2005 LOG BOOK

COMPILED FROM THE FARMOOR LOGBOOK, PAGER SERVICES & PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS

Enteries are usually brief and concentrate on the more interesting sightings eg: new migrant arrivals, high species counts, etc.

*****

December 2005

20th
2 Black-necked Grebes.
1 Water Pipit.
ROOST:
Adult Caspian Gull.

19th
1 Water Pipit.
2 Black-necked Grebes.
ROOST:
2 Caspian Gulls, adult & 1st winter. The Dix Pit birds.

18th
2 Black-necked Grebes.
1 Water Pipit.
11 Goosander.
2 Stonechat.
3 Redshank.
1 Dunlin.

13th
2 Black-necked Grebes still on F.2.
1 Water Pipit.
8 Goosander.
ROOST:
1 Adult Caspian Gull.
c25 Yellow-legged Gulls.

10th
1 Slavonian Grebe.
2 Black-necked Grebes.
1 Water Pipit.
7 Goosander.
11 Wigeon.
ROOST:
1stw Caspian Gull, this is the bird present at Dix Pit during the week.

9th
2 Black-necked Grebes (on F2)
1 Water Pipit.
2 Dunlin.
7 Wigeon.
9 Goosander.

4th
2 Black-necked Grebes.
1 Water Pipit.
10 Goosander.

3rd
1 Slavonian Grebe.
2 Black-necked Grebes.
1 Water Pipit.
ROOST:
1 1stw Med' Gull.

November 2005

30th
1 Knot.
2 Dunlin.
1 Redshank.
2 Black-necked Grebes.
8 Goosander.

29th
1 Knot.
2 Dunlin.
1 Redshank.
208 Cormorants.
1 Water Pipit.
c40 Goldeneye.

27th
1 Water Pipit.
41 Goldeneye.
5 Goosander.
2 Redshank.
1 Dunlin.
1 Cetti's Warbler (Pinkhill).

23rd
Just one Shag seen today.
1 Green Sandpiper.
1 Water Pipit.

22nd
2 Shags today, yesterdays bird, plus another picked up in a garden at Christmas Common and released at the reservoir this morning.
1 Water Pipit.
32 Goldeneye.
2 Stonechats.
1 Shoveler.
2 Pochard.

21st
The first winter Shag still present on F.2.
1 Merlin, a female chasing Redwings & Fieldfares.
1 Stonechat.
1 Water Pipit.
1 drake Goosander, the first this winter.
1 Chiffchaff.

19th
The reservoir was shrouded in mist and fog most of the day making birding very difficult!
A Shag was seen early am by TW & DJ on the Thames below the pumping station.
The Snow Bunting still present on the causeway.
The regular wintering Water Pipit also on the causeway.

18th
A first winter Snow Bunting on the causeway. Still present at dusk and apparently first seen yesterday.
3 Water Rails on Pinkhill reserve.
2 Dunlin.
1 Water Pipit.
ROOST:
c20+ Yellow-legged Gulls.

17th
Lots of Redwings & Fieldfares this morning.
1 Dunlin.
1 Water Pipit.
ROOST:
1st winter Med' Gull.

16th
71 Great Crested Grebes.
7 Little Grebes.
26 Goldeneye.
1 Water Pipit.

14th
1st winter Med' Gull in roost.
At least 20 adult Yellow-legged Gulls.

13th
The Great Northern Diver was present until 9am when it flew off SW.
1 Water Pipit.

12th
Juvenile Great Northern Diver.
1 Water Pipit.
3 Stonechats.

11th
A second winter Med' Gull on F2 this am.
1 Water Pipit.
1 Dunlin.
10 Goldeneye.
ROOST:
1 2ndw Med' Gull.

9th
ROOST
Adult Med'Gull.
20 Adult Yellow-legged Gulls.

8th
Adult Med' Gull in roost.

7th
1 Water Pipit.
4 Goldeneye.
6 Little Grebe.

5th
2 Hawfinches were seen briefly this morning by DJ & TW in poplars near Lower Whitley Farm, but didn't linger. This is only the second record of this species for Farmoor.
2 Raven.
1 Water Pipit.
ROOST:
1 adult Med' Gull.

3rd
The only real bird of note today: a first winter Common Tern. Seen at lunchtime by DJ, a very late date for this species, presumably displaced by the strong winds of the last couple of days.

October 2005.

30th
The 2nd winter Med' Gull again in roost.

29th
1 Brambling.
1 Water Pipit.
1 Goosander.
10 Redpoll.
Roost:
2ndw Med' Gull.

23rd
1 Raven.
1 Wheatear.
1 Stonechat.
1 Dunlin.
ROOST:
1 1stw. Med' Gull.

22nd
1 Water Pipit (presumed regular returning bird).
1 Raven.
3 Redpoll.
c20 Siskin.
2 Goldeneye.
1 Swallow.
1 Cetti's Warbler (Pinkhill).

16th
40+ Redpoll.
2 Rock Pipits.
Cetti's Warbler singing, Pinkhill.

15th
15+ Redpoll.
1 Pintail.
1 Oystercatcher.
Many Redwings over early am.

14th
VERY quiet.
4 Rock Pipits on the causeway.
6 Siskin flew over.
ROOST:
1st w Med' Gull.
Partial albino Black-headed Gull.
Several Yellow-legged Gulls (today awarded specific status by the BOU....at last!!)

7th
1 Drake Common Scoter.
1 Juv' Wheatear.
4 Rock Pipits.
1 Green Sandpiper, flew through.
1 Cetti's Warbler, singing at Pinkhill.
2 Ravens flew over.
ROOST:
1 Adult Med' Gull.
Common Gull numbers building up.

6th
8 Rock Pipits at midday, west bank F.1.
1 juv' Wheatear.
1 Great Black-backed Gull.
The long-staying Little Gull has not been seen for the last three days so has presumably finally moved on.

5th
5 Rock Pipits on the causeway late pm.
4 Dunlin.
1 Yellow Wagtail.
1 Ringed Plover.

3rd
1 Red-breasted Merganser (eclipse drake).
2 Sandwich Terns.
3 Dunlin.
ROOST:
1 Med' Gull (1stw).

2nd
1 Little Gull.
1 Great Black-backed Gull.
3 Common Sandpipers.
5+ Yellow Wagtails.
ROOST:
1 Med' Gull (1st w).
3 Ruddy Shelducks, circled F1 & F2 for five minutes in evening.

September 2005

29th
1 Little Gull.
2 Curlew.
2 Dunlin.
c150 House Martins.
c10 Yellow wagtail.
5 Common Sandpiper.
1 Common Tern.

28th
1 Little Gull.
2 Dunlin.
3 Sandwich Terns flew through at 08.30.
5 Common sandpipers.
ROOST:
1 Ad Med' Gull.
3 Sandwich Terns ( adults).

27th
1 Little Gull.
1 Great Black-backed Gull.
2 Dunlin.
5 Common Sandpiper.
1 Turnstone.
ROOST:
1 Med' Gull (ad).
1 Common Tern.

26th
5 Grey Plover few through this evening.
2 Dunlin.
3 Common Sandpiper.
1 Great Black-backed Gull.
c60 House Martins.
a few Swallows.

25th
1 Little Gull.
1 Great Black-backed Gull (perhaps the returning adult bird, present for the last few days).
3 Ruff ( flew though late am).
5 Common Sandpiper.
1 Rock Pipit.
3 Yellow Wagtails.
5 Swallows.
1 juv' Wheatear.
8 Little Grebes.
14 Golden Plover flew through.
ROOST:
2 Med' Gulls (ad, 1stw).

23rd
1 Little Gull (long staying bird still present).
1 Rock Pipit.
5 Dunlin.
3 Common Sandpipers.
During heavy rain today the following waders passed through (without stopping):
11 Redshank.
1 Ruff.
2 Ringed Plover.
ROOST;
1 Med' Gull (the regular 1st winter bird).

21st.
1 Little Gull.
1 Green Sandpiper (Pinkhill).
2 Dunlin.
1 juv' Ringed Plover.
1 Yellow-legged Gull.
ROOST:
1 1st w Med' Gull.

20th
1 Common Scoter (drake).
1 Little Gull (2nd w.).
3 Dunlin.
8+ Meadow Pipits.
1 Yellow-legged Gull (long-staying adult still present).
1 Black-necked Grebe.
1 Curlew.
c15 Swallows.
1 Skylark on causeway!
ROOST:
1 1stw Med'Gull.

19th
1 Little Gull.
2 Black-necked Grebes.
1 Dunlin.
1 juv' Arctic Tern.
8 Shoveler.
2 Wigeon.
c20 Swallows.
1 ad Med' Gull.

18th
1 Ringed Plover.
8 Dunlin.
1 Ruff.
1 Common Scoter (male).
1 Little Gull.
5 Common Sandpiper.
10 Meadow Pipits.
c15 Yellow Wagtails.
ROOST:
1 Med' Gull (1stw).
1 albino Black-headed Gull.

16th
1 Black-necked Grebe.
1 Little Gull.
1 Dunlin.
1 Little Egret (Pinkhill).
c200 House Martins.
1 Knot.
1 Common Tern.
ROOST:
2 Med' Gulls (ad, 1stw.).

14th
1 Osprey. Caught a huge trout late pm, and then another c19.00. Seems to roost in Wytham Woods.
1 Little Gull (2nd winter).
2 Black-necked Grebes.
2 Common Sandpipers.
1 Raven.
c20 Swallows.
1 juv' Wheatear.

12th
1 Little Gull (2nd w).
1 Juv Black Tern.
1 Curlew.
1 Ruff.
1 Osprey.
4 Common Sandpiper.
c20 Swallows early am.
ROOST:
3 Med' Gulls (ad, 2stw).

11th
1 Little Gull.
1 juv' Black tern.
1 juv' Arctic Tern.
3 Common Terns: (2 ads, 1 juv').
3 juv' Little Stints.
1 juv' Knot.
Adult Yellow-legged Gull.
The Osprey seen again fishing over both reservoirs at lunchtime.
ROOST:
2 Med' Gulls: (adult & 1st winter).
6 Common Gulls. (5 adults, 1 juv').

10th
4 Greenshank flew through.
4 Common Sandpiper.
1 Juv' Black Tern.
1 Little Gull.
1 Ad Yellow-legged Gull.
c25 House Martins.
c10 Swallows.
ROOST:
1 juv' Arctic Tern.
3 Med' Gulls ( 2 1stw, 1ad).

9th
1 Osprey.
4 Black Terns.
3 Curlew.
1 Little Egret.
1 Garganey.
1 Litle Gull.
3 Common Sandpiper.
ROOST:
1 1st year Caspian Gull.
2 Med Gulls (ad, juv/1stw).

8th
2 Black Terns ( both juvs).
1 Little Gull ( the long-staying 2nd w).
ROOST:
1 Med Gul (1stw).

7th
1 Osprey.
1 Dunlin.
6 Common sandpipers.
1 Wryneck reported 08.45 only.
1 Garganey.Black-necked Grebe.
8 Black Terns.
ROOST:
2 Med' Gulls (ad, 1st w).

6th.
Osprey still present and seen to catch a fish p.m.
1 juv Black Tern.
1 Juv/1st winter Med' Gull, F1 western bank, 08.30.
1 Ruff.
1 Dunlin.
1 Juv Common Tern.
1 juv Wheatear.
ROOST:
1 Juv/1stw Med' Gull.

5th.
1 Osprey, seen at 08.30 and presumed same bird c15.45.
1 Ruff.
1 Dunlin.
1 Garganey.
7 Common Terns, 08.30.
c20 Swallows.
ROOST:
2 Med' Gulls (ad & 1st w).

4th.
1 Little Gull (the usual bird).
1 Garganey.
ROOST:
4 Med' Gulls, (all juv/1st winter).

3rd.
1 Marsh Harrier.
1 Garganey.
1 Little Gull.
1 Curlew.
Adult Yellow-legged Gull (resident adult still present).
Juv' Hobby.
ROOST:
2 Med' Gulls (both juv/1stw).

2nd.
1 Black-necked Grebe.
1 Garganey.
1 Osprey.
1 Ruff.
1 Little Gull (2nd winter).
1 Black Tern.
1 Curlew.
ROOST:
4 Med' Gulls (Adult, 2 juv/1stw, 1 1stw).

1st.
1 Garganey.
1 Black-necked Grebe.
21 Black Terns.
7 Little Gulls.
1 Ruff.
2 Swifts.
50 Yellow Wagtails.
ROOST:
2 Med' Gulls (both 1st winter).

August 2005

31st.
A passage of Black Terns today, with a maximum of 31 birds.
5 Little Gulls.
15 Ringed Plover.
1 Ruff
1 1st w Med' Gull.
1 Osprey.

30th.
Adult summer Sabine's Gull still present all day.
6 Little Gulls.

29th.
Adult summer Sabine's Gull Present for much of the day.
Juvenile Mediterranean Gull.
5 Little Gulls (2nd w, 4 juveniles).
1 Ruff

23rd.
I Garganey.
2nd winter Little Gull.
Juvenile Black tern.

22nd.
ROOST:
Adult Med' Gull.
2nd winter Little Gull.
Juv' Black Tern.

20th.
2 Sanderling.
2nd winter Little Gull.
2 Whinchats.
3 juv' Black Terns.
ROOST:
Adult Med'Gull.
c 15 Yellow-legged Gulls.

19th.
1, Little Gull.
c 150 Swallows.
ROOST:
1 Med' Gull (1st winter).

18th.
4 juv' Black Terns.
ROOST:
Adult Med' Gull.

17th.
1 Little Gull (2nd winter).
1 Wheatear.
6 Black Terns.
ROOST:
1 Med' Gull (ad).
+ 6 Black Terns still present.

15th August.
1 Shelduck,
1 Little Gull (2nd winter).
3 Dunlin.
1 Little Egret (on causeway at 20.30).
ROOST:
2 Med' Gulls (adult and 1st winter).

13th.
3 Sanderling.
1 Green Sandpiper.
1 Little Gull.

12th.
5 Arctic Terns (3 Ads, 2 juvs).
2 Little Gulls (both 2nd w)
5 Dunlin

11th.
Adult Med' Gull, 08.30.
Second winter Little Gull.

10th.
Adult Med' Gull still, early am.
Second winter Little Gull.
1 juvenile Arctic Tern.
1 Turnstone.
1 Ruff.

8th.
1 Med' Gull
3 Arctic Terns (adults)
1 Greenshank
1 Ringed Plover
ROOST:
4 Med' Gulls ( 3, Juvs + 1 Adult)
2 Common Gulls
c30 Yellow-legged Gulls

7th.
ROOST:
1 juv' Med Gull
1 juv' Common Gull
c25 Yellow-legged Gulls

6th.
5 Black Terns
1 Little Gull
1 Redshank
1 Dunlin
ROOST:
3 Med' Gulls (Ad+2juvs).

5th.
1 Sanderling
1 Dunlin
2 Ringed Plovers
9 Common Sandpiper
ROOST:
3 Med' Gulls (1 Ad, 2 juvs).
c20 Yellow-legged Gull

4th.
Juv' Wheatear
6 Dunlin
6 Common Sandpiper
ROOST:
Adult Little Gull
Juv' Med' Gull

3rd.
1 Sanderling
2 Dunlin
8 Common Sandpiper
ROOST:
Juv' Med' Gull

2nd.
1 Oystercatcher
8 Common Sandpiper
Adult Med' Gull 'til 08.30am.
Adult Yellow-legged Gull (on bouy F1 during daytime).
ROOST:
3 Med' Gulls: Adult + 2 juvs.

1st.
11 Common Sandpiper
ROOST:
2 Med' Gulls (ad + juv')

July 2005

31st.
10 Dunlin
1 Greenshank
5 Common Sandpiper
Spotted Flycatcher (car park)
ROOST:
Adult Mediterranean Gull
c10 Yellow-legged Gulls

30th,
ROOST:
2 Juvenile Med' Gulls (see photos)
c10 Yellow-legged Gulls (incl 2 juveniles)

29th,
ROOST:
1 Adult summer Med' Gull

26th.
1 Black Tern

25th.
2 Sanderling

24th.
ROOST:
1 Adult summer Med' Gull
1 juv' Med' Gull

23rd.
2 Little Terns
1 Little Stint
1 Whimbrel
1 Sanderling
1 Oystercatcher

21st.
3 Dunlin
1 Turnstone
1 Little Stint
3 Common sandpiper

20th:
2 Greenshank, Pinkhill
4 Oystercatcher, Pinkhill
ROOST:
2nd summer Med' Gull
c20 Yellow-legged Gulls

19th.
ROOST:
2 juvenile Med' Gulls.

18th.
ROOST:
Second summer Med' Gull
Adult Med' Gull
1st s Little Gull
c15 Yellow-legged Gulls

17th.
Black-necked Grebe
2 Yellow-legged Gulls
1 Curlew
3 Oystercatchers
ROOST:
Adult summer Mediterranean Gull
1st s Little Gull
15 Yellow-legged Gulls

15th.
Ad Yellow-legged Gull
1st s Little Gull
both on causeway a.m.
8 Common Terns

14th.
3 Oystercatcher
4 Common Sandpiper
1st s Little Gull
ROOST:
c600 BHG's
15 Yellow-legged Gulls
5 Common Gulls

6th
ROOST:
8 Yellow-legged Gulls
3 Common Gulls
c200 juv' Black-headed Gulls

5th.
10 Common Sandpiper
2 Dunlin
c25 juv Black-headed Gulls (Pinkhill)
2 juv Common Tern

June 2005.

30th
2, juv Common Tern
2, Juv Little Ringed Plover
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a bird seen several times this week in the car park area near the gatehouse.
c10 juv BHG's on Pinkhill.

21st
Little of note other than the first
fully fledged juvenile Black-headed Gull
of the year on Pinkhill.

20th
1st summer Mediterranean Gull
1st summer Little Gull
Both still on Pinkhill early am

17th
11 Sanderling on causeway early am
1st summer Med Gull, Pinkhill, 4.45-7.40

16th
A 1st summer Med Gull on Pinkhill this afternoon (see photo)
C150 Sand Martins, including many juvenile birds.

11th.
2, Black Terns
Little Egret
1st s. Little Gull

10th
The long-staying 1st summer Little Gull
still on Pinkhill Reserve.
Oystercatcher.

May 2005

17th
1, Black Tern
1, Little Gull
6, Dunlin
5, Common Sandpiper

16th.
8, Dunlin
2, Black Terns
1, Sanderling,
1, Little Ringed Plover
1, 1st summer Little Gull

12th,
ENE 3/4.
15, Black Terns through.

11th
7, Whimbrel

7th
5, Turnstone.
5, Dunlin.

4th
Rain clearing,wind N/E 4
100+, Arctic Terns passed through.
10+, Adult Kittiwakes.
1, Little Tern.
c200, House Martins.
c60 Swallows.
2, Whinchats still present.

3rd
Male & Female Whinchat.
3, Common Sandpiper
C150, House Martin

2nd
VERY quiet:
1, Tunstone
4, Common Sandpipers
1, Dunlin

April 2005

30th
1, Grey Plover
1, Black-tailed Godwit
1, Black tern
12 Dunlin
1 Whimbrel
Oystercatcher

29th
Warm, sunny & exceptionally quiet!
2,Dunlin
1,Common Sandpiper
5,Buzzard

28th
c400 House Martins
1 male Whinchat
1 Turnstone
5 Dunlin

26th
c40 Arctic Terns passed through early pm.
c30 Common Terns.
c300 Swifts

25th
Lots of heavy rain, very few birds
6 Ringed Plovers
c400 Swifts
8 Yellow Wagtails

24th
1 Whimbrel through
15 Arctic Terns through at 18.30
c20 Swift
3 Little Gulls
1 Common Sandpiper.
c50 swallow

23rd
A dark phase Arctic Skua, flew through mid pm.
2 Arctic Terns.
16 Common Terns.
1 1st winter Little Gull.


22nd
16 Little Gulls (14 ads. 2. 1st w.).
8 Common Terns.