Oxford 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Birding in Oxfordshire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Location

Oxford is a city renowned for its world-class university, is steeped in history and culture. It boasts stunning architecture, including the iconic Radcliffe Camera and the historic colleges that date back to the 12th century. The city is characterized by its picturesque riverside setting along the rivers Thames and Cherwell, offering beautiful walking paths and chances for a little birding. Oxford is not only an educational hub but also a vibrant centre of arts, with numerous museums, theatres, and galleries, such as the Ashmolean Museum and the Oxford Playhouse. The city has a lively atmosphere, enhanced by its diverse population of students and residents, who contribute to a rich tapestry of events and cultural activities throughout the year. Additionally, Oxford serves as a gateway to the stunning countryside of the Cotswolds National Park.

Birdlife  

Due to its location in the UK's South, Oxford is a great place for many types of birds. Cattle egrets and Red Kites are no longer a rare sight. Sadly, not many sites are great for birding, the RSPB's Otmoor wetland reserve is just a ten-minute drive from our previous house. Being so inland, means that costal birds such as Shags, Scoters, Skuas and certain gulls are very rare. Luckily, Farmoor Reservoir often attracts unusual species such as Great Northern Divers, and Snow Geese.

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From 2014 to 2020, we lived in Oxford, since my dad got a job at a company there. My first few years of primary school were all in Oxford. Before Oxford, we were in London. It's a shame I wasn't a birder back then because the RSPB Otmoor reserve was so close. Every time we go there, however, we try to pay the reserve a visit.