Highlights
I set out on a considerably
dispirited model of the highlights part in late September, pointing
out the shortage of rarities and the final sense of low-ebb migration. This was
in all probability skewed by my very own failure to attach with a number of new birds and,
regardless of a really showy Manx Shearwater (extra on that later), the motion
felt muted within the supposedly “something can occur” month of September.
Then, as so usually occurs, a bolt from the blue stopped us all in our tracks
and the evaluation wanted rewriting, not for the primary time. As with the Marsh
Sandpiper, information and photographs of a Bluethroat (!) at Otmoor
got here late within the day, at a time when nothing may very well be performed however anxiously attempt to
sleep and synchronise alarms for five am. Fortunately with a small crowd assembled
at daybreak on the 2nd display on Otmoor and after a stress stuffed
and anxious wait, a 1w male Bluethroat hopped into view in entrance of the
essential reedbed. A video of this second is peak twitching comedy and actually
captures the essence of those sort of occasions – stress, swearing, questioning
and panic adopted by abject pleasure. A fairly exceptional chicken for the county, most
of us have been shocked to be taught that had been earlier data. Each from the
Eighties, with one within the Cherwell Valley in September 1980 and
one other taking by a cat in North Oxford, surprisingly in February
1986.
| Courtesy of Richard Stevens |
Courtesy of Thomas Miller
Any chicken away from the east coast
would seemingly be standard, I’m certain for instance WWT can attest to the
reputation of territorial male at Slimbridge, and that is compounded
even additional for true inland data like these that are exceedingly uncommon.
With many of the county’s out there birders connecting sooner or later that
morning, and a proclivity to vanish for an hour at a time, any issues that
this is able to be a two day surprise just like the Marsh Sandpiper have been quickly
tempered by the chicken remaining on web site till at the least the fifth October.
Spare a second, nevertheless, for these county birders who’re at the moment plying
their commerce additional north or south of Oxon, an unlucky consequence of
birding the furthest reaches of our shores on this season – though I’m certain
that the birding on the isles greater than makes up for the loss!
The Oxon 12 months checklist now
stands at 202, with September including 5 new species together with Manx
Shearwater and Bluethroat. An extra ten subspecies or non-BOU
species have additionally been counted, and these vary from Baltic Gull by means of
to White-tailed Eagle, all recognisable taxa with differing
standing inside the UK checklist.
Waders
The one juvenile Little
Stint continued at Farmoor on the 1st September,
having already spent the latter a part of August already on the web site.
One other chicken arrived on the 20th, this time a moulting grownup that
sadly seemed to be lacking its proper foot, however regardless of this it
appeared in good situation and was on its approach south once more the next day.
One other juvenile was right here on the 25th which at the least remained till
the 26th, when two have been current on 27th and appeared to
probably be new birds. One remained till the 28th, taking the
whole birds this 12 months to at the least 8 a reasonably first rate return for a species which
though annual, isn’t all the time dependable. Though it goes someway to beating
the staggering rely of 84 in 1996, one thing which is unlikely to happen ever
once more.
_BS.jpeg) |
| The one-fotted grownup chicken courtesy of Ben Sheldon… |
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| Courtesy of Steve Liptrot |
Noticed Redshank have been extremely troublesome to come back by this
12 months. With a single temporary document within the spring, it appeared acceptable that the
first autumn document was additionally, if not temporary, then not reported till it was too
late for others to take pleasure in.
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| Courtesy of David Kissman |
The primary Curlew Sandpiper of
the autumn arrived late night of the 8th, though this was quickly
joined by one other 9 birds – a document rely for the county. Most folks would
have guess good cash on this wonderful flock at the least remaining for the night,
however they have been sadly gone nearly as shortly as that they had arrived.
 |
| Above & beneath courtesy of Andy Final |
 |
| One of many Curlew Sandpiper courtesy of Andy Final |
Additionally,
considerably flighty and elusive, three document of Knot this autumn have
proved troublesome to pin down. The primary flew straight over on the 6th,
adopted swiftly by the second on the 12th, additionally straight by means of
and never touchdown. The ultimate document on the 23rd dropped in late
night, after not being current earlier within the day, however sadly departed
in a single day – a shock for a species which often at the least sticks for a number of
days within the autumn.
 |
| Farmoor Knot courtesy of Ben Sheldon |
A trio of Wooden Sandpiper on the threerd at Otmoor
have been considerably unseasonable, with essential peak for this species occurring in
the previous few weeks. Though it did proceed an nearly annual custom of
a trio of birds turning up within the autumn, having occurred in a number of of the
previous couple of years.
 |
| Two of the Wooden Sandpiper courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
Two data of Turnstone got here
each from Farmoor in September. The primary on the 7th,
a disappointing flying over – a working theme this month with birds extra usually
not selecting the concrete bowl. The second document got here only a few days
later, on the tenth, and this grownup and juvenile pair at the least stayed
a short time longer on the causeway. Sanderling have been confined to simply
the only document this month when a flock of 5 have been current at Farmoor
on the 6th, with the height passage now nicely and actually over. A species
that has felt skinny on the bottom all 12 months spherical – Ruff – this month noticed
a meagre two data reported. The primary got here from Rushy Widespread on the
13th with a pair of birds current, while Pit 60 hosted a
single chicken on the 20th. Three data of Greenshank got here in September
from three completely different websites. Otmoor hosted at the least two birds from the 1st
– 2nd, while Farmoor had a quick flyover on the 5th
adopted by people on the 8th and 10th. Cassington
GPs hosted the very best rely this month, with three right here on the 20th
which had decreased to at least one by the 29th.
 |
| Farmoor Sanderling courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
Most Black-tailed Godwit have
now both left the nation or sat on UK coastal marshes and mudflats, however a
few birds are nonetheless transferring round. Stratfield Brake a single on the 5th,
while Pit 60 had on the 25th. Dunlin have been nonetheless
transferring in first rate numbers this month, though most data have been confined to Farmoor.
Though inconceivable to know what number of people have been concerned, there was
clearly a constant turnover of birds between the 5th and 28th.
The best rely got here on the 7th with 5 birds, though 4
have been additionally current on the 28th. Two different websites hosted birds this
month – NCVW on the 13th and Grimsbury Reservoir on
the 28th. Equally Ringed Plover have been principally confined to the
concrete bowl in September with a turnover of people from the 1st
till at the least the 16th. As with Dunlin the very best rely of
5 got here on the 7th, while a juvenile Ringed Plover was
current for almost all of early September. Otmoor noticed the one different
data this month with two on the 21st and one on the 28th.
 |
| Courtesy of Andy Final |
The lengthy remaining juvenile Little
Ringed Plover continued at Farmoor till at the least the 5th,
earlier than departing for what one assumes to be hotter climes. 9 websites hosted Inexperienced
Sandpiper this month, with Bicester Wetlands sustaining its standing
because the premier web site for this species with 9 on the 1st. The subsequent
highest rely got here from Ardley ERF with 5 birds on the 16th.
Widespread Sandpiper have been even additional unfold with at the least ten websites
internet hosting chicken this month. Farmoor by far had essentially the most data and the
highest rely, with practically half of the data and a excessive of 15 on the 8th.
A trickle of Redshank data additionally got here from Farmoor with a Juv
current on the 5th, 8th and 11th. While the
very first Golden Plover of the autumn arrived at Otmoor on the
21st, with one other chicken calling within the fog over Farmoor on
the 29th.
 |
| Widespread Sandpiper courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
Wildfowl, recreation and many others
A really quiet month for this group
in September, with hardly any birds of word. The spotlight being a Garganey
on Farmoor’s F2 on the twond and inflicting a mini-twitch –
being a comparatively first rate chicken for Farmoor correct. Goosander have been
on two websites – Farmoor and Port Meadow. A juvenile was on Farmoor
from the 8th till at the least the 16th, often
affording some wonderful views and photograph alternatives alongside the causeway. A
trio have been then additionally current on the Thames adjoining to Port Meadow on
the 30th and was a reasonably early date for the species arrival for the
winter.
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| Farmoor Goosander courtesy of Steve Liptrot |
A rely of 26 Mandarin on Henley
Street GPs was at the least notable for the variety of birds if not for the
species itself, while one other 4 birds have been at Waterstock on the 15th.
Herons, egrets and many others
With a nationwide inflow of Shiny
Ibis, numbering into the triple digits, it was a case of when not if Oxfordshire
would see its share of the foremost occasion. Starting with a single chicken at Farmoor
on the 5th, roosting on the causeway this was a significant rarity for
the location itself. Sadly, notably for people who often chicken the
web site, its keep was temporary. Fortunately, the next day one other probability arose
with now two birds, completely different from the chicken the day before today, have been current for
a time earlier than departing mid-morning. That was nothing although, with a flock of
24 (!) over Buscot Wick on the 6th and smashing the earlier
county document for the species. Thereafter, Days Lock and Stratfield
Brake each hosted birds on the 7th, with the previous additionally
lingering till the 8th. Thereafter, it wasn’t till the tip of the
month, and the tip of the inflow, the place a lingering chicken was seen transferring
between Port Meadow and Cassington GPs.
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| Courtesy of Brian Walker |
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| Courtesy of David Stracey |
With some inclement climate on
the UK coast, it’s considerably unsurprising that two windblown Shag data
have been reported this month. The primary got here from Chinnor Quarry, with a
pretty wholesome particular person current on the twond of the month. A much less
wholesome particular person was nevertheless taking into care, someplace within the south of the
county someday from the next day. Evidently at the least this particular person
was launched someplace alongside the shoreline later within the month having spent a
couple weeks in care. Cattle Egret data observe a lot the identical sample
as they often do, albeit with a lot decreased numbers. The fields round Wytham
and the A34 continued to play host to a roving flock numbering at
least 15. Many of the Farmoor data in all probability relate to those birds
commuting between foraging fields, while different birds continued at Otmoor with
solely six right here on the 5th. Two juveniles had but to fledge at Blenheim
on the 11th with the final juvenile exhibiting extremely nicely when
it will definitely fledged on the 25th.
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| Courtesy of Gareth Casburn |
Nice White Egret additionally
adopted the same sample this month to earlier months, with a minimal of
9 websites internet hosting birds this month. Pit 60 is clearly the location of
selection for the species, first internet hosting 9 birds on the 25th,
adopted by 17 on the 27th – simply a county document. However this was damaged
in a short time inside a number of days finally constructing to 26 (!) by the 30th.
Presumably, these birds all arrived from the Somerset Ranges or
elsewhere within the UK? Though I’m beginning to sound like a damaged document at
this level, it certainly can’t be that lengthy earlier than we get our first breeding
document?!
Gulls and Terns
In what may need been the
spotlight of the month, if not for the arrival of a sure Luscinia
species on the very finish, the county noticed three data of Manx Shearwater
this month – all in very completely different circumstances. The primary arrived on the
15th however as is usually the case it was instantly taken into care
having presumably been discovered grounded in Steventon. In some years these
sort of data could be the county’s solely document of the 12 months. Fortunately,
though perhaps not for the chicken itself, a chicken was on Farmoor on the 16th.
Surprisingly, regardless of trying a little bit worse for put on initially, the chicken
appeared in superb form ultimately performing nicely over F2 for a lot
of the day. Seeing this chicken “shear” round a windy F2 you possibly can be
mistaken for pondering you have been watching this chicken in its pure habitat,
notably by means of the view shed of a scope. The third document was the bleakest
of the lot, a nicely eaten particular person, presumably taken by a raptor and deposited
it in some woodland in West Oxon.
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| Courtesy of Roger Wyatt |
A daily passage of Black
Tern by means of Farmoor stored regulars there busy, with at the least two
flocks in double digits in early a part of the month. Singles have been current on the
3rd and 6th, adopted by a flock of 14 on 7th.
Fifteen have been right here on the 9th, though decreased to 2 by late
afternoon, while 5 extra joined the fray later that night. A single was
then reported on the 21st, the final document on the web site this month.
Nonetheless, by far essentially the most attention-grabbing document, was that of juvenile at Hinksey
Lake, Oxford. A exceptional chicken for an city web site it clearly had been
introduced down in poor climate situations, probably aiming for Farmoor however
lacking its goal. A improbable chicken for the patch birders there, which within the
final 12 months has additionally hosted Bittern and Scaup! A lone Sandwich
Tern on the threerd at Farmoor was the one document of the
month and sadly was straight by means of and off to raised pastures nearly
as quickly because it arrived.
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| Courtesy of Peter Milligan |
Just a few Arctic Tern data
have been a little bit simpler to attach with although, with three data involving ten
people. A small flock of 5 have been current at Farmoor on the 9th,
swiftly adopted by 4 on the tenth together with a flock of 30+ “Commic”
Terns. A lone juvenile was then current on 16th and 17th,
afforded some wonderful views while roosting on the “seashore” space of F2. This
month additionally noticed a number of data of Little Gull at two websites and doubtless
associated to a few separate people. The primary was on Farmoor on the twond
– 3rd, usually exhibiting fairly nicely at instances. The twond was
then current additionally on Farmoor on the 16th, together with the
juvenile Arctic Tern and Manx Shearwater offering loads of
leisure for the gathered birders. The next day an grownup was then at Pit
60, a descent chicken for a web site that’s already supplied top-of-the-line birds
of 12 months. This grownup remained till the 30th, albeit with a number of days
hole between stories.
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| Courtesy of Jeremy Dexter |
Caspian Gull have been within the
typical haunts of Farmoor and Pit 60, with Farmoor internet hosting
the common 2w for the early a part of the month, while an grownup was at Pit
60 within the latter half September. A single Mediterranean Gull rounds
off this teams exhibiting for the month, with one current on the 16th
and 17th on Farmoor.
Passerines
Having had one uncommon Phylloscopus
final month, it was about time now we have one other and at the moment of of
12 months there is just one that may be anticipated. A Yellow-browed Warbler trapped
and ringed in Little Clanfield on the 28th was proper on cue
for the everyday first arrival of the species within the county. Sadly, due
to the character of the document, it was not potential to twitch and so we can have
to attend a little bit longer for our first “Tsu-weet” name of the autumn. Rock
Pipit handed by means of the county all through the month, so lingering longer
than others however all pulled in by the bigger our bodies of water throughout the county. Farmoor,
the traditional web site, had a number of data of in all probability two people – 18th
– 19th and 28th – 30th. Pit 60 received solely
its 3rd ever document on the 27th, as this patch continues
its tremendous type in 2025 while Grimsbury had a lone chicken on the 28th.
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| Courtesy of West Oxfordshire Farmland Fowl Undertaking |
Whinchat have been current on
at the least ten websites, unfold throughout the county. Otmoor had the very best
rely of 5 on the 8th, while Lark Hill had essentially the most
data, reporting birds on 5 events with a most rely of 4 right here additionally
on the 8th. The remaining websites reported 1-2 birds with the final
document coming from Chipping Norton on the 28th. Redstart had
largely handed by means of the county the earlier month, with reporting fee in September
all the way down to a single digit variety of websites. The Oxon Downs had the
highest rely with three right here on the 6th, while White Horse Hill was
the final web site document a chicken, on the 9th.
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| Courtesy of Mark Merritt |
Wheatear have been current
proper throughout the county this month, though numbers and the variety of websites
had dropped off considerably. Not less than 9 websites hosted birds, with websites on
the Downs accounting for a big proportion of the data. Lark Hill
had the very best rely, with 12 right here on the 8th – clearly a date
the place plenty of chats have been transferring southward by means of the county. Childrey Subject
and the Oxon Downs have been the one different websites to host extra
than one particular person, with 3 and a couple of respectively within the early a part of the month.
The final document got here from White Horse Hill on the 28th.
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| Courtesy of Jeremy Dexter |
The Yellow
Wagtail roost at Otmoor peaked early within the month with 500+ coming
into the reedbed on the threerd, one has to surprise what else may need
been in with them! Crossbill continued to be reported in small roving
flocks throughout the county, after the foremost irruption throughout the nation as a
complete. The most important flock got here from Cowleaze Wooden the place a minimal of 60 birds
have been current on the 21st.
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| Courtesy of Thomas Miller |
Raptors
A
White-tailed Eagle on the border with Bucks was reported from
personal land on the threerd, with a improbable video capturing this
encounter on a farm in Hambleden. Apparently, the chicken was seen to fly
in the direction of the border with Oxon though regardless of having a wingspan of in all probability
over 7ft, this chicken disappeared as simply as every other chicken transferring by means of the
county. The county has had some nice type this 12 months with Osprey data,
with one other 5 report this month referring to at the least three birds if not
4. Farmoor hosted two of those data, one on the 7th and
once more on the 21st. Otmoor had one on the 16th and
once more one other on the 21st, while Fyfield Wick additionally noticed a
chicken on the 21st. These three data on the 21st appear to
have associated to 2 birds.
Passion
have been current on a minimal of 9
websites this month, most of which have been reported inside the first half of the
month. The ultimate document got here from Port Meadow on the 28th.
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| Courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
Patchwork
problem
|
Patch |
Birder |
Factors |
Species |
Spotlight |
|
Aston eyot |
Ben Sheldon |
|
|
|
|
Ardley ERF |
Gareth |
115 |
104 |
|
|
Dix pit |
Simon |
|
|
|
|
Grimsbury reservoir |
Gareth |
111 |
102 |
Rock Pipit |
|
Lye valley |
Tom Bedford |
72 |
71 |
|
|
River Thames |
Geoff Wyatt |
144 |
125 |
Shiny Ibis |
|
Sutton Courtenay |
Conor |
127 |
112 |
|
|
Radley GP’s |
Ian Elkins |
106 |
100 |
|
|
Freeland |
Glen Pascoe |
|
|
|
|
South Hinksey |
Alex |
81 |
76 |
Black Tern |
Oxon Huge 12 months 2025
One of many
issues with a Huge 12 months effort, is that with out new birds, progress can really feel
sluggish and sluggish, even when the birding is definitely fairly first rate – context
issues. I realise my comparatively detrimental emotions about how September has gone
is predicated purely on lacking a number of birds on the trot, solely including one species
to my very own 12 months checklist. Upon writing the primary evaluation, I’ve really realised that
September has been very first rate by all accounts, so centered I’ve been on
seeing “new birds”. Seeing Manx Shearwater in any 12 months is sensible, however in a
Huge 12 months try is nice luck and to have such a performative chicken fairly than
the same old moribund people, wonderful. Adopted up by Bluethroat?! You
couldn’t actually ask for greater than that! Nonetheless, having missed Osprey, Knot and
Curlew Sandpiper within the house of 12 days or so, wrangles me! I believe it can
proceed to take action till Dec thirty first or I see one, whichever comes first.
Sadly, two
of our quantity have now left the county. Peerawat has left for USA while Thomas
is touring a few of the UKs prime coastal headlands. Each might be very massive
losses to the native birding scene in addition to to the native Huge 12 months effort. Each
discovered first rate birds over the past 9 months, together with Thomas’s Temmincks Stint,
while immense credit score needs to be given to Peer’s nearly totally by bike effort
together with some very long-distanced efforts!
With two
wildcards already within the final 4 weeks, one has to surprise what the remainder of
the 12 months has in retailer for us – perhaps yet another native mega? One can solely hope!
|
Title |
Whole |
|
Ben Sheldon |
186 |
|
Thomas Miller |
186 |
|
Neil Hayward |
159 |
|
Conor MacKenzie |
188 |
|
Simon Myers |
177 |
|
Peerawat Chiaranunt |
177 |
Work is constant on habitat enhancements on our Ashgrave discipline. It is a main challenge, with new scrapes and ditches being created, plus a brand new bund and predator exclusion fence. Guests ought to be conscious that for 6-8 weeks from mid-August to late September, diggers and dumpers might be engaged on web site, in direct view of the Wetlands Watch cover.
With thanks
The Otmoor workforce
Video & narration courtesy of Luke O’Byrne
