Description

This is no Farmoor, Otmoor or Port Meadow. This is Grimsbury. It's Grim up north!

There is a running total year list in the link above.

Please send in your bird sightings to the B.O.S. and/or to me directly for inclusion on the blog. If you have some photos you would like to contribute please let me know (contact via the comments box on the right if you do not have my email already). Thank you.

Sunday 14 October 2018

14th Oct 2018: Cetti's Warbler!

I forgot to put in the last blog that last Friday (5th) John found two Rock Pipits at the reservoir that stayed around for at least a couple of hours. Sorry John!

All photos courtesy and copyright of JFT

Last weeks Rock Pipits
Monday morning continues where last week left off and John recorded c.91 Redwing and a mixed thrush flock of 40 birds flying over. There was also 11 Skylark over, Chiffchaff, Jay, Pheasant and the Ring-necked Parakeet. Then in the evening he found another Rock Pipit.

The highlight of the week came on Tuesday morning when John found a Cetti's Warbler along the river. It was calling and showed very well, but wasn't seen again. I believe this is the first record of Cetti's at this site! There was also a Wigeon that morning and in the evening at least three Yellow-legged Gulls.

At least four Chiffchaffs and three Yellow-legged Gulls around later in the week too but generally not a lot more happened this week. 




Sunday 7 October 2018

7th Oct 2018: Autumn arrivals

It's fair to say this week has been rather quiet. John's daily visits have yielded very little, but on the 4th he did have a late Reed Warbler in the scrub south of the wood. Understandably, it was checked and double checked that it was definitely just a Reed Warbler. Otherwise the odd Blackcap through the week was the best on offer.

Yesterday morning, with easterly winds and rain, Colin, John and I were out and looking. It was a disappointing washout though with absolutely nothing of note seen at the reservoir. Although, after John and I had left Colin did go up to the Borrow Pit and found a male Stonechat and there was also 14 Tufted Ducks on the pool.

This morning I was up fairly early to try a bit of vis-mig (but not early enough to get up to Burton Dassett!). As anticipated I recorded my first Redwings of the Autumn with 17 going over through the morning, in flocks of four, eight and five. I also had a large thrush over that didn't call that I assume was Mistle Thrush but could have been a Fieldfare. A Snipe flew over, dipping slightly towards the reservoir but not really showing any true intention of stopping. Three Common Gulls drifted over and circled a few times but then departed to the south. There was a steady stream of Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and a few wagtails over too. It seemed like there was an increase in finches with odd birds and small flocks buzzing around all morning, including at least nine Siskins - six in with a Goldfinch flock and three over the car park.

A nice surprise was seeing a Willow Tit on the southern edge of the wood and, after hearing it calling, hearing another one calling from around 30 m away. It's the first time for quite a while there has been two around and I can't even remember the last time I personally had two here. There was also at least five Chiffchaffs around this morning.