Tuesday 20th Caspian Gull

Our star birds, namely the  BARNACLE GEESE, hung around over the weekend until the ice today pushed them over to Farmoor Reservoir. Let's hope that they return once the floods thaw. Also seen over the weekend were four SHELDUCK, 3 GOOSANDER and 6 PINTAIL.

Some of the Barnies (c) Alec Nightingale

Since my last posting it's been a real team effort on the year list front. Steve Goddard managed to add quite a few species from the north end of the Meadow at up at Wolvercote, namely Reed Bunting, Stock Dove, Little Grebe, Snipe, Treecreeper and Coal Tit. In addition he found the first Green Woodpecker of the year in Burgess Field. 

Not to be outdone, James Evry visited the Meadow today (Tuesday) to find much of it frozen over. Nevertheless he managed to find a BLACK-TAILED GODWIT and best of all a first-winter CASPIAN GULL, both most welcome year ticks.

1w Caspian Gull (c) James Evry

That now puts the year list on 73 out of our revised winter target of 85 (with +1 added for the Barnacle Goose). For those who like to have target birds to look for we still need: Chiffchaff, Kestrel, Skylark, Nuthatch, Pheasant, Water Rail, Redpoll, Ruff, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret and Jack Snipe. At least it gives one something to look out for during the lean months of winter.

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