Farmoor Reservoir
📍 Farmoor
🌿 Reservoir, Nature Reserves
💷 Free
⏰ 2 - 4 hours
👣 Medium - Large Walk
☕ Toilets, cafe
July 2026 · Nature Adventures · Nature Reserves · Reservoir
Common and rare birds galore at Oxfordshire's largest body of open water
Little Leopard is really keen to see a Sparrowhawk. From what I can tell it's a tricky bird to try and predict, but google thought Farmoor Reservoir was as good a place as any to try. There are 2 big sides to the reservoir and 3 nature reserves on the west side, straddled by the Thames, and if wildlife facebook groups are to be trusted, it's hard to come away from Farmoor without seeing a few interesting things.
As soon as we walked up the slope from the car park to the causeway separating the 2 reservoirs, the size of it suddenly revealed, Little Leopard exclaimed "Wow, I LOVE this!" We hurried over to take pictures of cormorants perched on a buoy with their wings stuck out, and 'scary looking' (Egyptian) geese.
We continued to cross the causeway (0.6 miles) at glacial speed, as white wagtails and grey wagtails bobbed around in the air all around us. Little Leopard loved watching coots dip down into the water, gone for aaaages before they resurfaced with something that looked like seaweed covered snails, which the mallards then fought them for.
There was a crow feasting on a dead fish, black headed gulls, and excitingly for me having learnt about them watching Springwatch this year, great crested grebes.
The hide along the causeway was a fun surprise to us, although we spotted more birds outside than when we were in it.
When we visited it was about 9am on a slightly chilly but not windy July morning, and walking along the causeway was wonderful. It's very exposed, and I imagine gets very windy at times, and also best avoided in summer midday sun.
After crossing the causeway, we headed to the nature reserves on the west side of the reservoir. I'd read on a birdwatching sight to make sure you don't approach Shrike Meadow from the access road because that causes all the birds to freak out and fly away. So we headed down the footpath and then right, towards the hide in the Pinkhill reserve.
We were the only ones there in the roomy, well equipped hide with lots of windows to look through, as well as plenty of ID charts on the wall, and a whiteboard to note down anything you see. It warranted another "I love this so much" from Little Leopard. I loved the shelves to put my thermos of coffee and biscuits as I really settled in. (My research has led me to conclude that the quality of drinks and snacks has a huge impact on the success of a nature adventure).
It didn't take long til we heard a loud, unfamiliar sqwawk from the reeds. The Merlin app told us that it was a water rail, something we'd looked out for in a couple of other places but never seen. We saw something wading on the edge of the reeds but I'm not certain if that was the water rail, or a juvenile moorhen (or something else).
A few tiny cups of thermos coffee later, and a little bird started flying and then clinging onto the reeds. The handy ID charts helped me figure out that it was a reed bunting.
We stayed watching and listening and waiting for about an hour, seeing lots of dragonflies, bees, hoverflies. Magpies caused a lot of excitement as they tumbled loudly over the roof. We also saw what I think was a pair of great white egrets following a tractor in the field opposite.
From the Pinkhill hide, we headed south towards Shrike Meadows. We made use of the toilet along the footpath next to the pump station as we went (which isn't listed on the map).
As we walked next to the Thames, we heard a really weird bird call from nearby. I put the Merlin app on quick and hoped hard that it would call out again. It did and we found out that we were very close to a northern lapwing. Oh my goodness, I wish that we'd been able to see it because a quick google shows that they are really beautiful birds.
We also heard a Cettis warbler, and saw some interesting looking birds on the opposite bank. Little Leopard RAN to get a better look at them and they inevitably flew off.
Little Leopard wasn't in the mood to stay in the Shrike hide for very long. And by that point it was midday and we weren't hearing or seeing much. So we had our lunch, then zig zagged through a meadow path spotting lots of lovely dragonflies and butterflies, before following the river path and then the country path back to Farmoor where we caught the bus back to Oxford.
We had a lovely day, and even though we didn't see any sparrowhawks, we were happy that the reservoir really does offer a unique experience from anywhere else we've been in Oxfordshire. One tiny quibble I would say is that the culmination of a private company (Thames Water) providing rights of way and access is that the footpaths can get very confusing. I rely on OS Maps religiously but for the first time ever, it wasn't a reliable source of information, and there were 3 times we came across locked gates/ blocked access and had to u-turn. This map gives another version of the ways you can walk, although there were definitely paths through Shrike Meadow that were accurate on OS Maps that aren't on there.
If you're travelling by car then park up, walk across the causeway and then explore the nature reserves before deciding how much energy you have left and what way you should return to the car. If you're travelling by bus, then I'd advise to get off in Farmoor and then follow the footpath on the OS Maps to come down the West side of the reservoir, as it's a nicer walk down than the east side where you're on a footpath near a busy road.
Nature Notes
Cormorant
The expert fisherman
Cormorants are amazing diving birds that catch fish underwater.
They use their powerful webbed feet to swim, chasing fish beneath the surface before grabbing them with their hooked beaks.
Unlike ducks, their feathers aren't completely waterproof, helping them dive deeper and stay underwater for longer.
After fishing, you'll often see a cormorant standing with its wings spread wide to dry in the sunshine.
Adult cormorants have glossy black feathers, bright turquoise eyes and a yellow patch at the base of their beak.
Although they are often seen along the coast, cormorants are becoming increasingly common on rivers, lakes and reservoirs across Britain.
Water Rail
The secretive marsh bird
Water rails are shy birds that spend most of their lives hidden among reeds and rushes.
They have long toes that help them walk across soft, muddy ground without sinking.
Although they are difficult to spot, you'll often hear their loud squealing call echoing through the wetlands.
Their long red beak is perfect for searching the mud for insects, worms, snails and other small creatures.
Water rails are excellent swimmers, but they usually prefer to sneak quietly through dense vegetation instead of flying.
If you're lucky enough to see one, you'll notice its slate-grey face, brown streaky back and fluffy white tail, which it often flicks as it walks.
Northern Lapwing
The tumbling acrobat
The northern lapwing is one of Britain's most spectacular meadow birds.
It is easy to recognise by its long, wispy crest and shimmering green and purple feathers.
During spring, lapwings perform amazing tumbling display flights, twisting and rolling through the sky to attract a mate.
Their familiar "pee-wit" call gave them their old country name, the peewit.
Lapwings build their nests on the ground, where their speckled eggs are perfectly camouflaged among the grass.
If a fox or crow comes too close, the adults bravely swoop and call loudly to protect their chicks.
A stunning blend of huge open water, and smaller habitats with hides for some usual and less-usual bird watching opportunities.
Address: Cumnor Road, Oxford, OX2 9NS
Parking: Parking £2
Public Transport: E1 bus from Oxford to Farmoor, and then a 20 minute walk.
Opening Hours: Opens at 8am, closing time varies, check the website.
Entry Fee: Free
Website: thameswater.co.uk
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