( 11 ) 



NOTES on the ORNITHOLOGY of OXFORDSHIRE, 



1896-1898. 



By 0. V. Aplin, F.L.S. 



(Concluded from vol. iii. p. 442.) 



Where no other locality is mentioned, the notes refer to the 

 parish of Bloxham. 



1897. 



January 12th. — Fieldfares and Redwings only just beginning 

 the large crop of haws, which, almost untouched, simply redden 

 the hedges. 



15th. — Flock of from two to three hundred Ring and Stock 

 Doves. 



20th. — Some snow ; sharp frosts lately. 



21st.— Two Redpolls. 



22nd. — Snow on ground. Large flock of Fieldfares and 

 many Redwings. Large flock of Larks. 



23rd. — Very hard frost, and snow on ground. A Great Crested 

 Grebe shot on the Thames at Cassington (' Oxford Times '). 



29th. — Thaw. Three hundred and fifty brace of Partridges 

 killed this season on a beat of about 4000 acres of rough ground, 

 in the parishes of South Newington, Swerford, and Rollright. 

 This season and last have been very good ones here ; hot and 

 dry summers. 



February 1st. — A vast flock of Skylarks on a stubble. News 

 from Mr. Darbey of eight or ten Sheldrakes seen on floods at 

 Charleton-on-Otmoor. They were very wild, but one was shot 

 and sent for preservation. 



20th. — Blackbird singing well. 



23rd. — Large flock of Fieldfares. 



A Great Crested Grebe, recently shot on Port Meadow, 

 reported in the ' Oxford Times,' 5th March. 



Writing to me on February 6th, Mr. R. W. Calvert, of 

 Ascott-under-Wychwood, says : — " At the present time I am 

 acquainted with about half a dozen nesting sites of both the 

 Barn and Long-eared Owl, all within a radius of about seven 



