Oxon Birding Weblog: August Evaluate

Highlights

One of many many nice joys of
birding is the looks of a complete wildcard. A very surprising species
that not even probably the most optimistic of us had on our radars. After all, one can
dream, notably as an inland county – who amongst us didn’t dare to indulge
in a little bit of fantastical considering when a Black-winged Kite turned up simply
50 miles west of the county border solely to vanish NE by no means to be seen once more?
Though clearly not remotely at that degree, a Marsh Sandpiper is one
such species that’s the definition of a wild card. Initially discovered on the
morning of the 28^th however not really recognized till the night
after a question by the finder, it was up to a couple birders to do a pre-dawn raid
at Pit 60 on the 29^th to see if the person was nonetheless
there. For a few of us, having not seen the preliminary information within the night, a short
spell of panic was fortunately tempered as soon as the chook was relocated at first
gentle.

The Marsh Sandpiper throughout a short interval when it was shut sufficient for a photograph try within the morning gloom, courtesy of Thomas Miller

A basic Oxon twitch ensued with,
while the Marsh Sandpiper confirmed fairly nicely if a bit distant
nearly all of the time. Even at vary, this delicate little wader’s
diminutive dimension was readily evident, sometimes being dwarfed by a passing
Grebe or Mallard. With only one or 2 data yearly within the UK this particular person
additionally proved to be a preferred chook with out of county birders, and regardless of the
web site being a key holder reserve, a small nationwide twitch gave the impression to be managed
fairly nicely. The chook continued to please locals and guests alike for the
majority of the day earlier than apparently departing the location round 7pm. Regardless of a superb
search on the 30^th, the chook was not re-located and was very
presumably gracing another Oxon birders patch.

Oxon’s best in early morning twitch motion, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

“Our” chook at first appeared to
have been the nicely tracked juvenile that had been via Somerset, Devon and
then Gwent, particularly after unfavorable information on the latter the day past. Nevertheless,
with that chook being reported later the identical day, it confirmed that two
people have been concerned. This was the two^nd county document with the
first occurring in 2007, – an enormous grip again for these of us who both
weren’t within the county again then or who missed it.

Marsh Sandpiper Farmoor Reservoir 2007 Courtesy of Nic Hallam

That chook additionally stayed solely
for 2 days at Peep-o-Day Lane after which Farmoor. Having a learn again via
the 2007 OOS report proved extraordinarily gripping with some superb county birds
round:

– Pomarine Skua

– Purple Heron

– Corncrake

– Buff-bellied Pipit

– Sabine’s Gull

– Franklins Gull

– Kumlien’s Gull

– Thayer’s Gull

– Twite

Any of these over the subsequent month
or so would show extraordinarily well-liked I think about. In any case, with a flurry of
new birds in August the county 12 months lists stands at a decent 197 and with
the subsequent few weeks there’s a superb probability 200 shall be cracked by the top of the September,
offered wader migration continues at its present tempo with Knot and Curlew
Sandpiper but to fall while I might guess closely on a Gray Phalarope in
the subsequent couple of weeks, given the climate forecast and loads of data.

Though typically on the ‘anticipated’
checklist of autumnal birds, Little Stint is a chook one can by no means tire of
seeing, notably at a web site like Farmoor the place you may be inside a couple of
ft of birds probably seeing people for the very first time. The primary
particular person of the autumn arrived at Farmoor on the 20^th,
initially as a possible and confirmed later the chook disappeared for the remaining
of day till being situated within the early night earlier than seemingly departing
in a single day. We didn’t have to attend lengthy for the subsequent nevertheless, arriving on the 22^nd
the place it stayed till a minimum of the 29^th being joined by one other on
the 26^th – till the 29^th. A single chook on the 30^th
was probably believed to be our fourth particular person of the autumn, a reasonably
first rate return for this species and nonetheless loads of the autumn left.

Little Stint courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Some video courtesy of Adam Hartley

A nocmigged
document of an Avocet was the spotlight of a sustained effort over the
final month in north Oxon with a chook flying over pre-dawn on the 24^th,
with the primary Whimbrel and Gray Plover of the autumn additionally
recorded from right here on the 22^nd and 18^th respectively.

With so many data of Wooden
Sandpiper across the surrounding counties and throughout the nation, it was
starting to really feel like an invisible forcefield was stopping the county from
seeing its first of the autumn interval, particularly as the height arrival date
handed us by. Lastly although, Otmoor, about the one web site out of Farmoor
that also had any water or moist mud obtainable, got here via for us with one
on the 1^st display screen on the 19^th. Lingering lengthy sufficient for
loads of admirers to get pleasure from its presence till a minimum of the 23^rd,
though a report on the 25^th recommended it had moved to the two^nd
display screen a minimum of for a interval.

Wooden Sandpiper courtesy of Brian Walker

Farmoor had a reasonably first rate turnover charge
of Turnstone on mid-August with a single current on the 12^th,
adopted by one other on the 13^th and 4 on the 14^th.
While one other single on the 16^th rounded off an amazing interval for
this species. Sanderling started there southward migration via the
county on the 7^th with a single at Farmoor. Flyover birds
adopted the remainder of the month with data of singles on the 19^th
and the 21^st.

Turnstone courtesy of Russell Allen

Other than the nocmig document on
the 22^nd, Whimbrel data have been few and much between with two
flyover solely data at Farmoor and Port Meadow on the 27^th
and the 30^th respectively. Ruff presence within the county was
additionally considerably low key, with peak numbers due within the subsequent week or two. Pit 60
noticed the county’s first autumn chook on the 20^th, which remained
till the 26^th, while Farmoor had a single chook flying
across the reservoir on the night of the 30^th. Ringed Plover have been
largely confined to Farmoor, the place birds have been recorded virtually each day
between the 7^th and 30^th. These concerned an unknown
variety of people, comprising each juveniles and adults in various levels
of moult, with a most of 4 current on the 17^th. The one different
document got here from Ardley ERF, the place a single chook was famous on the 22^nd.

Ringed Plover courtesy of Debbie Cummins

Greenshank have been extra widespread, with birds reported from a minimum of 9
websites between the 1^st and 28^th. The primary arrival was at North
Cross Valley Approach on the 1^st, a reasonably early particular person, with the
subsequent not showing till the ten^th and the primary passage starting on
the 18^th. Otmoor held probably the most data and the best
counts, with as much as three birds between the 19^th and 28^th.

Courtesy of Geoff Wyatt

Nevertheless, probably the most notable document got here from John Allen Pit,
Dorchester-on-Thames, on the 22^nd, the place a flagged and
colour-ringed chook was current. Remarkably, it had been ringed simply 5 days
earlier, on the 17^th, at Havika on the southern Norwegian coast.
Intriguingly, a equally marked Widespread Sandpiper was recorded at Farmoor in
August 2023, additionally ringed on the identical stretch of coast, though particulars of the
scheme stay sparse.

Greenshank courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Dunlin have been fully
confined to Farmoor in August, with data beginning on the 7^th
and birds been reported all through till the 30^th. Nearly
all of those data have been of single or flyover data, though two
people have been noticed on the location on each the 16^th and the 30^th.
After beginning their southward migration final month, Black-tailed Godwit data
have been considerably sparse throughout the county’s borders this month. A pair of winter
plumaged people have been current on Pit 60 from the ten^th and
have been nonetheless on web site by months finish. Two juveniles have been at Appleford on the 23^rd,
a web site now largely inaccessible to the general public and maybe yielding a few of its
closing first rate wader data regardless of its former standing as a premier locality. Each
Inexperienced Sandpiper and Widespread Sandpiper continued to pile via
the county and the remainder of nation en masse this month, with 11 and seven websites,
respectively, internet hosting birds in August. Bicester Wetlands continued to be
the premier stopover web site within the county internet hosting a minimal of 11 birds on the 4^th,
with 10 nonetheless right here on the 26^th. Likewise, Farmoor, because it
typically does, had the best counts of Widespread Sandpiper with a minimum of
5 right here on the 23^rd.

Widespread Sandpiper courtesy of Debbie Cummins

Most Little Ringed Plover have
left their native breeding grounds now, so nearly all of the data passing
via the county are northern and even continental migrants. A minimum of 4 websites
had birds, though Ardley ERF data might relate to a combination of
domestically bred birds and passing migrants. Farmoor had a combination of
juveniles and adults all through the month, with a minimum of a number of totally different
birds concerned between the 11^th and 27^th. Additionally probably
involving out of county birds, Redshank have been at Bicester Wetlands and
Farmoor on the 5^th and 23^rd respectively, while a
Curlew on Appleford GPs on the seventeenth was notable for a web site that
in all probability has extra Whimbrel data.

Little Ringed Plover courtesy of Steve Liptrot

Black-necked Grebe has
been the topic of a lot dialogue in latest weeks, notably amongst Farmoor
regulars, owing to its continued absence from the county 12 months checklist. So it was a
huge aid when one was lastly picked up on Farmoor on 22^nd.
Though the wonderful {photograph} that accompanied the document raised
expectations, those that arrived later have been met largely with a Black-necked
Grebe–formed dot in the midst of F1. Unsurprisingly, the chook proved to be
a juvenile, however extra surprising was its transient keep — it departed in a single day
after only a single day on web site.

Farmoor Black-necked Grebe courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Quail data have been little sparse this
month, in all probability partially as a result of an absence of surveyor effort on the Oxon Downs however
additionally partly as a result of not being a basic Quail 12 months. A single chook at Swalcliffe
on the 1^st was a unbroken male from the earlier month.
Apparently this particular person was notably showy for the species, typically
seen in flight between intervals of singing and permitting for some wonderful picture
alternatives for this regularly elusive species. It remained reported till
the two^nd though it’s suspected that remained longer than this.

Quail courtesy of Nick Truby

In any other case, it was a sometimes
quiet interval for the group, with no data of Ruddy Shelduck, a species
typically anticipated to look from the continent in August. Shelduck have been
solely reported from one web site this month, with Ardley ERF with two
juveniles on the 17^th and 21^st. The primary Pintail of
the autumn was on Pit 60 on the 29^th, a finely marked feminine.
Purple-crested Pochard have been largely confined of their often westerly
distribution within the county, with a single juvenile on Farmoor on the 5^th
the one noteworthy document. Mandarin have been at three websites, probably the most
notable of which got here from Grimsbury on the ten^th – I might
guess a considerably underwhelming patch tick for birders there? A reasonably sized
flock of 14 at Henley Highway GPs appears to level to a different good breeding
12 months for the species. Holding on theme, the Snow Goose flock returned to
their wintering grounds on Farmoor with a minimal of 89 right here from the
starting of the month.

In one other month, with out the
drama of a 2^nd document for the county, a juvenile Shag on Farmoor
would almost certainly have been the county spotlight for August. Though
annual lately, Shag have traditionally been a good county
rarity with not many data of the species within the final decade or two. A part of a
nation vast inflow and as normal off the again of some inclement coastal climate,
this juvenile arrived on the 5^th. Inland seabird data don’t typically
have a contented ending, and this juvenile upon arrival didn’t look in nice
situation – typically adopting a really odd place on the pumping tower on F1. Regardless of
bouts of trying in first rate well being, fishing for fry off the pumping tower and
even sometimes flying between places, extended intervals of trying
moribund typically adopted and sadly the chook perished on the 17^th.

The juvenile Shag courtesy of Steve Liptrot

Other than this considerably miserable document, it was enterprise as normal for the
remainder of this group. The Shiny Ibis continued its summer season jaunt at Otmoor
and to be trustworthy given the climate over the summer season, in all probability felt extra at
dwelling than the remainder of us did. The final document got here on the 28^th,
though the chook is nearly definitely nonetheless current into the early a part of September.

Shiny Ibis courtesy of Russell Allen

Cattle Egret continued to
amaze with their massive quantity at Otmoor with as much as 70 right here within the center
a part of the month, begging the query of the place these birds are coming from?
Presumably some are native and domestically bred birds however given the dimensions of the
colony at Blenheim this doesn’t clarify all of the people. It’s
attainable there are further breeding colonies across the county which might be but
to be found, while a few of these birds are in all probability additionally from bigger
colonies down in Somerset dispersing post-breeding. Other than Otmoor,
an additional six websites had data inlcuding a most of eight at Kings Lock –
presumably having fun with the presence of the brand new cattle herds alongside the Thames.
Chimney additionally hosted birds, because it regularly does, and it could not be
shocking if a brand new colony was found someplace close to to right here sooner or later.

Cattle Egret courtesy of Steve Liptrot

Nice White Egret have been recorded
from a minimal of seven websites, with a most of three birds from anybody web site
– together with Pit 60 and Otmoor on the 17^th and 25^th
respectively. Most different data have been on single birds in non-breeding plumage,
with probably the most attention-grabbing being a pink colour-ringed particular person at Otmoor.
Sadly the ring was too worn to learn, though it’s assumed that the
particular person is from Somerset as with all the opposite color ringed
people thus far – though the primary confirmed Hungarian document within the UK
got here lately, so something is feasible. The Crane continued at Otmoor
this month, with the standard pair being reported in direction of the latter a part of
the month, 26^th – 31^st and weren’t reported from any
different websites.

Courtesy of Thomas Miller

Gulls and Terns

August proved a considerably quiet
affair for migrating Gulls and Terns, though a bit little bit of high quality can
at all times assist to beat the shortage of amount. 5 Black Tern have been
reported on Farmoor on the 13^th though by the point wider
information had gotten on the market was just one left, however displaying nicely sufficient to be the
star in its personal proper. Additionally a pleasant spotlight was a cracking juvenile Little
Gull into the Farmoor roost on the night of the 23^rd, a
good reward for the roost depend which might typically not produce the gold nugget
locals are on the lookout for.

In any other case, it was largely busy as
normal this month with a pair data of Mediterranean Gull and our
normal few data of Caspian Gull, albeit involving some totally different
people this month. Two juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Grimsbury
Reservoir have been the primary juvs of the autumn and are sometimes a specific
spotlight for gull lovers on this plumage – arguably one of many best trying gulls
when at this stage. A 3CY chook was additionally at Farmoor having been picked
out roosting amongst the Black-headed Gull roosting on the valve tower,
assumed to be the identical chook that has been at a number of websites the earlier month. Three
websites hosted Caspian Gull this month with the primary juveniles been
reported on the normal spots of Farmoor and Ardley ERF, while a
minimal of three have been seen within the Farmoor roost on the 21^st. Birds
have been reported at Farmoor all through the month.

Juvenile Caspian Gull courtesy of Ian Lewington

One of many absolute stand out
finds of the month was a surprising Wooden Warbler at Buckland Warren on
the 28^th. The primary document of the 12 months, with no data within the
spring, made the discover all of the extra vital and there are probably only a few if
any passage data within the autumn, a minimum of not within the latest decade or two.
Sadly, regardless of a big search within the early afternoon, no signal was
discovered apart from the flock of crests and tits it had been associating with when
it was initially discovered that morning.

Wooden Warbler courtesy of Jeremy Dexter

Though a bit early for Wryneck in
the county, a convincing however unconfirmed report of 1 in Ardington on
the ten^th, coincided with a couple of data from throughout the nation.
Sadly, no additional info was forthcoming and this one other document
misplaced to a non-birders backyard – sooner or later one in every of us will get fortunate! One other report
of 1 from Otmoor on the 24^th was additionally fairly convincing, in
the newly opened seasonal path. Sadly, regardless of a good search no
additional signal was forthcoming that night.

The Hawfinch household at Warburg
continued to please locals and out of county folks alike, with a uncommon alternative
to rise up shut and private with a sometimes elusive species. Though it
appears probably that the species has bred earlier than within the county, with huge habitat
availability and an absence of sustained surveyor effort, this was the primary time a
juvenile has been current within the county and probably constitutes the primary
breeding document.

Hawfinch courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

As if the conceal at Warburg hadn’t seen sufficient motion,
the primary document of Pied Flycatcher this 12 months additionally got here from efforts
from this conceal – a feminine chook on the 26^th seen by solely a handful of
folks earlier than disappearing on its manner south.

Pied Flycatcher courtesy of CJ Kearns

August has additionally proved to be an
wonderful month for Teee Pipit a species that usually transits via the
county right now of 12 months in pretty small numbers. Most years solely see 5-10
data in whole and with a couple of data within the spring, August has added an
further 13 data to the years whole. A mix of fine interval of
climate within the early a part of the month, observer consciousness and energy later in
the month has all contributed to a cracking whole for a species that hasn’t
traditionally been on the typical county birders radar. Probably the most vital of
these data included an city document on the ten^th from the identical
backyard that introduced you a flyover calling Mediterranean Gull – a
mixture that may make most patch birders completely happy by no means thoughts backyard listers!
The opposite vital data got here from Elsfield, a cracking set of
nocmig data on the 22^nd and 23^rd and a chook within the
ringing nets at Port Meadow on the 24^th. With September probably
to supply extra data, it’s probably we could have a really notable 12 months for the
species. Because of Tom Bedford for the extra context!

A Tree Pipit within the hand courtesy of Thomas Miller

Whinchat got here from eight
websites this month with half the websites recording singles and the opposite half
reporting two birds. Balscote Quarry and Farmoor had the primary
birds of the 12 months on the 7^th while Ardley ERF and Childrey
Discipline each had birds in direction of the top of the month.

Whinchat courtesy of Mark Merritt

Redstart have been
far more quite a few and widespread with a minimal of 15 websites reporting birds and
most of 5 at one web site – Otmoor on the 11^th. Most different
websites had single birds though a minimum of 4 websites had two birds, together with Chimney
Meadows, Aston Upthorpe, Letcombe Regis and Gramps Hill. After the very early document the
earlier month, an additional eight websites noticed there first autumnal passage birds
this month. Websites on the Oxon Downs reported probably the most birds with each Childrey
Discipline and Lark Hill each seeing 5 birds on the 23^rd
and 30^th respectively.

Restart courtesy of Thomas Miller

The Crossbill irruption into the
county continued unabated if considerably understated in comparison with the earlier
month with a minimum of seven websites seeing birds, together with a minimum of one first rate
sized flock of 30+ at Stonor Park on the three^rd. In any other case it
was largely singles or small flocks on the remaining websites. Lastly, the common
autumn Otmoor Yellow Wagtail roost acquired nicely beneath manner this month, with
anyplace between 100 and 300 birds, perhaps extra piling into the reedbed on an
night – a improbable soundscape in a becoming setting.

Juvenile Noticed Flycatcher courtesy of Connor Pimm

Raptors

August,
sometimes a quiet month for raptors other than the occasional migrating Osprey,
produced a extra different choice this 12 months. Among the many studies was a completely
unconfirmed document of a Black Kite over Heythorp Park on the
18th, which might be finest left with out additional remark. Simply the standout
chook was a juvenile Honey Buzzard photographed within the south of the county,
a species with virtually legendary standing in Oxfordshire. All too typically
reported and never confirmed, this chook seems to have simply handed via
the county on its manner southward.

Courtesy of Ian Lewington

Courtesy of Ian Lewington

One other White-tailed
Eagle report was irritating, notably for individuals who chook Port
Meadow recurrently, with one right here on the 24^th. You’d
assume {that a} chook with a close to 8ft wingspan can be laborious to overlook for these of
us , however having seen how a lot the launched birds get round
in contrast with native studies, it’s perhaps extra comprehensible that no additional
studies have been forthcoming. A single Osprey document at Farmoor on 24^th
continued the run of birds which have put in very transient appearances on the web site
this 12 months. Regardless of seeming to be a really appropriate fishing location, data of
lingering birds have been fully non-existent this 12 months. I ponder if
disturbance performs an element on this, with birds lingering at a number of websites north
and south of us that appear to have much less human exercise.

Courtesy of Paul Mallarini

Interest continued
to be reported from a minimum of six websites and can in all probability proceed to be reported into
the center if not the latter a part of subsequent month. Marsh Harrier, away
from Otmoor, have been reported at three websites with Days Lock, Letcombe
Regis and Pit 60 all reported singles sooner or later or different throughout
the month.

Patchwork
problem

Patch

Birder

Factors

Species

Spotlight

Aston eyot

Ben Sheldon

Ardley ERF

Gareth
Casburn

113

103

Dix pit

Simon
Bradfield

Grimsbury reservoir

Gareth
Blockley

105

97

Lye valley

Tom Bedford

68

68

River Thames

Geoff Wyatt

140

123

Sutton Courtenay

Conor
MacKenzie

131

115

Radley GP’s

Ian Elkins

106

100

Freeland

Glen Pascoe

South Hinksey

Alex
Figueiredo

77

73

Oxon Huge 12 months 2025

After the largely dry spell of latest birds over the summer season interval, August has proved considerably extra fruitful for many of us making an attempt an Oxon Huge 12 months. Most of this time has seen plenty of effort spent flitting between the 2 premier websites of Farmoor and Otmoor. Personally I’ve visited Farmoor on 15 days simply this final month – a substantial enhance on my normal 1-2 days a month or much less in a “regular” 12 months and I think this has been the identical for everybody else as nicely.

In amongst the brand new birds there have been some painful misses additionally within the combine, half and parcel of any typical Huge 12 months try. Little Stint and Wooden Sandpiper would a minimum of show to be retrievable for these coming back from summer season holidays. Sadly, the identical couldn’t be mentioned for a 1-day Black-necked Grebe a not at all times annual species. A Wryneck document at Otmoor proved elusive regardless of a good search of the world after the report and a 2+ hr seek for a Wooden Warbler in a conifer plantation had me briefly questioning my life decisions. Fortunately, virtually all of us have been obtainable for the Marsh Sandpiper, an actual “drop all the things you’re doing type of chook” if there ever was one. Focus now turns to the month of September, the place something actually can occur and a month that has some wonderful type lately for county megas together with – Pallid Harrier, Widespread Nighthawk, Purple Heron and Lesser Yellowlegs all since 2020. Let’s simply hope we haven’t peaked too early with the Marsh Sandpiper!

Identify

Complete

Ben Sheldon

180

Thomas Miller

184

Neil Hayward

157

Conor MacKenzie

186

Simon Myers

173

Peerawat Chiaranunt

176

Work has begun on habitat enhancements on our Ashgrave discipline. This can be a main mission, with new scrapes and ditches being created, plus a brand new bund and predator exclusion fence. Guests needs to be conscious that for 6-8 weeks from mid-August to late September, diggers and dumpers shall be engaged on web site, in direct view of the Wetlands Watch conceal.

With thanks

The Otmoor staff.

The creation of latest scrapes on Ashgrave