Oxfordshire birding (13 Viewers)

[gareth_blockley]

Feeding statin for winter finches?

I think i may have discovered a place to look for winter finches in Oxfordshire. Amazingly by chance; I was looking on birdguides at the pictures of the Lesser scaup in Farnborough 05 and followed a link to Stephen Burrch's photography site http://www.stephenburch.com/, found some pics of Reed bunting feeding at a bird table which turns out to be here http://www.bbowt.org.uk/content.asp?did=23593, and there you go just 4/5 miles south west of Oxford.

Worth a look to see if the birds still get fed there..

 

[gareth_blockley]

The last few days have been fairly quiet, nothing coming from the big sites.

Lesser scaup at Sonning eye GPs still and the usual suspects at Port meadow.


Just for info; a year ago on this day there was a Hen harrier at Otmoor RSPB.

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Last couple of days have been very quiet, probably due to the snow.

Only report seen of the long staying Shag Farmoor.

Hope theres more to come soon, happy birding!

 

[gareth_blockley]

Caspian gull and Little gull in the roost at Farmoor today, as well as the long staying Shag.

Dunlin, Golden plover and Yellowhammers at Portmeadow over the last few days.

Keep it up folks

 

[gareth_blockley]

Run down of the last few days

I have to say, its not been the most exciting week thus far, but here's a quick run down of some of the birds around:

The long staying Lesser scaup is still at Sonning eye GP's - this has been around for quite a while now.

A good number of waders at Port meadow including Ruff and Dunlin. Alos a large flock of Linnets at the Port meadow nature reserve.

Some nice flocks of Tree sparrow, Yellowhammer and Linnet around the Woodstock area.

Happy birding folks.

 

[Alauda26]

Hi Gareth,

Agree Oxon is terribly exciting at the moment. Aston Rowant had ridiculous numbers of kites displaying on Tuesday - they were literally everywhere.

And a very humble note - had my first singing blackcap in Banbury this morning behind the Banbury Cross B&B. Certainly an overwintering bird - my colleagues have seen it around a few times already, but it was lovely to hear it again!

Hope you're keeping well,
(km)

 

[Duck_Pond]

Is the barn owl frequently seen at Otmoor?

 

[gareth_blockley]

And a very humble note - had my first singing blackcap in Banbury this morning behind the Banbury Cross B&B. Certainly an overwintering bird - my colleagues have seen it around a few times already, but it was lovely to hear it again!

Hi, that's quite interesting as i work just up the road from there (south bar), will have to keep my eyes open for it.

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Is the barn owl frequently seen at Otmoor?

If i stay till dusk i normally see one, I have only been on early morning visits recently though.

Its a very good site for them though.

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Reported birds in the last few days:

Lesser scaup, Scaup and Smew at Sonning eye GPs, all first wither drakes.

A large flock of Yellowhammers at Chilton downs with Corn buntings (c.10).
A Curlew at Farmoor.
Tawny owls at Otmoor.
Barn owl at Sutton courtenay.

Gareth

 

[angletarn]

Week-end birding

Dear Gareth

I live quite close to you at Greatworth and I have just become interested in birding. I have a free week-end comong up in March and I would like to use this time to practice my bird photographic skills. Can you recommend where I should visit to give me the best chance of taking some decent shots. I have a 500mm lens as well as a 1.4 and 2 teleconverters. I know you appear to be the only one on the Oxford forum but clearly others enjoy reading your notes, they are much appreciated.

John

Living on the Warwickshire/Oxfordshire border I find myself birding in both counties, especially the hotspots. I have found there is high coverage for Warwickshire with various groups, reporting sites and even a thread on here. So I decided to get one going for Oxfordshire. There are some fantastic sights around Oxfordshire to go birding; with loads of good old English lowland agricultural land and specialist places like woods, the downs and the Chiltern hills.
There is a high concentration of well known sights in/around Oxford, which includes Farmoor reservoir, Otmoor RSPB and the wet meadows by the Thames. Oxfordshire is one of the best places, second to mid Wales, to see Red Kites. Other things of note include two of the best sites in the country to see Red-crested Pochard (Dix pit) and Hawfinch (Blenheim park) in the area.

So there we go, please feel free to add as much as you like especially on your local patch, under recorded sites and those unusual or rare sightings. I will try to keep this thread updated as much as possible so you can come and see what’s going on in the area.

 

[gareth_blockley]

Dear Gareth

I live quite close to you at Greatworth and I have just become interested in birding. I have a free week-end comong up in March and I would like to use this time to practice my bird photographic skills. Can you recommend where I should visit to give me the best chance of taking some decent shots. I have a 500mm lens as well as a 1.4 and 2 teleconverters. I know you appear to be the only one on the Oxford forum but clearly others enjoy reading your notes, they are much appreciated.

John

Hi John

It depends on the type of birds you want to photograph really, and how far you are willing to travel. If it dosn't matter what species of bird and concentrate on the photography i would recommend a local woodland or park. One of the easyest ways is to go to a feeding station where many birds can visit and would sit still for a bit. There is one at Otmoor RSPB, i dont know of one locally that would be regularly topped up with food (though see post #21). If you want wildfowl then i can recommend a reservoir or similar or Otmoor again.

Let me know what sort of thing you were thinking and i'll offer you a bit more.

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Birds in the last couple of days

19.02.07 - Port meadow
12 Dunlin, 8 Ruff, 3 Redshank, 1 Goosanger (M), 3 Stonechat (2M), 1 Snipe.

20.02.07 - Dix pit
18 Red-crested pochard

21.02.07 - Dix pit: Linch hill
13 Snow geese!! (presumably feral/escapees)


The three ducks that i still need to see are still at Sonning eye GPs!!
Lesser scaup, Scaup, and Smew - all three 1st winter drakes.

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Over the last couple of days/week

Farmoor reservoir:
Today - Four Egyptian Geese in fields adjacent to F.2. Also an adult summer Mediterranean Gull near the tern rafts this evening.
In the past week a brief Water Pipit on the causeway on 18th with 12 Bewick's Swans flying over on 20th.

Port meadow:
Ringed plover yesturday along with Golden plover, Ruff, Dunlin and Redshank.

Have a good weekend folks :hi:

 

[gareth_blockley]

A run down of the weekends birds:

Lesser scaup at Sonning eye GPs
Caspian gull at Henley road GPs
Waxwings in Botley
Ringed plover and two Black tailed godwit at Port meadow with Dunlin, Golden plover, Ruff and Redshank

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

An interesting couple of days have passed, most notable is the Waxwing (single bird) in Botlry around the park and church hall area.
The bird scareers have gone from Farmoor reservoir now resulting in up to three Med gulls in the roost. A dunlin yesturday and a Water pipit on the causeway this morning.

I had a walk around Port meadow today, very difficult due to it being very flooded. I got a chiffchaff in the nature reserve. Lots of Wigeon with several Shoveler, Shelduck and Pintail. Nine Golden plover flew over and a Curlew. No sign of the numbers of waders being reported recently.

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Hey folks,

Some of the Oxfordshire sightings for the last few days:
Waxwing still being seen 28/02/07 in Botley, West way by the church hall.
A Water pipit has been on the causeway at Farmoor for the last couple of days, with the first winter Shag still.
Two smew reported at Sonning eye GPs on the 01/03/07.
Single Whooper swan at Dorchester GPs, Allen pit on 03/03/07.

Have a good weekend people.

 

[gareth_blockley]

Hey folks,

Its been a manic week and the days are just slipping away!

I have probably missed some bird reports, like the location of a Caspian gull, but here are the ones i havn't missed:

05/03/07 - Farmoor - Two Egyption geese at on F1 and the Water pipit on the causeway.
06/03/07 - Farmoor - Water pipit and Shag still around, with an adult Med gull on the tern raft and at least four in the roost.
07/03/07 - Port meadow - 21 x Ruff, 1x Dunlin, 100's Wigeon, 30+ Pintail, 1x Lapwing, 180+ Golden plover and a ferel Pink footed goose and a presumed escaped Ring necked duck.

Today - I heard a Chiffchaff singing his little heart out in Banbury at the Grimsbury woodland NR!

Gareth

 

[gareth_blockley]

Not muach to report from the last few days really, there has been a Med gull at wytham wood today though.

I had a trip to Bury down, berks yeaturday, follow the link to read more http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=829760#post829760. I have also been popping to a nature reserve nearby ran by BOS where i have seen Stonechat and up to three Green sandpiper.

Have a good week everyone

 

[hughlewiswright]

Crane

Have you been for the Crane in the last couple of days? It's in your area isn't it Gareth?
Views of it look pretty decent but I don't think I'm gonna get the chance to come and take a look.

Cheers
Hugh