Birds
People parking on wide verge, where Bridelway crosses road, just north of Cowlease Wood. Follow signed public right of way downhill as far as second bench seat (left side) and sit down. Look 45 degrees left of straight ahead, over near fence and down across rough chalk grassland to fence bordering open grassland. Note three close hawthorns ON fence line with left hand the tallest. This was the default refuge perch for the three birds, with feeding forays no more than some 20 metres in all directions. Very successful feeding with many large worms noted that had to be bit into smaller chunks for swallowing. Three Wheatears between seat and hawthorn and at around 18:00 most unexpectedly, a tristus (?)looking Chiffchaff passed seat on way up slope, and across track to continue uphill. Plumage stunningly greyish, lacking any yellowish nature anywhere (including around alula) with very pale whitish underparts and the jet black legs that I have previously associated with this sub-species. Seen by Heathrow area birder/naturalist and myself. Did not call which was unhelpful as regards albietinus.
Click on title for location of Ouzels from c16:00 up to 18:15
- Otmoor: 17th July
Whinchat along the eastern fence line of Big Otmoor to the left of the path to the 1st screen. (per Patrick Galka)...
- Linky Down: 19th April
10 Ring Ouzels - along bottom of the northern slope along fence line GB and Allan Jones...
- Otmoor 1st October
Please view at 720p or 1080p HD RED-BACKED SHRIKE imm nr Lower Farm (aka Noke Farm) along northern fence line and still present at 7 pm this evening in the same spot & looks like going to roost (per Liam Langley) Found by Oxford United Paul....
- Abingdon Sewage Works Area Wednesday 15th; C11.30 To 3pm
My concerted effort to count Chiffchaffs; realised a MINIMUM of 20 birds with at least 2 of them Siberian. Between SW of Sports pitches using hedge/weld mesh fence boundary; the shrub line (with chain-link fence)along north boundary of sewage works and...
- South Leigh March 18
Great Grey Shrike 1 from 0830 to at least 1000 (with grateful thanks to Sally for putting out the news) Hen Harrier 1 Red Kite 2 Common Buzzard 8+ Common Kestrel 2 2 Short-eared Owl (Thomas Stevens) Directions for the Shrike Take the road from the A40...
Birds
Aston Rowant NNR Ring Ouzels Sat 7th 18:15
People parking on wide verge, where Bridelway crosses road, just north of Cowlease Wood. Follow signed public right of way downhill as far as second bench seat (left side) and sit down. Look 45 degrees left of straight ahead, over near fence and down across rough chalk grassland to fence bordering open grassland. Note three close hawthorns ON fence line with left hand the tallest. This was the default refuge perch for the three birds, with feeding forays no more than some 20 metres in all directions. Very successful feeding with many large worms noted that had to be bit into smaller chunks for swallowing. Three Wheatears between seat and hawthorn and at around 18:00 most unexpectedly, a tristus (?)looking Chiffchaff passed seat on way up slope, and across track to continue uphill. Plumage stunningly greyish, lacking any yellowish nature anywhere (including around alula) with very pale whitish underparts and the jet black legs that I have previously associated with this sub-species. Seen by Heathrow area birder/naturalist and myself. Did not call which was unhelpful as regards albietinus.
Click on title for location of Ouzels from c16:00 up to 18:15
- Otmoor: 17th July
Whinchat along the eastern fence line of Big Otmoor to the left of the path to the 1st screen. (per Patrick Galka)...
- Linky Down: 19th April
10 Ring Ouzels - along bottom of the northern slope along fence line GB and Allan Jones...
- Otmoor 1st October
Please view at 720p or 1080p HD RED-BACKED SHRIKE imm nr Lower Farm (aka Noke Farm) along northern fence line and still present at 7 pm this evening in the same spot & looks like going to roost (per Liam Langley) Found by Oxford United Paul....
- Abingdon Sewage Works Area Wednesday 15th; C11.30 To 3pm
My concerted effort to count Chiffchaffs; realised a MINIMUM of 20 birds with at least 2 of them Siberian. Between SW of Sports pitches using hedge/weld mesh fence boundary; the shrub line (with chain-link fence)along north boundary of sewage works and...
- South Leigh March 18
Great Grey Shrike 1 from 0830 to at least 1000 (with grateful thanks to Sally for putting out the news) Hen Harrier 1 Red Kite 2 Common Buzzard 8+ Common Kestrel 2 2 Short-eared Owl (Thomas Stevens) Directions for the Shrike Take the road from the A40...