Farmoor Reservoir 18th January

A Marsh Harrier seen on a morning walk today was the first I've seen here in 2024. Also present was the long staying Great Northern Diver. Ducks seen today included Teal, Pochard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Tufted. Pintail, Wigeon and the long staying Scaup. A flyover Cattle Egret and a single Knot were noteworthy.

Farmoor 5th January 2024

A  Short eared Owl that was seen with two friend Dave and Phil this morning was the first I have seen here since 2020.

Farmoor 2023 ( Birding with my dog Billy )

                                                                                 

Whooper Swans

                                                                               

Great Northern Diver

  

Knot

2023 been a good year at Farmoor for Billy and I, starting in the Spring with two new birds for Billy's Farmoor Life List. The long staying Lesser Scaup and a Temminck's Stint. Also noteworthy was a high count of 170+ Arctic Terns seen in April. Summer highlights included a summer plumage Knot on the 25th July and two Sandwich Terns on the 14th August. Autumn records included a record count of seven Curlew Sandpipers on the 9th September. Also seen in September with Billy included a Drake Common Scoter on the 20th and five Adult Whooper Swans present on the 26th. Other good birds seen in this period included a Grey Phalarope on the 23rd September and a record count of nine Great White Egrets. November  produced a late Sand Martin seen with two friends on the 14th and a Slavonian Grebe on the 18th. The year ended on a high with a Great Northern Diver found on the 11th December. All in all a good year. 

Slavonian Grebe

                                                                                  

Common Scoter

                                                                                   

Temminck's Stint

Billy's Farmoor Life List stands at 194 seen in nine years

Mandarin Duck