Round up of some fantastic county birds in March, topped by an excellent Ring-billed Gull found by @tmbirding.bsky.social. April looks set to continue the great form the county is currently in, quite the start to 2026. oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2026/04/marc... #UKBirding
Thanks Geoff 👍. Was a fun one to write this month, even if I did dip the PFG’s.
A bit late with this, but a round-up of Decembers birding in Oxon. A major influx of geese produced a 9 goose species day, which was the big excitement this month. A smattering of winter staples rounded the month off nicely #UKbirding. oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2026/01/dece...
Only sensible option really..
Eastern Black Redstart at the point near the green beacon.
Pic: T Willoughby.
#spurnbirds
@rarebirder.bsky.social
1w Kittiwake with Black-headed Gull
Black Redstart
Nipped over to Farmoor on a speculative visit, with lots moving around the country due to Storm Claudia. Absolutely buzzing then to pick out this 1w Kittiwake on F1, a county ✔️ and 190 for the Oxon Big Year. Unfortunately didn’t hang about. Black Red was also still present #UKBirding
Gyr Falcon - captive bird
Gyr Falcon - captive bird
Nearly had a heart attack when this beast flew into view whilst working around London last week. A juv dark-morph Gyr Falcon causing absolute chaos. Several expletives followed and then eventual clear views of a bird with telemetry equipment! #UKbirding
Hen Harrier Susie, whose chicks were stamped to death on a Yorkshire Dales grouse moor in 2022, has been found dead on a N Pennines grouse moor with gunshot injuries.
18+ months of silence about this crime from the police & Natural England.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/14/h...
Olive-backed Pipit in dune scrub
Snow Bunting in amongst dune and foreshore habitat
Snow Bunting in amongst beach scree
Snow Bunting feeding on seeds in amongst dune and foreshore scree
Don’t often get to bird back in the homeland when I visit, so well chuffed to get over to South Gare for first time in yonks. OBP twitch with the eldest an unexpected bonus, whilst the Snow Bunting confiding as ever. Plus endless waders & seabirds - makes birding back in Oxon difficult. #UKBirding
Great Northern Diver - Juv
Great Northern Diver - Juv
A guaranteed annual on the SW London Waterbodies SPA, but nice to find two of these loafs on Wraysbury Reservoir last week. Don’t often get much on here, so this and the Sabs Gull in the last few weeks have been a real highlight. Would love to see one of these tanks flying over the m25! #UKBirding
October Oxon Birding round-up is now up! A superb month with the county in fine form for rarities: Bluethroat lingering into the 1st week, then a Pec Sand and finally two Twite – a real inland mega these days. And all 3 found by the same birder! #UKbirding oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/11/octo...
Certainly given him a good head-start if he is ever afflicted with the county listing bug!
Twite feeding on Mayweed sp. In amongst lichen and moss.
Pair of Twite feeding in amongst lichen and weeds of Farmoor Reservoir bank
Twite feeding on Mayweed sp.
After my recent poor form/luck on the Oxon Big Year, it seemed appropriate I’d spend yesterday morning dipping Pectoral Sandpiper. Quite remarkable then that a pair of Twite were found on Farmoor later that day by the same observer! The first since 2011 and a county ✔️ for lots of locals. #UKbirding
Certainly brightened up the morning Tom!
Juvenile Sabine’s Gull
Juvenile Sabine’s Gull in flight
Juvenile Sabine’s Gull
Juvenile Sabine’s Gull
After the initial couple of flyby’s the juvenile Sabine’s Gull showed incredibly well. Not many birds that are as stunning in juvenile plum as adults but Sab’s are definitely one of those. Just a shame for it be on site with no access #UKbirding @birdguides.bsky.social @berksbirdclub.bsky.social
Could not believe my eyes whilst surveying on Wraysbury Reservoir this morning when this juvenile Sabine’s Gull flew into view. Incredible views of a species I’ve only seen once before - just wish I had a better camera! #UKbirding @berksbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
Oh lawdy...!!!
White-throated Needletail showing a bit well here at Bempton RSPB reserve @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
The Oxon birding round up for September now live. Obvious highlight a 1w Bluethroat at @rspbotmoor.bsky.social, the 3rd county record. Other highlights include a couple Manx Shearwater and plenty of wader action, although frequently not twitchable. oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/10/sept... #UKBirding
Natural England confirms ongoing & relentless illegal persecution is reason why Hen Harriers are still rare in England.
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #Ornithology
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/02/h...
An excellent read Thomas, what a bird to end your time in Oxon on. Sorry to have missed your “final” Oxon twitch, good luck for the rest of the autumn!
A great find indeed, but to be clear not mine!
Well who on earth had Bluethroat on their Oxon bingo card? An incredible run of birds for the county continued with a 1w male Bluethroat at @rspbotmoor.bsky.social this morning, found late evening yesterday. Both a county and UK ✔️ for me! County Big Year now on 188 (+ GWT). #UKbirding
A round up of an exciting month of birding in Oxon - topped by a 2nd for the county and proper grip back for those who missed the 1st. Other highlights include an unseasonable Wood Warbler, a storm blown Shag and a southward bound Honey-buzzard #UKbirding
oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/augu...
A good way to round out the summer fieldwork season, an atmospheric evening monitoring post-breeding flocks of Stone-curlew, just before the weather turned this week. A real pleasure to work with this species over the summer (under license of course). #ornithology #UKbirding
Little Stint at Farmoor yesterday evening. Took some finding after disappearing at midday, but well worth the punt that it was still around. #UKbirding
Wood Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper in foreground, Greenshank in background
Wood Sandpiper
Finally a Wood Sandpiper in Oxfordshire this autumn. With so many records in bordering counties, I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever get one. #UKbirding
Shag (Juv).
Shag (Juv).
Mediterranean Gull with Black-headed
Greenshank
Still ticking away on the Oxon Big Year with three new birds in August. Shag the standout rarity so far. Although very pleased to finally catch up with Greenshank (!) and Med Gull after worrying these may be glaring omissions. Now on 182, hoping for more wader action. #UKBirding
After our summer break here is the Oxon birding review for the last 2 months. Nothing too unexpected, but with the Crossbill irruption gaining pace and some early Wader action there’s been enough to keep us going. That being said, bring on autumn! #UKbirding oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/08/summ...
Wouldn’t be surprised at all, long touted as another species to be introduced by the usual suspects. I’d be taking a very close look at all these Night-heron records if I was on the local rarities committee.
