Friday 20 January 2012

Farmoor, Rushey Common and Cholsey.

Overcast, some light rain, 10º, light WSW.

Two rare species have turned up in Oxfordshire this week, a Grey Phalarope and a Temmink’s Stint. Both species have appeared in Oxfordshire before but unusual at this time of year. Probably down to the, so far, mild winter?

Farmoor.
Grey Phalarope still present today, also Great Northern Diver still there.

I do not think there has been a Grey Phalarope record in Oxon in january since Aplins time in the 19th century. i.e. Port Meadow Jan 1887.

Rushey Common.
Temmink’s Stint, distant but viewable feeding along a small spit. Thanks to two Cholsey boys for finding this one, Brian and Geoff Wyatt.

Cholsey.
Several Bullfinches, a Song Thrush and a Kingfisher seen near the Bullshole.

Reasonably quiet out on the farmland, the Stonechat appears to have gone; maybe last week’s cold snap forced it to move on.

The sheep have moved off Lollingdon Hill and most of the Pied Wagtails that were feeding alongside them. Only 2 Pied Wagtails seen on the hill. A flock of c200 Fieldfare nearby and a small flock of 12 Starlings.

Only 1 Redwing seen with the flock of Fieldfare but a small flock of (c40) exclusively Redwing near Aston Tirrold.

9 Lapwing seen flying towards the downs and 4 Mistle Thrush in the Churchyard.

5 Roe Deer also noted ( 1 buck and 4 Does).

18th Jan there were between 80 to 100 Corn Buntings at the roost and a few Reed Buntings. Thanks to Tony Williams for the info.

Help.
Spoke to a chap today who had lost his dog, a giant Schnauzer near the Bullshole, she is black and answers to the name Rosie. If found there should be a phone number on her collar.

14 Goldfinch, 11 Chaffinch and 6 Greenfinch in garden today.
                                   Grey Phalarope

                                   Grey Phalarope

Temmink’s Stint, it is there, behind and to the right of the Coot and Black-headed Gull.

No comments:

Post a Comment