Oxon Birding Weblog: Summer season overview

Highlights

After our traditional summer season break, I
had hoped to be discussing a neighborhood mega disrupting this normally very relaxed
birding interval. In recent times we now have been handled to Black-crowned Night time
Heron and even two Rosy Starling information. This summer season, nonetheless, has
been extra regular in nature with nothing too sudden occurring between June
and July. That’s apart from the Savi’s Warbler, which nearly
creeped into the interval on the night of June 1st, however by this level was fairly
actually final month’s information. A White Stork over Bladon would have been
very notable just a few years in the past, however all information are actually very a lot marked
with an asterisk today, given so many introduction tasks across the
south of England. 

Regardless of this, there may be nonetheless
a lot that has saved birders busy over the lean interval. Wader migration, for
instance, by no means actually appeared to cease. A trickle of northward certain Sanderling
continued at Farmoor till the top of the primary week of June. This then not
lengthy adopted up by the primary southward certain Inexperienced Sandpiper on the 11^th
June at Bicester Wetland. The primary returning Widespread Sandpiper got here the
following week on the 18^th with a number of Black-tailed Godwit
coming just a few days after. July then noticed much more wader species arrive, Whimbrel,
Greenshank and Turnstone, largely from the center of the month and
have been shortly adopted by the primary motion of Terns with Black, Sandwich
and non-locally bred Widespread Tern all passing by means of the county. 

August ought to hopefully see just a few
extra species added to the county yr listing and with the latest downpours, some
websites are beginning to look in advantageous form once more and may present draw.
Though if all else fails Otmoor and Farmoor will hopefully present of their
place. The county yr listing presently stands at 190, not together with the
non-BOU species, and with just a few anticipated species left to fall there may be
undoubtedly a rarity or two to be discovered between now and the top of the yr, or
no less than you’ll hope!

Waders

Sanderling continued to
trickle by means of the county within the early a part of June with each Farmoor
and North Cross Valley Method (NCVW) recording birds. A flock of six
have been current on the former web site on the three^rd, with presumably one other
seven right here later within the night. NCVW additionally had 5 birds on the 5^th,
presumably the identical flock however extra seemingly a part of bigger group of birds pushing northwards.
The final document of ‘Spring’ got here on the 5^th, from Farmoor while
the primary document of the ‘Autumn’ got here solely 41 days afterward the 16^th
July additionally from Farmoor adopted by one other chook on the 30^th. Additionally
persevering with into the primary a part of June a single Dunlin was on Farmoor
on the 4^th, following the small group of Sanderling. Equally
to Sanderling the primary ‘Autumn’ document got here solely 42 days later with three
on the 16^th July. The odd single was then recorded within the latter
a part of July, largely at Farmoor though Ardley ERF additionally hosted a
single chook on the 28^th July. 

Farmoor Sanderling courtesy of Brian Walker

 The autumn interval actually started nonetheless,
with the primary returning Inexperienced Sandpiper at Bicester Wetlands on
the 11^th June – a fairly early chook for the location. This was
shortly adopted by birds at Otmoor and Ardley by the 15^th.
Numbers continued to select up slowly by means of the latter half of June and by the
finish of July a minimal of 9 websites had hosted their first birds. Bicester
Wetlands, as ever, had the best rely with a most of 12 birds right here on
the 22^nd July. Widespread Sandpiper quickly adopted after with the primary
returning chook surprisingly not at Farmoor however at Otmoor on the
18^th June. Farmoor was far behind nonetheless, with a small flock
of seven birds on the 23^rd. Birds continued to trickle all through
the summer season interval with no less than 9 websites recording no less than one chook, though most
websites noticed a number of birds and the best rely coming from Farmoor with
10 on the 17^th July.

Inexperienced Sandpiper courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Black-tailed Godwit have been a
very welcome returnee, with a a number of birds recorded inside the county’s borders
on the 22^nd June. Two have been current at Peep-o-Day Lane on the
22^nd, while Shepherds Pit additionally had a single. Curiously,
the latter chook was colour-ringed and a fast response from the venture
revealed it was ringed in 2013. Having spent a lot of its time between Iceland
and Dorset/Hampshire during the last 12 years, this was solely the two^nd
time the person had been intercepted while migrating between these two
areas. A number of different websites noticed additional information with Otmoor clearly internet hosting
essentially the most birds, a 2^nd colour-ringed chook current for per week
highlighting the flip over of birds on southward migration. This particular person was
ringed in 2017 as a 1^st yr in Suffolk and has subsequently
been seen in Iceland just a few occasions, however this was the primary time it had
been seen outdoors of these two locations with nearly the entire 137 resightings
coming from Suffolk. Two extra websites reported birds over the summer season interval
– Bicester Wetland and Pit 60 while Otmoor internet hosting at
least one chook for a lot of the month with a doable flock of 20+ birds right here in
the latter a part of July. 

Black-tailed Godwit courtesy of Andrew Corridor

The primary Turnstone of the
autumn was on Farmoor on the 21^st July, an uncharacteristic
flighty and nervy chook that remained for not more than 40 minutes. This was
adopted by a pair extra birds on the 30^th, albeit simply flyovers,
adopted by two extra flyovers once more on the 31^st. The primary Whimbrel
got here on the 11^th, additionally from Farmoor and was adopted up
by one other chook on the 30^th. With so little water current at many native
patches, it’s considerably unsurprising that a lot of the early autumn wader
information got here from Farmoor. That being stated, a NocMig recording did choose
up a pair Whimbrel flying over within the early hours of the 24^th,
presumably heading to or from Otmoor. Greenshank additionally made their return to
the county on the 11^th with a number of birds current at varied occasions
at Otmoor throughout July, Farmoor additionally obtained the odd chook on this interval
however with a lot disturbance on the web site through the summer season none hung round
very lengthy. A lone juv Ruff nearly squeaked into the recording interval
with a person on Farmoor on the night of the 31^st. 

Farmoor Turnstone courtesy of Brian Walker

Ringed Plover had a for much longer
interval out of the county than a lot of the different species, with the final document
approaching the 4^th June at Farmoor and the primary returning chook
not coming till the very previous couple of days of July from Otmoor. The summer season
interval additionally noticed a notable improve within the variety of Little Ringed Plover information,
presumably of many regionally breeding birds shifting south and gathering at
appropriate areas. A whopping rely of 19 birds from Ardley on the three^rd
July certainly should be near the county document rely for the species (?) and
gave the impression to be made up of a combination of regionally bred birds and migrants passing
by means of. Different websites additionally noticed notable will increase with no less than two extra websites
internet hosting 5+ birds this month while Farmoor had sporadic information of
adults and juvs passing by means of.

Wildfowl, recreation and so on

The latter a part of Could noticed the primary
information singing Quail, usually our final returning breeding migrant.
The Oxon Downs is normally the primary spot to get returnees and this was
once more true this yr with as much as three birds singing between Aston Upthorpe and
Churn through the early a part of June. The latter a part of July will typically
see birds flip up sporadically all through the county, normally with a western
distribution bias, however not at all times. Swyncombe Down, Otmoor and Swalcliffe
Lea all noticed information of singing males from the 18^th June all of the
method as much as the 30^th July for the latter web site. An uncommon document of a
chook flushed from Chimney Meadows on the 12^th June was the
solely document of the species that didn’t relate to a singing particular person. 

Calling Quail courtesy of Kevin Heath

Not typically the time of yr related
with Widespread Scoter information, with so many birds making overland migratory
jaunts to the north of us it appeared seemingly document may pop up sooner or later in
late July. A drake on Farmoor on the 17^th solely caught round
for about an hour, lengthy sufficient for some to attach however sadly not for
others. A 2^nd likelihood nonetheless got here on the 26^th with two
birds over F1 however these people have been even much less twitchable seemingly
departing the location as shortly as they have been discovered. A single drake Garganey on
Otmoor on the 16^th June could have been some indication that
native breeding could have occurred or tried though no additional proof was
obvious and the person was not once more reported this era in what has been
a disappointing yr up to now for the species. 

Farmoor Widespread Scoter courtesy of Conor Mackenzie

On the extra mundane aspect of
issues it appears no less than just a few pairs of Shelduck caught round lengthy sufficient
to try breeding, albeit no proof up to now has been forthcoming. Three
websites had birds over the summer season interval with people at Hatford and Otmoor
through the early – center a part of June. A single chook at Ardley appears
prone to have been a chook passing by means of, approaching the three^rd July. One other
profitable breeding yr for Goosander was confirmed by the presence of
an grownup feminine on the Thames by Port Meadow accompanied by three
juveniles. Kings Lock or there abouts appears to be the seemingly web site of
breeding and with pairs on the Thame in no less than two areas, it appears
presumably much more profitable breeding is prone to have occurred for this species
as soon as restricted to the north. 

The primary returnee Crimson-crested
Pochard from wherever it’s they breed was on Farmoor on the 15^th
July, adopted by 4 right here on the 27^th. An uncommon document of Mandarin
additionally got here from Otmoor on the 30^th.

Herons, egrets and so on

As talked about a White Stork over
Bladon on the 11^th July would have been a fairly thrilling
occasion solely just some years in the past however are actually confined to a combination of emotions
relying on how you’re feeling about their latest introduction to the UK. With
so many tasks now concerned in White Stork releases it appears seemingly
that this was not a continental chook however in all probability from certainly one of these many releases,
though no affirmation was had both method with no additional sightings all through
the month. The semi-resident Shiny Ibis continued its summer season vacation at
Otmoor been reported nearly day by day from the 1^st June till
the 31^st July. Having gone by means of its entire moult while there,
trying extraordinarily tatty through the Savi’s Warbler twitch it now appears
positively resplendent in the summertime sunshine. It appears fairly doable it’s
the identical chook that summered right here final yr and one has to surprise if and when it
could also be joined by one other chook subsequent yr, with breeding having occurred within the close by
county of Cambridgeshire in comparable habitat. 

The resident Shiny Ibis courtesy of Carol Payne

Cattle Egret continued in
their traditional sample, albeit a tough one to decipher for essentially the most half. Single
wanderers and possible non-breeders made up nearly all of sightings away from
Blenheim with Farmoor, Pit 60 and Radley all internet hosting birds
over the summer season. Blenheim continued to host a number of breeding pairs
though it appears considerably fewer than the variety of breeding Little Egret.
That being stated, as much as 20 birds have been right here on the 30^th June with
loads of breeding exercise below method. To date, so regular. The complicated matter
to my thoughts, is the wandering and roving flock of as much as 50 birds that appears to
go between Chimney and Otmoor with apparently no signal of one other
breeding colony at both web site? What these birds are as much as appears a little bit of a
thriller to me however a welcome addition to any go to to Otmoor both method! 

Cattle Egret courtesy of Russell Allen

Nice White Egret additionally
continued to be current all through the summer season, as they’re in each different month
of the yr albeit in decrease numbers and throughout fewer websites. Otmoor had
essentially the most information and the best rely with as much as three birds current at any
one time this summer season. No less than one other 5 websites hosted birds between mid-June
and late-July with all different websites internet hosting single birds. It appears Crane have
seemingly had one other robust yr within the county this yr, with seemingly no signal
of profitable breeding at Otmoor or wherever else for that matter. A
pair of birds continued to frequent each Otmoor and Chimney Meadows all through
the summer season, seemingly commuting between the 2 websites occasionally. Though on
the 24^th June 4 birds have been reported from Otmoor so it’s
doable that information from each websites relate to completely different birds.

Gulls and Terns

A month that’s typically anticipated to
be quiet for this group with most birds nonetheless on breeding grounds or the coast
for this season, it does often throw up the occasional oddity equivalent to
the Little Tern that spent one summer season commuting up and down the Thames
between Port Meadow and Farmoor. A Black Tern was a
way more anticipated chook this time of yr, with a lone chook current on Farmoor
on the 20^th July. A number of early-ish information of Sandwich Tern got here
by means of the center a part of July and into late July. With experiences of Sandwich
Tern colonies abandoning early this yr, information from Farmoor on
the 15^th and once more on the 28^th July have been probably not unsurprising.
The previous weren’t reported on the time however the latter hung round lengthy sufficient
for no less than just a few individuals to attach with them. 

Farmoor Juvenile Widespread Tern courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Caspian Gull now reported
in each month, have been current at three websites by means of June and July. NCVW had
a lone 1^st summer season by means of the early a part of June. While Farmoor had
no less than two completely different birds all through the summer season interval and a 1^st summer season
additionally spent a while at Ardley ERF within the early -mid a part of July. Two
information of Mediterranean Gull got here from the summer season interval, a extra typical
document of a 2nd calendar chook at Shepherds Pit on the 22^nd
June adopted by a fairly outstanding backyard tick over Headington on the 14^th
July for one fortunate birder there! 

Ardley Caspian Gull courtesy of John-Friendship Taylor

Passerines

A juv Hawfinch at Warburg
on the 18^th July doubtlessly factors in the direction of some native profitable
breeding efforts and was undoubtedly one of many extra stunning information over the
summer season interval. In any other case the large information for this group was the continuing irruption
of Crossbill which has been seen up and down the nation. No less than 19
websites have seen information this month with a roving flock of 20+ seen at a number of
websites throughout the west of the county. With a number of giant flocks bordering the county,
some within the 50+ quantity, the autumn and winter ought to see a lot extra information
but! 

The Juvenile Hawfinch courtesy of CJ Kearns

The primary of our returning Redstart
was somewhat sooner than anticipated with one at Pit 60 on the 5^th
July. It took an extra 11 days earlier than our subsequent induvial at Cholsey on
the 16^th, a barely extra anticipated arrival. This was adopted by extra
and extra information at Woodstock and Otmoor with a number of people
on the latter web site all through the top of the month. Much more stunning was although
this month was the primary returning Wheatear with a juv/fem current at Shepherds
Pit on the 23^rd July, a fantastically early document and presumably
the earliest returning document for the county? 

Crossbills courtesy of Paul Wren

Raptors

A doable White-tailed Eagle remained
frustratingly unconfirmed and elusive, with two doable information over the Oxon
Downs/Wantage space between the 7^th and 9^th July, this
was adopted by one other doable document on the 27^th simply north of
right here. With the primary English bred particular person from Sussex then rocking
up in Northants on the 31^st, it appears believable that this
chook could have been liable for these sightings the previous couple of weeks.

Osprey information
continued to come back and go, irritating to anybody however the finders. One fishing
over F1 on the three^rd got here and went as shortly because it was seen
earlier than one other additionally briefly over the location on the 9^th. Whether or not these
information, together with these the earlier month, relate to a number of birds or the
similar chook stays to be seen but it surely has definitely been essentially the most information throughout
the spring interval for no less than the previous couple of years.

Patchwork
problem

Skulking Cuckoo courtesy of Nick Truby

Oxon Large 12 months 2025