Another Sea-watch

Rain showers, brightening later, 18°, strong WSW.

Another blustery day with winds gusting up to force 7-8 and rain showers over most of the morning. Birding was therefore nigh impossible so a sea-watch from the Obs was on the cards.

The only migrant I saw today was a single Willow Warbler but a Yellow Wagtail was noted as was 5 Wheatear by others.

As for a sea-watch, expectations were high but ultimately disappointing for some as not everyone saw every bird.

3 Arctic Skua, 3 Auk sp, several Kittiwake, a Mediterranean Gull, 5 Common Scoter, c50 Balearic Shearwater, 26 Manx Shearwater, a Sooty Shearwater, 60+ Gannet and a Grey Phalarope.

Insects were thin on the ground with the weather being rough. A single Common Darter, a couple of Small White, a Wall Brown flying and a Striped Hawkmoth of note caught overnight.

Grey Phalarope courtesy Martin Cade.

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).

18^th 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.