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