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Oxfordshire

Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis ©Malcolm Schuyl Website

Birding Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire (abbreviated to Oxon) is a county in England. It is in the South East England region and borders Warwickshire (to the north/north-west), Northamptonshire (to the north/north-east), Buckinghamshire (to the east), Berkshire (to the south), Wiltshire (to the south-west) and Gloucestershire (to the west). Oxfordshire includes parts of three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In the north-west lie the Cotswolds, to the south and south-east are the open chalk hills of the North Wessex Downs and wooded hills of the Chilterns. The north of the county contains the ironstone of the Cherwell uplands. The central part of Oxfordshire contains the River Thames with its flat floodplains; the river forms the historic county boundary with Berkshire. here are many smaller rivers that feed into the Thames such as the Thame, Windrush, Evenlode and Cherwell. Some of these rivers have trails running along their valleys. The Oxford Canal follows the Cherwell from Banbury to Kidlington.The land-locked and agricultural county of Oxfordshire is not the most prolific as far as rarities are concerned, but there are a number of active and prestigious birding organisations and individuals based in the county. And we do have a few decent sites, especially with the exciting development of the RSPB reserve on Otmoor, and some special species, such as the reintroduced Red Kites around Watlington and the Chilterns.

The county has two ornithological societies, the Oxford Ornithological Society and the Banbury Ornithological Society (which covers the north of the county). There are also RSPB Members Groups in Oxford and the Vale of the White Horse. Also based at the University of Oxford is the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, which has carried out research for many years in Wytham Woods. The County Recorder is Ian Lewington, the renowned bird illustrator.

Top Sites

Dix Pit
Website Satellite View
This is the most attractive pit to birds in the Lower Windrush Valley Complex, due to its size, shallowness, islands, and lack of disturbance from watersports. It is also relatively accessible, though the approach road to the Waste Disposal Centre is not officially a public right-of-way for cars. Nearby landfill sites mean that the population of gulls is particularly high (especially during the week; there is less tipping at weekends).
Farmoor Reservoir
Satellite View
on the B4017 west of Oxford (fee payable for car park and day permit).
Port Meadow & Burgess Field etc.
Website Satellite View
Port Meadow is a large area of common grassland to the west of Oxford which is bordered by the Thames to the west, the railway line to the East and Wolvercote village to the north. Its main attraction from a birding point of view is when it floods in the winter. A large number of duck over-winter on the floods and depending on the amount of water present, at times there can be attractive mud flats which attract over-wintering and passage waders. To the north-east of the Meadow lies Burgess Field Nature Reserve, built on an old rubbish tip, which consists of scrub land and specially planted hedgerows. Car parking info: Walton Well Rd., Oxford - car park SP 502074. Binsey - The Perch, Binsey SP 493077 parking along Binsey Lane near Perch. Wolvercote - car park SP 487095. Aristotle Lane, Oxford SP 501078 little parking near - the Grid Reference is for end of approach on footpath over railway.
RSPB Otmoor
Satellite View
reserve north of Beckley village.

Contributors

Barry Hudson
| secretary@oos.org.uk
OSS Website

County Recorder

Ian Lewington
119 Brasenose Drive, Didcot, Oxon. OX11 7BP
lewbirder@btinternet.com
01235 819792

Number of Species

Number of bird species: 304

County Bird - Swift Apus apus […has been the Oxford Ornithological Society`s logo since it was founded in 1921]

Useful Reading

Birds of Oxfordshire

| Edited by JW Brucker, AG Gosler & AR Heryet | Pisces Publications | 1992 | Hardback | 284 pages | ISBN: 9780950824598 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birds of the Heart of England

| (A 60-Year Study of Birds in the Banbury Area, covering North Oxfordshire, South Northamptonshire and South Warwickshire 1952-2011) | Edited by Trevor Easterbrook | Liverpool University Press | 2013 | Hardback | 202 pages, 70 colour photos, 30 colour illustrations, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781846318856 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Where to Watch Birds in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire & Oxfordshire

| By Brian Clews, Andrew Herget & Paul Trodd | Christopher Helm | 2002 | Paperback | 320 pages, 69 maps, 30 line drawings | ISBN: 9780713640021 Buy this book from NHBS.com

Museums & Universities

Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology
Webpage
The Edward Grey Institute is part of the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford. Founded in 1937, it conducts research into the behaviour, ecology, evolution and conservation of birds, with a strong emphasis on understanding organisms in their natural environments.
Oxford Navigation Group
Website
Our group's research focuses on behavioural and ecological aspects of animal navigation and spatial cognition, using a number of different species and a variety of state-of-the-art sensor technologies. We study the contribution of individual cognitive capabilities and navigational strategies, and of the ecological, sensory, and social environments to animal movement...
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Website
The zoological collections are of great historical importance, with unique material, including the most complete remains of the extinct dodo. Other collections include those of Charles Darwin, amassed during his voyage on The Beagle, and those of Thomas Bell and William Burchell, prolific natural historians in their own right.

Organisations

BBONT (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust)
Website
BBOWT is the only voluntary organisation in the region concerned with all aspects of nature conservation.
Banbury Ornithological Society
Website
Founded in 1952, the Banbury Ornithological Society (BOS) studies the bird life in the twelve 10km squares surrounding Banbury which includes parts of Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire.
Earth Trust
Website
At Earth Trust we believe that the best way to look after the places we love is to change the way we live. We provide special, life changing experiences and reconnect people to the natural world. The Earth Trust is all about people and the way we feel, think and act towards the environment.
Lower Windrush Valley Project
Information
The Lower Windrush Valley is found to the south east of Witney in West Oxfordshire and is an area that has been extensively modified by mineral extraction over the last 60 years. The Lower Windrush Valley Project was launched in 2001 and works closely with mineral operators, landowners and the local community to co-ordinate a range of environmental initiatives throughout the valley…
Oxford Ornithological Society
Website
The Oxford Ornithological Society welcomes all who have an interest in birds and birdwatching in Oxfordshire, whether young or old, expert or novice. Activities are designed to cater for a range of interests and levels of experience.
RSPB Oxford Local Group
Webpage
The group's aim is to support actively the work of the RSPB in the local community and to involve RSPB members and the wider public in the Society's conservation, public affairs, education, fundraising and other activities. We have regular monthly indoor meetings locally throughout the year and day-trips far and near to sites of interest to birders.

Reserves

Abbreviations Key

BBONT Hartslock Nature Reserve
Website Satellite View
The reserve is a beautiful south facing, unimproved chalk downland hill with stunning views over the river Thames and the Goring Gap region. The grassland is surrounded by ancient hedges and mixed Yew woodland and, although it is only small (11-acres or 4.4 hectares), it is home to a very wide variety of plants and animals, some of which are extremely rare. For this reason the government has designated it and the surrounding area a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ (SSSI) and the whole Goring Gap region is an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (AONB).
BBONT Warburg Nature Reserve
Webpage Satellite View
A hidden wildlife gem nestling in the Chilterns hills, rich in wildlife that will lift your spirits whatever the season. The flower-rich grasslands in the valley bottom give way to extensive woodlands rising up the valley sides.
Earth Trust: Little Wittenham Nature Reserve
Webpage Satellite View
Sitting within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Little Wittenham Nature Reserve is the jewel in the crown of Earth Trust at Little Wittenham. The site has been designated as both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), reflecting its international importance for wildlife. The nature reserve is particularly important for the great crested newt. This seldom seen amphibian uses the many ponds on the nature reserve to breed but it spends the majority of time in the surrounding woodland.
LNR Burgess Field Nature Reserve
Webpage Satellite View
Burgess Field is a reclaimed landfill site and home to a nature reserve. It is located at the eastern edge of Port Meadow, just north of the entrance from Aristotle Lane.
LNR Rushy Common Nature Reserve (& Tar Lakes)
Illustrated Map PDF Satellite View
Rushy Common Nature Reserve is a haven for wildlife and so public access is not permitted across the reserve. However, the bird hide on the southern shore offers good views across the site and is accessible to wheelchair users. Keys for the hide can be purchased from the project office (contact details opposite) and enable you to visit this and other hides in the Lower Windrush Valley at any time…
Natural England: Standlake Common Nature Reserve
Brochure Satellite View
Standlake Common Nature Reserve is a tranquil place to relax and watch wildlife, situated on the Windrush Path, between Standlake and Newbridge. It used to be a typical arable field but when when Oxfordshire County Council granted permission in the 1990's to extract gravel from this area of farmland between Standlake and Newbridge it provided the opportunity to create a new nature reserve next to the River Thames…
RSPB Otmoor
Webpage Satellite View
Otmoor is a magical nature reserve of wet meadows and reedbeds. It is a haven in winter for thousands of ducks, such as teals and wigeons, and in spring and summer for breeding wading birds, such as lapwings and redshanks. The reedbed hosts a spectacular starling roost during the winter months.
Thames Water: Farmoor Reservoir
Webpage Satellite View
Situated three miles west of Oxford City and lying alongside the River Thames, the Reservoir is ideally situated to attract migrating, wintering and breeding birds. Although surrounded by a concrete embankment the shoreline and wavewall can still hold good numbers of waders, wagtails & pipits etc. There is a large gull roost from late July through to mid April. The Pinkhill Reserve was established in 1990 and this has added to the species diversity of the area…

Forums & Mailing Lists

Oxon Birding
News & Sightings
To submit sightings to this blog if you are not an authorised contributor please use the Going Birding service.To Submit Photos or Video to this blog please email jasoncppk 'at' yahoo.co.uk or adamchartley 'at' gmail.com
Oxonbirds
Mailing Group
This list is for Oxfordshire birders, birdwatchers, birdspotters, call yourself what you will - anyone interested in wild birds (and related subjects) in Oxford and Oxfordshire, England. It is intended as a forum for news of rare bird sightings in the county, requests for bird-related information, information on local birdwatching sites and events and so on. For other wildlife related discussions and topics, please join Oxonwildlife.Oxfordshire, England. It is intended as a forum for news of rare bird sightings in the county, requests for bird-related information, information on birdwatching sites and events in Oxfordshire. For more information see: http://www.oos.org.uk
Thames Valley Bird Forum
Forum
Local forum for anyone with an interest in birds and wildlife

Guides & Tour Operators

Birding Pal
Information
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area

Places to Stay

Click on WAND to see Fatbirder’s Trip Report Repository…

Bird in Hand
Accommodation
Whether you are looking for a relaxing few days away or a convenient stop-over, The Bird in Hand offers a friendly and informal atmosphere in which to unwind from the rigours of life. Situated amid the rolling countryside of West Oxfordshire, fifteen miles west of the city centre, the inn is ideally located for visiting the Dreaming Spires, Blenheim Palace, Stratford or touring the nearby villages of the Cotswolds.
Bruern Holiday Cottages
Accommodation
Cottages to rent in the Home Counties and Cotswolds
Cottage in the Country
Accommodation
Welcome to Cottage in the Country 2001 Offering a superb collection of self-catering holiday homes. Modern or traditional, town, village or rural locations - something to suit all!

Oxfordshire

Birding Oxfordshire

Dix Pit

Farmoor Reservoir

Port Meadow & Burgess Field etc.

RSPB Otmoor

Barry Hudson

Ian Lewington

Number of bird species: 304

Birds of Oxfordshire

Birds of the Heart of England

Where to Watch Birds in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire & Oxfordshire

Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology

Oxford Navigation Group

The Oxford University Museum of Natural History

BBONT (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust)

Banbury Ornithological Society

Earth Trust

Lower Windrush Valley Project

Oxford Ornithological Society

RSPB Oxford Local Group

BBONT Hartslock Nature Reserve

BBONT Warburg Nature Reserve

Earth Trust: Little Wittenham Nature Reserve

LNR Burgess Field Nature Reserve

LNR Rushy Common Nature Reserve (& Tar Lakes)

Natural England: Standlake Common Nature Reserve

RSPB Otmoor

Thames Water: Farmoor Reservoir

Oxon Birding

Oxonbirds

Thames Valley Bird Forum

Birding Pal

Bird in Hand

Bruern Holiday Cottages

Cottage in the Country

Stepehn Burch's Birding Website

Adam Hartley - Gnome's Birding Diary

Adam Hartley - Port Meadow Birding

Barry Hudson - The Oxon Feather

Barry Hudson - Wings & Roundabouts

Birding in the Slow Lane

Black Audi Birding

Grimsbury Birds

Mark Chivers - The Early Birder

Mark Chivers - The Early Birder

Old Caley's Diary

Otmoor Birding

Oxfordshire Wildlife

Oxon Birding

Paul Chandler - Cholsey Wildlife

Peter Coombes - The Otmoor Blogger

Peter Law - Ramblings and Scribblings

Stephen Burch - The Tall Birder

The Birdless Cuddesdon BLOG

The Listless Birder

Tom Bedford - The Birdless Cuddesdon Blog

Wayne Bull's Wildlife Blog

Artist - Ian Lewington

Photographer - Jarmo Holopainen

Photographer - Nigel Forrow