November Highlights

Goldcrest by Andy Last

Headline Birds

Whilst it is still only November, to be honest here in the county autumn feels well and truly behind us now. This month has sadly been a rather quiet one in Oxon with just a few tantalising reports of brief sightings making up the main points of interest. In fact it's rather difficult to pick a star bird at all so instead I'll just give the main high points and pad out the headlines with what are at least good county birds

Black Redstart Grimsbury Res (c) John Friendship Taylor

It's been a very good autumn for Rough-legged Buzzards in the country with good numbers appearing in a wide variety of places. Therefore it wasn't too surprising when one was reported on the 4th on the Lambourne Downs which straddles Berkshire & Oxon though sadly no further reports were forthcoming. Fortunately here in Oxon we were blessed with a bird on the Downs a couple of years back so it wasn't so frustrating for most county listers

A Great Grey Shrike was seen briefly on Otmoor in the South Pill grounds on the 1st with a second individual seen at Shirburn Hill on the 8th though sadly neither bird hung around. There was also a tantalising report of a Shrike species at Cholsey Marsh on the 22nd: the observer stated that he thought it was a Lesser Grey, even mentioning a photo that he'd taken. Sadly neither the Shrike nor the photo were seen subsequently.

The Red-necked Grebe continued its residency at Farmoor Reservoir all month though it could prove rather elusive at times.

Black Redstarts turned up at several locations within the county including an individual which spent a few day within a Cholsey garden. A single bird was at Grimsbury Reservoir from the 10th until at least the 12th and there was also an unconfirmed report of two birds at Blenheim Palace.

Black Redstart Cholsey (c) Paul Chandler

Raptors

The adult female Marsh Harrier remained on Otmoor RSPB for the entirety of the month, being joined by a second individual on the 5th-6th. A very late Osprey was reported from Broughton Castle on the 22nd. Merlin were seen at several locations, predominately in the south of the county on the Downs but also occasionally at Otmoor. Two birds were observed harassing a Peregrine at the Devil's Punchbowl on the 8th.

Marsh Harrier (c) John Reynolds

Short-eared Owls were well represented in the county this month: there were at least three birds on the Downs in November, one was seen on Burgess Field by Port Meadow on the 17th and one was seen to the north of the county near Little Bourton on the 22nd (where two Barn Owls were seen a day later). Shorties were also seen sporadically at Otmoor throughout the month with a pair of Barn Owls making a welcome return hunting within the Car Park Field on the 27th.

Merlin on the Oxon Downs (c) The Gun-slinger

Waders

It's been another thin month for waders though now that we're into November it's not really surprising. Two Jack Snipe were at Farmoor on the 5th with birds also seen on the Otmoor reserve on the 9th with an obliging individual along the edge of the floods on Port Meadow on the 25th. A Grey Plover flew over Farmoor on the 10th. Four Redshank and a Black-tailed Godwit were on Port Meadow on the 27th, joined there by four Dunlin on the 28th.

Wildfowl

A superb drake Smew arrived at Standlake at months end,but apart from the returning over-wintering duck in good numbers there's not been much to report. A female Red-breasted Merganser was  seen to the south of the county amongst the Henley Road GP's on the 27th. A Mandarin Duck was a surprise when it appeared among the usual wildfowl at Farmoor Res on the 8th. A possible Brent Goose was reported at Balscote Quarry on the 14th

Mandarin Duck Farmoor (c) Dai

Gulls

Its been a fantastic month for Caspian Gulls in Oxfordshire with at least thirteen individuals noted and maybe as many as sixteen (thanking you Mr Lew). Away from the Didcot Landfill, birds were seen at Farmoor on the 8th (an adult and a first winter) with a second & forth winter in the roost on the 15th. A first winter Cass was on Port Meadow on the 15th and the 17th with a lovely adult appearing on the 20th. A third winter bird was at Pit 60 on the 15th (only the second record at the site). An adult and a forth winter Caspian were at Dix Pit on the 15th.

Adult Caspian Gull (c) Gnome

Yellow-legged Gulls were at Grimsbury and the 'new pool' on the 1st with a number of birds seen amongst the Farmoor roost including eight birds on the 15th, at least seven were counted at Dix Pit on the 20th. Port Meadow hosted between one and four of this species over the latter part of the  month.

1st winter Cass Port Meadow (c) Erik Sandvig

Apart from large eastern gulls we had an adult Kittiwake at Farmoor among the roost on the 8th and a Mediterranean Gull at Farmoor on the 15th

Passerines & Miscellaneous

The Bearded Tit was seen at the end of the month on Otmoor and a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker was seen by a couple of  lucky observers near the Combe gate entrance within the Blenheim park grounds on the 15th. A Willow Tit was seen at the usual site of Grimsbury Reservoir 20th. A late Ring Ouzel was near Letcome Bassett on the 9th and up to three Rock Pipits were at Farmoor over the course of November. At least twenty Tree Sparrows were at the B.O.S Balscote Quarry reserve on the 10th and over seventy Corn Buntings roosted at Cholsey Marsh on the 23rd.

Ring Ouzel near Letcombe Bassett (c) Mark Merritt

Six Brambling were on the Downs at Scutchamers Knob on the 1st. A late pair of Swift species were seen near Benson on the 7th. A Bittern was seen from the hides at Pit 60 Standlake on the 2nd and a Great northern Diver arrived briefly at Farmoor on the 6th 

Great northern Diver Farmoor (c) Tezzer

This Sparrowhawk flew in to the changing rooms at the Calvin Klein 

underware store at the Bicester Outlet centre on the 27th before leaving. 

Picture courtesy of Becky Bond

Apparently the Sparrowhawk flew into the shop after chasing a pigeon and hit the wall at the back of the store which dazed it. After calling the RSPB and being told to take care because of the talons etc, the staff were advised to calm the bird and then cover it with a suitable cover, however the sprawk then flew up and onto the curtain rail of the fitting room. Legend then states that Becky looked at the bird which stared back at her and she said "there's the door", opened it and the bird flew straight out! They are now calling her the bird whisperer...

'A Great Piece of Kit'

by Keith Clack

It's often debated as to which is the most essential piece of kit available to birders: binoculars or telescope perhaps and the great DIM Wallace argued for the notebook. Personally my vote goes to an understanding wife and fortunately, I'm lucky to have one of the best. Since I began birding properly in 1998, Shirley has not only been supportive but has happily joined me on many trips, as long as looking at a bramble bush for hours isn't likely to be involved, and over this period she has accumulated a very useful list of her own. This has included a two day trip to the Lakes for England's last Golden Eagle, a Franklin's Gull from the car window at Radipole, two Red-flanked Bluetails, jamming into an American Cliff Swallow while on a weekend break to Portland and standing on a chair in the Infocus shop at Slimbridge for a Night Heron. All interesting, good birds and worthy of their own stories, but Shirley's true metal was shown when we visited Winspit Valley in Dorset for my first Red-breasted Flycatcher.

To start off, all was straightforward and no sign of the trauma to come. We took no time in reaching the quaint and picturesque village of Worth Maltravers and parked up in an impressive new car park replete with posh toilet block - a thing that was to gain importance at the end of our expedition. A long but scenic walk through the village and a couple of fields, brought us to the head of Winspit without problem. The weather, though gloomy and threatening, was dry but the wind was constantly increasing in strength and by the time we had reached the wooded end of the valley, was approaching gale force.

With two other birders, we searched in vain for signs of the flycatcher, even paying a brief visit to the cliff area before retreating to the shelter of the valley as the wind raged.  Here we split into two pairs and began the search again. Within a short time, the rain had began to arrive in the shape of large spots increasing quickly to violent squalls interspersed with quiet spells - so I suggested to Shirley that we should shelter in one of the small copses comprised of bushes and stunted trees to try and sit out the worst of it. Tucked deeply in the bushes all was warm, dry and sheltered and not only for the two of us: a brief burst of trilling made me turn and come face to face with the Flycatcher, no more than ten feet away! We enjoyed it's company for several minutes as it foraged among the bushes, never going far away from us as we took in all the relevant points of this delightful little bird. Remembering the other two birders, we went off to give them the glad news before setting off back to the car.

Cornish Red-breasted Flycatcher (c) Tezzer

The rain, at this point, had almost stopped so the decision was made to make all speed before things got worse. The first field contained a number of overhanging trees and bushes around the edge which gave us some shelter as each squall hit us and slowly we made our way back. This worked extremely well until we entered the second field where the path went straight up the middle towards the village and the squalls intensified in both frequency and intensity. Shirley suffered all of this in magnificent silence as we hurried on towards sanctuary and sets of dry clothing in our biding bags, in the boot of the car. This silence lasted until we reached the final style to escape the valley. At this point I turned to Shirley and said the immortal words '' almost there, are you all right mate?'' She paused and replied ''no, I'm very wet and very, very sad'' and burst into tears.

There's not a lot to say at this point and fortunately it was a quick sprint to the car and change into dry clothes in the blessed toilet block, away from the climatic mayhem that continued outside. A good lunch in a local pub helped put things right and I'm happy to say she continues to enjoy our trips although any mention of Winspit Valley produces a shudder. On the day I needed no binoculars, scope or notebook, just a great wife to share the 'fun'.