LOG BOOK

The Log Book features records of any interesting sightings, scarce & rare visitors, migrant arrivals and high counts etc. It does not attempt to include every species present.

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February 2010

4th

Dull, gloomy. Wind SE2

The female Scaup remains the main point of interest during the daytime. The gull roost is a reasonable size and there was an adult Caspian Gull on F.2. this evening. A small flock of Pochard have surprisingly stayed put after the influx of the species during the cold weather. The Aythya Hybrid and a single Ruddy Duck. Tufted Duck at an all time low and just a few Goldeneye

Female Scaup, F.1. 4th February. 'Digi-scoped' with the trusty Coolpix 4500.

January 2010

24th

Calm, mostly cloudy with some weak sunshine.

A first winter Caspian Gull roosted on F.1 this evening. Wildfowl numbers have plummeted. The 3 Ruddy Ducks remain and a few Pochard. c20 Goldeneye and three Shelduck.

First winter Caspian Gull, F.1. 24th January. A classic bird but not entirely unexpected given the influx of birds, with Oxon recording record numbers this month.

21st

Misty, then cloudy with just a few bright spells. Wind: SE 2.

A first winter Caspian Gull roosted on F.2. The female Scaup and the Aythya Hybrid on F.1. Still c200 Pochard, 2 Goosander and c25 Goldeneye.

Continuing the duck theme, one of the 2 Goosander on F.1 this afternoon.

20th

An absolutely vile day with snow, sleet, rain, drizzle and fog. Yesterdays Brent Geese had not surprisingly cleared off, so had the Teal. Hard to find much to look at. The Scaup ever present and also the semi-resident Aythya Hybrid.

Female Scaup, F.1. 20th January.

19th

Cloudy, not especially cold. Wind ESE 2

A single Dark-bellied Brent Goose in the middle of F.2. this morning was noteworthy but was eclipsed by the arrival of a further 20 birds late morning. The lone individual soon teamed up with them and they then spent the remainder of the day at the reservoir being present at dusk in the middle of F.2. The highest count of this species is of 25 on 5th April 1991. The female Scaup was showing well on F.1 early p.m. Also an influx of Teal today with 50+. The 2 Ruddy Duck and c 400 Pochard. c60 Goldfinches in alders adjacent to Farmoor village.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 19th January. Nice to see yet more 'proper' geese at the reservoir. This group consisted of 19 adults and 2 first years. They were very flighty and restless, moving between F.1 & F.2 several times during the day.

18th

Cloudy, then sunny, much milder.

Positively spring-like compared to the last couple of weeks. A drake Pintail, 6 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Ruddy Duck, 1 Goosander. Still 400 Pochard, 10 Wigeon and c25 Goldeneye. A rather poor gull roost.

Drake Red-crested Pochard, 18th January. Quite a surprise to see these still hanging on, with everywhere now thawed out most have returned to Dix Pit. These birds were displaying.

14th

Cloudy and thawing.

The reservoir is still closed. The female Scaup still, plus 3 Ruddy Ducks. c600 Pochard. 24 Wigeon.

12th

Mostly cloudy and cold with temperatures just above freezing. Wind S.E.2

The reservoir remains closed with still considerable amounts of lying snow. Thames Water staff are working to get the place cleared and open a.s.a.p and they provided the following counts: c1000 Tufted Duck. 562 Pochard, 6 Wigeon, 3 Goosander and 2 Ruddy Duck. A massive gull roost.

10th

Cold, but thawing, mostly cloudy. Light N.E.wind.

Still cold but temperatures above freezing all day. the reservoir still closed but no notable influx of any interesting birds despite the wintery weather. Still a small flock of Red-crested Pochard and the female Scaup

The reservoir viewed from Cumnor. 9th January.

7th

Freezing cold (c-3˚c all day), snow, sunshine.

The reservoir is closed but can be partly viewed from public paths. Still plenty of ice. Again a massive gull roost, especially large gulls. A single first winter Caspian Gull the only bird of note. An influx of wildfowl with c12 Red-crested Pochard, 30 Shoveler and 20+ Wigeon. The female Scaup still.

4th

Freezing cold. Sunny.

Temperatures were between -3˚c and -1˚c for most of the day. Both reservoirs are 2 thirds iced over so another couple of nights like last night could see a total freeze up. Proper winter in fact. Wildfowl increasing with 400+ Tufted Duck, c260 Pochard. The female Scaup on F. 1 plus 3 Ruddy Duck, 40 Goldeneye, 25 Wigeon and 7 Goosander this evening. 5 Redshank and the Common Sandpiper. A massive roost with a first winter Caspian Gul on F.2. Single Chiffchaff and Siskin near the filter beds.

2nd

Bright and cold.

There were 19 Pink-footed Geese at the reservoir this morning. These birds were first glimpsed in flight by Dai John at dusk the previous evening but they seemed to be overflying Farmoor. Luckily they re-appeared today and after having completed a circuit of F.2. landed in fields adjacent to the main entrance. They remained here until c11.05 when they flew west. This species is an extremely scarce visitor but the record count is of c60 over Lower Whitley Farm on 16th January 1928.
Also the female Scaup on F.1, 4 Redshanks and the wintering Common Sandpiper.

Just three of the 19 Pink-footed Geese, 2nd January. Nice to see some wary, nervous, unapproachable and truly wild geese in the county.