Great sighting! There's a crossbill irruption going on at the moment with birds being seen across the country. It's good to know that Oxon is getting its share. I'm going to have to get out there to see if I can add them to the county year list!
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Oxfordshire birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter gareth_blockley
- Start date
Great sighting! There's a crossbill irruption going on at the moment with birds being seen across the country. It's good to know that Oxon is getting its share. I'm going to have to get out there to see if I can add them to the county year list!
gareth_blockley
Smile people
There's not been a lot going on locally of late and I haven't really been around to do any birding myself. There are signs of the onset of late summer and autumn migration - a smattering of waders, some crossbills (nice flock in Banbury for Dave!) and a quail or two being reported. Yesterday a Black tern and Common Redstart were seen at Farmoor.
Will have to go and see if the local patch still exists!
Happy birding
Gareth
Will have to go and see if the local patch still exists!
Happy birding
Gareth
gareth_blockley
Smile people
There seems to be a load of Black terns being found today in the rain - c50 at Farmoor and 20 at Draycote as well as other else where. If you can get out and check your local reservoir and GP's!
Gareth
Gareth
Jumpin 4 Joy
Well-known member
Hi,
I will be able to go birding in Oxfordshire on Tuesday (a far cry from the North East of England, I know :-O) and I was wondering whether Otmoor has any of the black terns. I was wondering whether to go to Farmoor or Otmoor, could you please help me.
Thankyou,
gareth_blockley
Smile people
Hi,
I will be able to go birding in Oxfordshire on Tuesday (a far cry from the North East of England, I know :-O) and I was wondering whether Otmoor has any of the black terns. I was wondering whether to go to Farmoor or Otmoor, could you please help me.
Thankyou,
Chances are that any Black terns passing through yesturday will be long gone, but you could hope for more!
Nothing has really been reported from Farmoor recently, which is a shame, off the top of my head there have been a few passage waders and a few med gulls. Check the national reports for any obvious movements and hedge your bets. (http://farmoor-birding.com/)
Otmoor is going to have more variety and has a few intersting birds (Marsh harrier and Gargeney at the moment). It is also more likely to hold passage waders but they will be harder to find! (http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/OtmoorBirding)
Port meadow is definately worth a look and could turn up any thing. (http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/PortMeadowBirding/)
Any general sightings may pop up here on on the Oxford group page. (http://www.oos.org.uk/news.php)
I would say head for Otmoor unless something you want to see turns up else where. Hope you have a good day!
Gareth
Jumpin 4 Joy
Well-known member
Well, (just my luck) I never read Gareth's post before I went away down south. By the time I went birding (Tuesday), we decided to go Farmoor on the grounds that Black terns were seen. It was a good day's birding, with the weather being nothing short of fantastic. The highlight was seeing a garden warbler, although we saw other great birds. Tons of pied wagtails on the bit of walkway bisecting the reservoir. If you want some photos of young and adult, then that is the place to do so.
Great trip, wish I could write more. Bit tired after the long journey back to Durham today.
Great trip, wish I could write more. Bit tired after the long journey back to Durham today.
I would just add to Gareth's general comments the following points:
1. The Farmoor blog doesn't seem to be being updated at present so is not representative of what's going on. I would recommend following the OOS site for Farmoor sightings that don't make the national radar (e.g. Bird Guides etc.). There are a few passage waders coming through and I think that the redstart is still about.
2. Unfortunately there's not much happening at Port Meadow at all as there is no flood water. The odd passage wader drops in along the river and there was a juv. Med Gull in amongst the BH Gulls last week but I wouldn't recommend it as a particularly good birding location until the flood waters return. Web-site: www.portmeadowbirding.com
3. Otmoor is coming into it's own with some exposed mud by the second screen which is attracting all sorts of passage waders in the last couple of days which, unsually, are relatively easy to see! Web-site: www.otmoorbirding.com
I would agree with Gareth's recommendation of Otmoor for visiting birders until there is a particular interest in looking for reservoir birds (e.g. terns & gulls) in which case head over to Farmoor.
gareth_blockley
Smile people
A nice load of birds found at Otmoor today. See the oos news page for full details.
There must be more out there..
Gareth
There must be more out there..
Gareth
craigaholden
Well-known member
Any details on the probable American Black Tern at Farmoor??
Guizotia
Well-known member
Ditto. All I can find so far is this message on Oxonbirds:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oxonbirds/message/10089
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oxonbirds/message/10089
gareth_blockley
Smile people
American Black Tern AND White-winged Black Tern!
Photos now on RBA and surfbirds - by Ian Lewington.
I think Ian ID'd the American Black tern (juv) which came in after the white winged black tern (juv) to join the group of three black terns (1 adult 2 juvs).
I saw the birds yesterday evening and although I knew nothing about the ID of 'surinamensis' it was easily distinguished along side normal 'nigra' black terns. For some ID points see here http://www.birdinghawaii.co.uk/Blackternarticle2.htm (I'm sure there must be more ID articles about?).
Also around yeturday 3/4 Redstarts and masses of wagtails - well over 100 Pied and c.20 Yellow. 40+ Yellow reported this morning. Also Yellow legged gull.
Will be going back today (when I'm less hungover!) to see the birds in good light.
Happy happy birding
Gareth
Photos now on RBA and surfbirds - by Ian Lewington.
I think Ian ID'd the American Black tern (juv) which came in after the white winged black tern (juv) to join the group of three black terns (1 adult 2 juvs).
I saw the birds yesterday evening and although I knew nothing about the ID of 'surinamensis' it was easily distinguished along side normal 'nigra' black terns. For some ID points see here http://www.birdinghawaii.co.uk/Blackternarticle2.htm (I'm sure there must be more ID articles about?).
Also around yeturday 3/4 Redstarts and masses of wagtails - well over 100 Pied and c.20 Yellow. 40+ Yellow reported this morning. Also Yellow legged gull.
Will be going back today (when I'm less hungover!) to see the birds in good light.
Happy happy birding
Gareth
There are some fabulous photos of the terns on the Farmoor web-site which has now been updated.
gareth_blockley
Smile people
Jolly good. There was areport of 54 Arctic terns through today and 18 over the weekend. Just shows what might be missed at a sight when it's not being watched!
Gareth
gareth_blockley
Smile people
Great white egret at Otmoor (second day) seen mainly moving between ditches on Greenways where it stays well hidden. Roosted in phase 2 reedbed last night and was first seen on the closes this morning.
Juv Sabine's gull at Blenhiem palace today on main lake west of bridge.
Gareth
Juv Sabine's gull at Blenhiem palace today on main lake west of bridge.
Gareth
gareth_blockley
Smile people
Ah yes, forgot that one last night. All three still present today.
Gareth
Darren Pearce
Well-known member
I was going to go for the Sabine's tomorrow. It keeps coming on the pager saying reduced admission prices after 4pm. How long does it remain open for after 4pm ?. Also is the lake obvious when you get there. I have never been there and any info wouold be appreciated.
cwpbirder
Well-known member
Darren,
the grounds are open til 6.30pm (there is a literary festival on at present, so no problem parking inside the gates) the lake is obvious to the N/W of the palace - look west from the bridge, but this (west) lake also has an arm that cannot be seen from the bridge - walk down the grassy slope to view. The Sabine's Gull tends to be by itself on the west lake, most of the other gulls are on the east lake the other side of the bridge. It can be surprisingly hard to see when resting on the water, this evening it was flying every 10-15 minutes. Hope you see it!
the grounds are open til 6.30pm (there is a literary festival on at present, so no problem parking inside the gates) the lake is obvious to the N/W of the palace - look west from the bridge, but this (west) lake also has an arm that cannot be seen from the bridge - walk down the grassy slope to view. The Sabine's Gull tends to be by itself on the west lake, most of the other gulls are on the east lake the other side of the bridge. It can be surprisingly hard to see when resting on the water, this evening it was flying every 10-15 minutes. Hope you see it!
