Birding in Oxford (1 Viewer)

[Birds 4ever]

Hi,

For this winter, I've got a list of 'must see' birds - can anybody help with when and where to see them?

Golden plover(port meadow and otmoor)
Snipe(port meadow?)
Pintail(otmoor)
Bramblings and siskins(RSPB church wood?)
Water rail
Smew

and many other I can't think of at the moment....

I don't want to travel far but if anybody could suggest any good birding spots in Oxford or around Oxford for winter, that'll be great!

 

[RobinD]

Hi,

For this winter, I've got a list of 'must see' birds - can anybody help with when and where to see them?

Golden plover(port meadow and otmoor)
Snipe(port meadow?)
Pintail(otmoor)
Bramblings and siskins(RSPB church wood?)
Water rail
Smew

and many other I can't think of at the moment....

I don't want to travel far but if anybody could suggest any good birding spots in Oxford or around Oxford for winter, that'll be great!

If you can get to Port Meadow and Otmoor, you should get most of your targets, and much more besides. Smew are not very reliable as far up as Oxford but Radley gravel pits or Dorchester GPs are the most likely. Check the Oxfordshire we sites and blogs for local news.

Links are from here: http://www.goingbirding.co.uk/oxon/links.asp

ATB

Robin

 

[Birds 4ever]

Thanks - I may put smew off 'must see birds' list then(it's just that it's so tempting because in my Where to Watch Bird book literally every site in Oxford says 'possible smew'!!!)

Ok few more:

Lesser Redpoll(Shotover??)
Bitterns(Otmoor??)
Hen harrier(Possibly Otmoor?)
Common gull(Port meadow, if I could identify them, that is.)
Any owls(I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY OWLS. Can you believe it? Even tawny owls!)

 

[Amarillo]

Should be able to see most of these at the sites mentioned. You can check the regularly updated blogs to see when certain birds are around.

As for the owls, don't know where you can guarantee a tawny, but barn owls tend to be easy if you know where to go. One spot is the fields by the river around the far end of farmoor reservoir. Go there at dusk (or an hour before) and you should see one.

 

[Birds 4ever]

Thanks - I've heard that there are a few little owls near farmoor so should go and check this winter.