August Review & News

Roseate Tern courtesy of Jeremy Dexter

The return migration month of August started with a flourish as two local megas landed in the county in quick succession. Things then settled into a rather more predictable pattern before some further notable birds passed through towards month's end.

Bird of the month has to be the gorgeous adult Roseate Tern that delighted a small crowd of observers at Farmoor Reservoir on the afternoon and evening of 9th. This was the ninth record for Oxfordshire. Though there have been other mostly brief sightings in the recent past, this latest bird was by far the easiest to connect with, allowing several county listers to add it to their life totals. 2018 has incidentally been a modern record breeding year for the species in Britain.

Three days earlier on 6th, a Pectoral Sandpiper was viewed late in the day and filmed distantly on active gravel workings near Appleford. This is a site with no public access and parking at the viewpoint is very limited, so any mobilisation of the county's finest would have been problematic. In any case there was no sign of the bird the following day. The most recent previous Oxon records of Pec Sand were three individuals in 2007.

Pectoral Sandpiper courtesy of Badger

After this excitement a lull in notable migrants ensued until on 22nd a Pied Flycatcher visited a garden in Chinnor. There were also earlier sightings of that locally scarce passerine at Lockinge near Wantage on 10th and 11th.

Pied Flycatcher courtesy of David Stracey

On 25th a Wryneck was found on private land in Abingdon. Due to site sensitivities the bird was also untwitchable, but with good numbers currently being recorded nationally this rather cryptic species will be one to look out for over the coming weeks.

Wryneck courtesy of BB

The month's most popular migrant with our photographers was possibly a juvenile Knot that arrived at Farmoor Reservoir on 25th and remained until month's end. Like many young birds born in the remote wastes of the Tundra and heading south, this plump and rather immaculate wader displayed a total indifference to human attention. It thus afforded more of the kind of close picture opportunities the site is known for at this time year.

Knot courtesy of Peter Law

The Best of the Rest
 

On Otmoor the first Short-eared Owls of approaching autumn, two birds were noted on 27th. Meanwhile the RSPB reserve's summer pair of Common Crane were seen stretching their wings, presumably prior to departure, a number of times towards the end of the month. We can only wish these much loved visitors better luck with raising young in 2019.

Common Cranes courtesy of Moth Clark

At Farmoor juvenile Mediterranean Gull were logged twice on 18th and 28th, then Black Tern passage resumed as the month closed (31st).

Mediterranean Gull courtesy of Jeremy Dexter

Black Tern courtesy of Jeremy Dexter

There was a steady wader passage throughout August. Prominent amongst the regular species - at wetland sites throughout the county and Farmoor Reservoir - were Common and Green Sandpiper and Greenshank; while Sanderling, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit were all well represented.

Greenshank courtesy of Nick Truby

Common Sandpiper courtesy of Jim Hutchins

Green Sandpiper courtesy of Mick Cunningham

Sanderling courtesy of Peter Law

Turnstone courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Black-tailed Godwit courtesy of Tezzer

Our dedicated patch watchers across Oxfordshire also turned up a constant stream of small passerine records. Notable amongst these were Common Redstart, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear, as is usual in this period. As in July good numbers of Spotted Flycatcher including family parties were logged at various locations.

Redstart courtesy of Jim Hutchins

Whinchat courtesy of Badger

Wheatear courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

All this serves to demonstrate just what can be seen in the countryside in late summer if everything is checked thoroughly enough, though I for one prefer to let others do most of the hard work! As autumn passage continues through September and into October we will all be hoping for a few rare waders or passerines to further enliven the pages of this blog.

Meet Our New Regular Monthly Reviewer

Peter Law has now agreed to become the regular compiler of this monthly review for Oxon Birding. But contributions from other local birders remain very welcome since different styles and viewpoints can only enhance the quality of our county web-site. So if anyone else would like to have a go at any time, please contact either Adam or Jason.

Peter Law

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