Oxfordshire birding (1 Viewer)

[gareth_blockley]

Not much to report, unfortunately.

Farmoor had a late Arctic tern on the 3rd.
Otmoor's Marsh harrier was last reported on the 3rd also along with 4 Little egrets, Garganey, Taurtle dove and 4 Groppers.

A BLACK STORK was exteramly close to being in the county but was in bucks near Aylesbury. Bird has not been relocated so could be in a quiet patch near you - blinkers off!!

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Hoopoe at Otmoor RSPB this morning. Flew to oak tree behind first screen then flew north. Not seen since but may still be around?

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Female Marsh Harrier still at Otmoor today!

Gareth

 

[RobinD]

There was a large dead gamebird on the hard shoulder of the northbound M40 this morning about a mile south of junction 7. Only got a brief view but looked like a female Reeve's Pheasant rather than a common.

ATB

Robin

 

[jason hodges]

there are reeves pheasants for sure around west wycombe they do breed there on the estate

 

[jason hodges]

few waders around port meadow lately otherwise very quiet for now

 

[RobinD]

Heard a couple of Quail while looking for raptors on the Downs and lots of Skylarks and Corn Buntings!

Plenty of Kites and Buzzards and a couple of Kestrels were the only raptors found!

 

[gareth_blockley]

Heard a couple of Quail while looking for raptors on the Downs and lots of Skylarks and Corn Buntings!

Plenty of Kites and Buzzards and a couple of Kestrels were the only raptors found!

Thats cool, i still haven't heard a Quail, were you along the ridgeway/cow down/bury down area? I have read its very good for them around there but haven't had a chance to go and listen for them yet.

There's a White Stork being reported around the River Cole at Coleshill. If anyones goes for it could they nail it down please, cheers!
A little stint has been seen at port meadow along with a few other species such as Black tailed godwits. So it seems autumn migration is kicking off.

Gareth

 

[RobinD]

Thats cool, i still haven't heard a Quail, were you along the ridgeway/cow down/bury down area? I have read its very good for them around there but haven't had a chance to go and listen for them yet.

Gareth

I've sent you a PM

Robin

 

[gareth_blockley]

I was at the Didcot/Sutton courtenay Gravel pits/Landfill area yesturday in an area not accessable to the public. Not a huge amount around though there were a couple of little egrets and red kites.

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Friday evening i was sat in the pub garden with my mates when a Hobby came and harrassed the swifts for a bit! Cool to watch though it was unsucsessful and soon disapeared. I know of one pair nearby (actually in warwickshire) but dont know of any others locally.

Seems to be a bit of yellow legged gull action of late with them being at Dix and Farmoor in the day and 50 plus in the farmoor roost recently. Greenshank at farmoor this morning.
Seems to be a lot of little egrets around at the moment so they must be having a good year.

Not heard much more else. Anyone been to Otmoor recently? If the water levels are low enoungh the waders should be dropping in there too.

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Farmoor is regularly getting 50+ Yellow legged gulls into the roost this week also upto 5 Med gulls and there was a huge passage of 50 to 60 Black terns on the 31st.

Port meadow is attracting Waders on the Autumn movements with green and common sands, ruff, dunlin, oyster catcher and LRP all being seen. Also good numbers of Little egret still.

2 BEE_EATERS were seen south of oxford on the 28th.

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

A lot less swift around Banbury over the last couple of days... autumns on its way.

Gareth

 

[Di Stone]

Does that mean that the summer has been and gone for this year then Gareth?:-C

 

[gnome]

Hi all,

Plenty of wader action at Port Meadow over the last few weeks. There's been a wood sandpiper present for the last three days. It was still there this morning together with 5 greenshank and 3 black-tailed godwits. There are some digiscoped record shots of the sandpiper together with a diary of sightings at http://www.portmeadowbirding.com

At Otmoor, the marsh harrier + hobbies still around and a few waders recently including a couple of whimbrel.

 

[gareth_blockley]

There are some digiscoped record shots of the sandpiper together with a diary of sightings at http://www.portmeadowbirding.com

At Otmoor, the marsh harrier + hobbies still around and a few waders recently including a couple of whimbrel.

Good work on the blog there. Im surprised the Marsh harrier still being around isn't going to the news survices or are they just treating as a 'usual' there now?

Farmoor has a (some?) Yellow legged gull in residence at the moment and is getting 50+ and a few Med gulls in the roost. c100 Black terns yesterday and a single Sandwiche tern briefly. Waders passing through daily include Sanderling, Dunlin, Blackwits, Redshank, Common sands, Ringed plovers and a Turnstone. Green sand and Little egret on Pinkhill. Other birds have been Osprey, Spotted fly, Redstart, Wheatear and a Shag.

Pied fly at Piddington today.

On the 23rd a Gannet was seen over Thame!


Lets hope September brings us something nice

Gareth

 

[RobinD]

Managed a rare visit to Abingdon on friday. The Drayton floods had a juvenile Ruff, with five Green Sandpipers. There were twenty (!) Buzzards and three Red Kites at South Stoke.

ATB

Robin

 

[gareth_blockley]

Monty's Harrier seen at Blewberry down today

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

An evening visit to Farmoor this afternoon allowed my to get very close to the Grey Phalarope and get some photos (my camera died when last years one was around). I also caught up with 4 of the 7 Black terns around, juvenile Arctic tern, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Common sand (heard only), and the juvenile Caspian Gull. This birds is the first juvenile for Oxfordshire, for more info visit - http://farmoor-birding.com/LOG-BOOK

The are 3 Greenshanks at Port meadow.



Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Osprey flew east over the local reservoir this morning, also 5 wheatears and further north along the canal was a whinchat. Excellent day for my little area!

The Grey phalarope is still at Farmoor, showing along the causeway midday.


Gareth