great reserve, with Turtle Doves and Cuckoos greeting me as I stepped out of the car.
2 Hobbies
Drumming Snipe
10 Red Kites
1 Treecreeper
Many Common Whitethroats, Sedge and Reed Warblers
Redshank
Over 40 species seen and well worth a visit

Farmoor Reservoir:
Managed to catch up with the Black-throated Diver. Stunning summer plumage.
A pair of Yellow Wagtails.
1 Dunlin
1 Sanderling

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Originally posted by Curt Whitby:

Away with work down oxfordshire way killing time between day and night shifts. Took a visit to farmoor reservoir near botley/oxford. Had the pleasure of seeing a first ever red necked grebe along with common sandpiper and ringed plover. Last week of work down here, have enjoyed the variety of wildlife that abounds in Oxfordshire.

sid ashton · Status: Offline

Henry indeed a smashing day but you forgot to mention the wallet containing £130.00 that we found and returned to its owner in Stanton Harcourt - just shows what an honest bunch we Northerners are

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

24/02/2011 - Myself and Sid Ashton finally caught up with the long-staying Oriental Turtle Dove today in Chipping Norton. It was still present in the area of 'The Leys' and eventually gave itself up to us properly in the back hedge of house number 41. No access to that house today but the view from the welcoming garden of 33 was enough to clinch id. There might be access to house 41 again on Friday and perhaps Saturday for anyone thinking of going but the owners request that everyone tries not to visit on Sunday (onwards?) so the street and a number of disgruntled residents can get back to some sort of normality. Early morning still seems to be best if allowed into 41 and the following few hours the bird visits mature trees viewed south from the ISIS access track at the bottom of 'The Leys' or occasionally comes back to the garden when disturbed from here as it was today by a Buzzard.
Also about in the gardens and environs were:

1 Sparrowhawk
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Skylarks
7 Stock Doves
1 Goldcrest
2 Siskins
5 Bramblings

We went on to the impressive and improving area south-east of Witney near Stanton Harcourt known as Rushy Common and the Lower Windrush Valley Gravel Pits Conservation Target Area. A scan from the roadside (new hide not officially open yet to anyone bar the locals) and we refound the drake American Wigeon on Rushy Common and also seen were:

2 Smews (redheads)
1 Yellow-legged Gull (2w)
1 Peregrine
1 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
1 Goldeneye
c220 Lapwings
c40 Greylag Geese

Finished off with 15 Red Kites along the M40 between junctions 7-6. Thanks Sid for a top day.