Farmoor Reservoir : 13/12/2021

                                                                      

Great Northern Diver still present on F1 15:15. 

Great White Egret briefly on Shrike Meadow 15:00

Stonechat Lock Meadow.

Siskin 25+ Pinkhill Reserve.

 

                                                                             

 

 

Farmoor Little Auk : 30/11/2021

                                                    
A little Auk was found early morning by Nigel Faulkner the head ranger of Farmoor Reservoir. The only other recorded here was on the 23rd of November 1988. I would like to thank Nigel for putting the news out and giving Birders the opportunity to view this rarity. Also seen today was a Great-White Egret and the long staying Scaup. The Little Auk was a new Farmoor and County tick for me. It's been a good year for Billy with three new birds Purple Sandpiper, Snow Bunting and the Little Auk.

                     

Farmoor Reservoir : 15/11/2021

A Brambling was seen early today by Paul Butler and later in the day three more were reported. Pauls other sightings today were six Chiffchaffs and a Stonechat. The Scaup still present on F1.

Farmoor Reservoir : 06/11/2021

Snow Bunting on the causeway briefly mid morning, this is the first record since the 29th October 2016 when a single bird was present. Also a new bird for Billy's Farmoor List.

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Farmoor Reservoir : 05/11/2021

Three Whooper Swans found late afternoon by Ian Smith was the highlight of a good day at Farmoor. Waders reported today included 3 Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover and a Common Sandpiper. Other sightings included  Goldeneye, Scaup, Shelduck, 6 Little Egret, Rock Pipit,  Redpoll and a few Siskin.

Farmoor Reservoir : 26/10/2021

Common Scoter first seen in the centre of F1 before flying towards the South side of F2.

Farmoor Reservoir : 14/10/2021

A Brent Goose that was first seen mid morning in the centre of F1 was spooked by the paddle boarders and flew to F2 where it was still present late afternoon.
 

Farmoor Reservoir : 11/10/2021

Four Rock Pipits and a Great White Egret seen late afternoon today were the only noteworthy records.

Farmoor Reservoir : 06/10/2021

                                                                                                                              

 

Two Whooper Swans reported flying N/E today were the first recorded here since the 5th October 2017 when five spent the day on F1. The Knot that was seen yesterday was still showing well on the eastern bank of F2 late afternoon.

Farmoor Reservoir : 05/10/2021

The fourth Knot of the year was found late afternoon on the east bank of F2 when walking with Jeremy Dexter. Other noteworthy sighting today included a Rock Pipit and a flyover Hobby.

                                                                                   

Farmoor Reservoir : 30/09/2021

Mid morning visit today produced a Black-necked Grebe, which is the first autumn record of the year. The only other records this year were in March, with four birds seen on the 23rd and a single bird on the 31st. Waders see today included seven Common Sandpipers, Dunlin and a Turnstone.

                                                                                    

Farmoor Reservoir : 11/09/2021

 A short visit mid day produced a Redstart and a Brown Hairstreak Butterfly, otherwise very quiet.

                                                                                

Farmoor Reservior : 09/09/2021

 

The second Osprey of the year that was seen briefly today was the highlight of a quiet day. Waders seen included four Common Sandpipers, two Ringed Plovers and a Little Ringed Plover

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Farmoor Reservoir : 01/09/2021

August was a very good month for waders with good numbers of common species and a few rare ones seen. This good wader period  continued into September with the third Knot of the year seen today. Other waders seen included the long staying Ruff and a Greenshank.

   

Farmoor Reservoir : 31/08/2021

 

Visit to Farmoor today to see the Purple Sandpiper that was reported on the causeway. This is the second bird seen this month and the first time two have been seen in the same month. With only twenty one records for Farmoor it's a rare bird. The only other years that two birds have been seen here are 1989, 1998, 2001 and 2006.   

Farmoor Reservoir : 28/08/20021

Made a visit to Farmoor today hoping that the Little Stint that was found last night  was still around, no luck but I did seen the Ruff that was reported.

 

 

Farmoor : Wood Sandpiper : 07/08/2021

The first week of August produced a good selection of waders, with a Purple Sandpiper found on the 3rd follow by a Wood Sandpiper today. With only fifteen records it is rarer than a Purple Sandpiper at Farmoor. Other waders seen in this period included Sanderling, Dunlin, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Turnstone and Green Sandpiper.

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Farmoor: Purple Sandpiper 03/08/2021

Met my friend Phil early afternoon who informed me that he and a photographer had seen a bird which they could not identify. So I drove around F2 and soon found the bird which Phil had described. Which was a Purple Sandpiper, the first seen here since the 30th May 2011 and a new bird for Billy.  

Farmoor 4th July 2021

A fly through Sandwich Tern and the first Silver-washed Fritillary of the year were the highlights of this period. Waders seen included Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Redshank and a Oystercatcher.

 

 

Farmoor Reservoir 26th June

 

Very quiet today with only two Yellow legged Gulls and the first family of Tufted Duck of the year seen on F1 being of interest. Should start improving in the next week or so.

Farmoor : Foxes and Orchids.

  

Over this quiet birding period I have been spending time watching and photographing one of the families of  Foxes which can be seen late afternoon. Flora seen include good numbers of Bee Orchids in the uncut grass around F1.

 

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Farmoor 6th June.

A Female Gadwall with five duckling seen on F2 and two Sanderling on the causeway were the only noteworthy records today.

 

                                                                                    

                                                                               

Farmoor update.

The highlight of this fairly quiet period was the breeding success of  Grey Wagtails with fledglings seen at two sites. Waders seen in the same period included five Oystercatchers and two Sanderlings.                     

Farmoor 19th May.

 

Dunlin 15 

Turnstone 10

Sanderling 1

Ringed Plover 1

Oystercatcher 1

Yellow Wagtail 6+

Raven 1

Common Tern 2

 

Farmoor 4th May.

Forty plus Dunlin spread along the causeway, with most in a tight group and a few stragglers was a good count for Farmoor. Four Arctic Terns present over F2. Waders seen included a single Turnstone and four Common Sandpipers.

 

                                                                                     

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Photo of a Swift that was hooked by a angler earlier in the week, it was released unharmed.

Yellow Wagtails seen at Farmoor in April.

 Thirty Yellow Wagtails present on the 27th April was my highest count this year.        

  

            New bird for the Farmoor 2021 year list was a Turnstone found late afternoon today..
                                      

Farmoor Reservoir : update

Black Tern

The last three days have be very productive with some good birds seen. The star bird being a very obliging male Bar- tailed Godwit which was found by Dave Murphy on the 22nd. The bird was present all day giving good views. Other waders reported included Whimbrel seen on three days, two Little ringed Plover, Oystercatcher,. Ringed Plover, five Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, six Greenshank, and a Ruff.  Arctic Terns  reported with thirteen  present on the 22nd being the highest count. Single Black and Sandwich Terns also seen were noteworthy records. The surprise of this period was the large influx of little Gulls which I estimated at seventy five plus, the most I've ever seen here. Yellow Wagtails also seen in good numbers with a maxim count of seventeen on the 23rd. Farmoor 2021 year list : 142  Latest Ruff..

                                                                         Little Gull

Yellow Wagtail
 

 

Farmoor Reservoir 31st March

Black-necked Grebe :  Late afternoon on F2

Little Owl : first one seen at Farmoor this year.

                                                                                     

Farmoor Reservoir 24th March 2021

A Little Ringed Plover present on the causeway in the morning and a Wheatear found late afternoon when walking my dog Billy, were both new birds for the Farmoor year list.

Farmoor Reservoir 23 March

 Black- necked Grebe 4 seen at 10:45am on f2. 

                                                  Three of the four Black-necked Grebes 

                                                          Little Gull also present today