18th Oct 2026

Another Rock Pipit was found on Monday afternoon by Drew Lyness, who was visiting Banbury to give a talk to the B.O.S., and it was still present Tuesday morning. 

This morning there was a nice variety of birds moving through but not the numbers I anticipated and nothing particularly out of the ordinary:

Redwing - 84 in small groups, biggest flock of 22
Fieldfare - 4
Chaffinch - 8
Song Thrush - 5
Lapwing - 19
Siskin - 1

As well as that there was a Stonechat (different to last week's bird), a Chiffchaff, Kingfisher, 13 Tufted Ducks at the reservoir and a Redpoll up the valley.

11th Oct 2026

Back to a generally quiet week again, but a little change noticeable with autumn migrants.

Small numbers of Siskin have returned and possibly up to 9 present today. On Friday Clive had a flock of 40 Redwings over, with a couple of higher flocks most likely Redwing as well totalling c.100 birds.

This morning 49 species were recorded between JFT, Clive and I, which is a nice variety. Nothing out of the ordinary really, but that included a Stonechat, 2 Ravens and 2 Blackcaps.

4th Oct 2026: Glossy Ibis!

It's been quite a good week with a few new birds for the year.

On Wednesday morning, with the wind switched around to the south-east, a Rock Pipit was on the western bank for a short while before flying off high to the north-west. A Peregrine also flew over. 

The next morning a Hobby cruised through to the east, a good bird to catch up with as they have seemed tricky to see here for a few years now. There was also good numbers of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks going over, several Chiffchaff and a Blackcap. 

Friday morning Clive found a Common Sandpiper, saw a Kingfisher and had 16 Swallow through. In the afternoon JFT and I had a catch up and as we were leaving a Glossy Ibis flew over south - south-east along the river!

Kingfisher in Spiceball Park