Port Meadow Birding

Low key but enjoyable trip down to Cornwall last weekend for some of the long staying birds and some bonus ancient stone circles. Write-up here:
oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2026/02/corn...
#birding

First twitch of the year to Hants for the Killdeer with the GT Grackle for afters. With WT Eagle flyover bonus it was a grand day out!

Write-up here:
oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2026/01/ripl...
#birding

A couple of recent blog post updates: Lesser Crested Tern at Exemouth estuary and the Scops Owl at Dunvant Park near Swansea. Read the blow by blow accounts here:
oxfordbirder.blogspot.com

Photo's courtesy of Jim Hutchins & @pittasoma.bsky.social

Calshot Boat-tailed Grackle On Sunday, news dropped on the bird news services of a Great-tailed Grackle down in Hampshire. Now I consider Hants to be sufficiently close...

I was more than happy to pay the Calshot Boat-tailed Grackle a visit despite it being ship-assisted.

#tartforatick

oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/11/cals...

Yet Another Oxon Mega: Farmoor Twite! In my last blog post I wondered whether there might be yet another rarity in Oxfordshire before the year was out. That thought has turned ou...

The Oxon vintage year continues with a pair of Twite at Farmoor recently. Write-up here:

oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/10/yet-...

Autumn Magic: Otmoor Bluethroat What a vintage year this is turning out to be for Oxon. Usually as a land-locked county about as far as one can get from the sea we have to ...

This Oxon vintage year just keeps getting better! Now a Bluethroat on Otmoor. Write-up here:

oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/10/autu...

A low key autumn Uni run this September but the lovely Dotterel on Burbage Moor made for a very pleasant interlude on the long drive.

oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/09/autu...

A couple of summer orchid trips that I forgot to mention. To Anglesey for Pugsley's Marsh Orchid

oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...

and to Suffolk for Tongue Orchid. Write-ups here:

oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/06/orch...

Stonking Oxon county Mega on Friday in the form of a Marsh Sandpiper. Write-up here:
oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/09/oxon...

Photos courtesy of @tmbirding.bsky.social

Suffolk Reprise: Walberswick Zitting Cisticola Most birders with their finger anywhere remotely near the pulse of national birding news will be aware of the discovery last Sunday of a Zit...

I caved in and went for the Zitting Cisticola at Walberswick yesterday. Had some issues with connecting - I think I'm getting old! Write up here: oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/08/suff...

Went to Suffolk for the confiding Black Stork at RSPB Boyton Marshes on Tuesday. The bird was very obliging and the salt marsh scenery was wonderful. Write up:
oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/07/boyt...
#birding

At last another Oxon county tick with the Savi's Warbler at Otmoor. Write up here: oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/05/otmo...
Photo courtesy of Ian Lewington

Always nice to see Variable Damselfly in Oxon. The local colony just north of Oxford seems to be doing OK
#odonata #dragonflies #damselflies

This weekend I went to Slimbride for the White-spotted Bluethroat which performed very well. With a nice supporting cast it made for a great morning out

oxfordbirder.blogspot.com

Port Meadow patch end of month blog update. It's been a really tough month with little reward:
portmeadowbirding.blogspot.com
Blue-headed Wagtail & fly-over Crossbill the only highlights
(photos courtesy of @tmbirding.bsky.social )

Easter Uni Run: Bourne Dark-Breasted Barn Owl My two older daughters have now passed through the Uni system so no longer provide me with excuses for birding excursions further afield. Ho...

Nice trip up to Yorkshire to take my son back to Uni. Managed to see the Dark-breasted Barn Owl at Bourne on the way back as well as a nice supporting cast. Some owl video footage on my blog post.
oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/04/east...

Late as usual but have finally posted my end of March update for Port Meadow. Some reasonable early spring birds but nothing outstanding apart from a Siberian Chiffchaff & a RL Partridge in someone's back garden
portmeadowbirding.blogspot.com

Photos courtesy of @tmbirding.bsky.social

Latest Port Meadow blog update has now been posted with the first Sand Martins and LRP's now on the year list. There is still some good gulling with plenty of Caspians, YLGs and Med Gulls to be seen.
portmeadowbirding.blogspot.com
Photos courtesy of @tmbirding.bsky.social

I went to Marazion for the Booted Eagle this weekend. After a series of frustrating misses I finally connected with cracking views! With a nice supporting cast it was a great weekend away
oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/02/mara...

#latetotheparty #birding #BootedEagle

This must be a record in lateness even for me but my end of year 2024 birding review is finally up.

oxfordbirder.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-...

Guess my bird of the year! 🤔

2024 End of Year Review In the customary style of this blog, the end of year review is only being posted once we are a couple of weeks into the New Year. Still, it'...

The Port Meadow 2024 annual review is finally up! Guess the bird of the year!
portmeadowbirding.blogspot.com/2025/01/2024...

#betterlatethannever #patchbirding

Hey Bluesky I've completed my X-odus from Twitter. I'll be carrying on my Port Meadow birding posts on here. I look forward to re-connecting with fellow birders on this haven from Musk madness