2016 Year List

2016 Year List (UK:137) (Total:165):
Key: Bold = Lifer. Red = Overseas Bold Red (Work it out!)

Starling, House Sparrow, Mallard, Eider, Pheasant, Red-throated Diver, Northern Fulmar, Raven, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Robin, Rock Pipit, Rock Dove, Black Guillemot, Kittiwake, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Gannet, Shag, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Widgeon, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Greenland White-fronted Goose, Great Northern Diver, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Purple Sandpiper, Collard Dove, Redwing, Fieldfare, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Red Kite, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Egyptian Goose, Northern Shovelar, Great Crested Grebe, Bittern, Moorhen, Coot, Ring-necked Parakeet, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Wren, Canada Goose, Pintail, Pochard, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Jay, Siskin, Gadwall, Peregrine Falcon, Long-tailed Tit, Meadow Pipit, Red-legged Partridge, Treecreeper, Shelduck, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush, Kingfisher, Penduline Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, Sandwich Tern, Sardinian Warbler, Audouin's Gull, Osprey, White Wagtail, Black Redstart, Yellow-legged Gull, Blackcap, Great Egret, Marsh Harrier, Water Rail, Stone Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Serin, Common Crossbill, Reed Bunting, Blue Rock Thrush, Crag Martin, Booted Eagle, Kentish Plover, Greater Flamingo, Moustached Warbler, Purple Swamphen, Pied Avocet, Greenshank, Pink-footed Goose, Long-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Grey Partridge, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Mistle Thrush, Lapland Bunting, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Golden Pheasant, Common Snipe, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Wheatear, Dipper, Yellowhammer, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Goosander, Velvet Scoter, Common Scoter, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, King Eider, Whimbrel, Snow Bunting, Capercaillie, Red-breasted Merganser, Slavonian Grebe, Rock Ptarmigan, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Black-throated Diver, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Skua, Puffin, Red-crested Pochard










Saturday 12 April 2014

Farmoor Reservoir

My journey home from work takes me along the M40 so on route home on today I decided to pull off for a quick visit to Farmoor Reservoir to see the summer plumaged Red-necked Grebe.

I arrived to a nice sunny site and was able to walk around in a t-shirt, it was very quiet though, only one other car in the car park. The first birds I saw were 2 of these cute little ducklings:

Mallard Chick

One of the workers from the yacht club said there were 5 of them the day before, I suppose they stand out being yellow and are probably easy prey. I started to walk around the F2 reservoir as the Red-necked Grebe was reported to be in the SW corner - typical, the furthest possible point from the car park.... A female Mallard was swimming around with her ducklings, she had 12 in total! The ducklings were of a decent size so hopefully they will all survive.

Mallard & Chicks

There were quite a few Great Crested Grebes, I reckon there must have been 40 of them, they were looking resplendent in their bright summer colours, a number of pairs were starting their weed dance but they none did more than dabble.

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

I spent about half an hour in the SW corner and checked Great Crested Grebe after another but was unable to locate the Red-necked Grebe - typical...

I decided to head down to the Pinkhill hide to see if any waders were about, shouldn't have bothered though as some twat(s) have burnt it down, really pisses me off to see this, I went to two reserves last year where this had happened.

I then walked down to have a look at the fields were the Barn Owls can be seen hunting during the day although I never expected to see them at this time of year but one can hope. There were no Barn Owls though. I thought I'd head back to the car and check the F1 reservoir for the Red-necked Grebe on the way back. I bumped into another birder who had seen the Grebe - in the SW corner...! I couldn't believe it... He showed me it through his telescope, I could see it was close to the opposite site and couldn't resist tabbing back round to see if I could get some photos.

The tab back round was worth it as I got some amazing views, I must have taken about 200 photos of him. He was up and down the south side of the reservoir so kept me on my toes. Before I left the Grebe was up and down collect fish.

Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

I couldn't stay forever so finally upped and left and was lucky enough to see my first Swallow of the year when one flew over my head but then turned and headed back over farmland. A bit further round another 2 Swallows flew over and out over the water and another 3 about 200m further round.

Swallow

Last bird was a handsome Pied Wagtail.

Pied Wagtail

I do like visiting Farmoor, for an inland site it has some great birds stop over, a Firecrest had been reported earlier that day and an Avocet was reported as arriving later in the day.
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Location: Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire, UK
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