Blenheim Estate 31st October

Great white Egret 

Little Egret 2

Water Rail

Kingfisher 

(per Dave Doherty) 

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Port Meadow 31st October

Courtesy of Nick Boyd.

Avocet 14:15 (per Nick Boyd) 

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: 31st October

Headington: The Lakes
Brambling: On bird table. SP536077.

Dix Pit am - 31st Oct

22 Red-crested Pochard (15m, 7f)
 2 Goldeneye

Nuthatch Pinkhill Reserve Farmoor courtesy of John Workman.

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 31st October

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Hen Harrier: A ringtail briefly hunting over the reserve before flying low across fields to southwest until lost from view. Also 22 golden plover in field to west. 07:50.

Steve Holliday

Harwell Laboratory: 31st October

Harwell Laboratory
Firecrest

Mark Merritt

Rushy Common: 30th October

Rushy Common
Great White Egret 15:30.

Jon Hicks

Farmoor Reservoir 30th October

Courtesy of Dai. 

Marsh Harrier this afternoon (per Dai). 

Chinnor: Cement Works: 30th October

Chinnor: Cement Works
Black Redstart: Imm bird still on rooftops in Chalkpit Lane. SP752000. 10:30.
Stonechat: 1st W fem around brambles west of lake 2b. 10:30.

David Stracey

Redwing Warburg Reserve courtesy of C.J Kearns Oxfordshire Wildlife

Sarsgrove: 29th October

Sarsgrove
3 Raven: Over Sarsgrove Wood. 11:00.
6 Buzzard 11:00.
4 Red Kite 11:00.
300 Fieldfare: 200 in large flock flying high W over Sarsgrove Wood; 100 plus feeding in cultivated field next to private road to the farm. 11:00.
10 Skylark: Feeding with Fieldfare and a few Yellowhammer. 11:00.

Steve Akers

Kennington: 29th October

Kennington
Ring-necked Parakeet: In my parents garden. They watched it for about 15 minutes. 08:00.

Nick Suckling

Marston Oxford 29th October

White-tailed Eagle (the individual from the Isle of Wight release scheme) seen over Marston c13:05.

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Chinnor: Cement Works: 29th October

Chinnor: Cement Works
2 Black Redstart: Still around houses behind fishing lake, but elusive at times. 10:00.

David Stracey

Grimsbury Reservoir: 29th October

Grimsbury Reservoir
Brambling: Over NW.

Gareth Blockley

: 29th October

Neals Shaw
2 Brambling: male. SU686829. 08:08.

John Taylor

Chipping Norton: 28th October

Chipping Norton
70 Fieldfare: No sign of drake Mandarin Duck. SP283268. 11:30.

Steve Akers

Sarsgrove: 28th October

Sarsgrove
200 Fieldfare: Large flock flying high from E to W. 10:30.

Steve Akers

Otmoor. 28th. October.

.

Stonechat.

 Stonechat.  Various locations.
Kingfisher.  Wetland hide.

Greenaways at dusk.
Snipe.
2. Barn Owl.
Bittern.
2. Short Eared Owl.

Per. S.T.  R.L. P.W.  T.S  et. al.

Short Eared Owl pushed high by Crows.

Chinnor: Cement Works: 28th October

2 Black Redstart: On the rooftops of houses behind the fishing lake 10:30 (David Stracey)
Still present 15:28 (per Conor MacKenzie)  SP755002

All photos courtesy of  David Stracey.

Oxford: 28th October

1 ring-necked parakeet, flying over Cowley rd. 9:30am.

Otmoor: Sunday 27th October late afternoon

Great White Egret 16:45 (per John Kearns)
Short-eared Owl  from Greenaways across the bridleway and into Closes

Woodcock

Barn Owl  

Kingfisher

Sparrowhawk
Stonechat 2 (per Christopher Knight, John Kearns)

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Male Stonechat above and female below courtesy of Christopher Knight.

Heavily marked Meadow Pipit courtesy of Christopher Knight.

Port Meadow: 27th October

Shelduck: On northern end of the floods. First I have seen here this autumn. 12:00.
2 Goosanders appeared briefly on the floods at dusk. 20:01 (per Elizabeth Stroud)

(per Andrew Siantonas, Elizabeth Stroud)

Farmoor Reservoir 27th October

Peregrine flew over F1 (per Andy Last)
Stonechat: male. hedgerow behind shrike meadow hide.
Coot: pure white one within the group.
83 Snow Goose: feral flock grazing at south end.
2 Meadow Pipit

(per Alan Horsley)

Short-eared Owl seen recently.

Chipping Norton: 27th October

Chipping Norton
Peregrine: ad fem. 15:30.
Mandarin Duck: drk. With Mallard on the Cornwell Estate. SP283268. 16:15.
Snipe: SP283268. 16:15.
12 Golden Plover: SP283268. 16:15.
2 Grey Heron: SP283268. 16:15.
2 Fieldfare: SP283268. 16:15.
5 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 16:15.

Steve Akers

Woodstock 27th October

Brambling: fem. seen in my garden. SP447170. 16:25.

Paul Willis

Cote 27th October

Cote to Buckton road
Stonechat: f. SP547014. 14:25.

Mick Cunningham

Garsington: 27th October

Garsington
Stonechat 12:00.

Stephen Lockey

Downland South of Ashbury: 27th Oct

Merlin (m)
Peregrine (m)
10 Stonechat
29 Corn Bunting
49 Skylark
66 Linnet
4 Fieldfare

Sarsgrove: 27th October

Sarsgrove
4 Fieldfare: First of year. Winter truly here. 09:30.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 25th October

Chipping Norton
Peregrine: ad fem. Great views despite the weather. Large bird. 10:30.

Steve Akers

: 27th October

Wallingford, River Thames
Raven: Not seen, but heard calling twice - seemed to be heading south-ish. On E side of river, nr CEH buildings. SU6190. 10:40.

Mike Amphlett

Chinnor: Cement Works: 25th October

Chinnor: Cement Works
2 Stonechat: 2 around brambles west of Lake 2b. 09:30.

David Stracey

Pinkhill: 25 October

1 Water Rail

Water Rail (c) Stephen Burch

For a close-up photo and higher res images go to this page on my website

Cholsey: 24th Oct

5 Stonechat, various locations. Per Alan Dawson.

: 24th October

Neals Shaw
2 Brambling: 1m 1f. First of Autumn for area. SU686829. 12:03.

John Taylor

Farmoor. 24th October.

Black Redstart again, on concrete tower (projecting over water) east bank of F1.

Per.  Dai

Black Redstart in the rain.  Still present at 11.am, but back in the water works.

Didcot Landfill 23rd October dusk

                                                                        Caspian Gull
                                                           

rspb. Otmoor. Evening. 23rd. October.

Marsh Harrier. (m.)
Sparrowhawk.
Bittern.  (Greenaways.)
Goosander.(f.)  From first screen.
2. Barn Owl.
There has been reports of a Merlin (f.) being seen on Greenaways and over the reedbed.  No sightings this evening.

Per.  R.L.  N.G.  S.P.  T.S.

Grimsbury Reservoir: 23rd October

Grimsbury Reservoir
Woodcock: Flushed from near path in woodland, flew strongly south and lost from view.

Gareth Blockley

Siskin Warburg Reserve courtesy of Bill Lester.

Farmoor Reservoir 23rd October

Black Tern F2 13:14 (per Ewan Urquhart) 

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Rushy Common 23rd October

Great white Egret 10:58

Swallow 

(per John Prowse) 

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Charlton-on-Otmoor: 23rd October

Charlton-on-Otmoor
Probable 2 Raven: Sitting in the field behind the main hide. SP559128. 10:52.

Barry Tindall

Bicester Wetland Reserve 23rd October

203 Teal   highest total this autumn
30 Gadwall
15 Shoveler
39 Mallard
1 Little Grebe
a few Meadow Pipits passing

Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Standlake Pit 60: 23rd October

Standlake Pit 60
Brambling: Heard flying over. 10:19.

Mick Cunningham

Otmoor: 22nd October

Otmoor
Marsh Harrier 10:07.

John Kearns

Aston Upthorpe Downs PM - 22nd Oct

Stonechat (f) above Juniper Valley from 14:00pm
Redstart (m) below Lowbury Hill at 16:00pm (per Sally Taylor)
Small Linnet flock c8 birds
Plenty of Redwing and Fieldfare

Botley: 22nd October

Botley
2 Brambling: Matthew Arnold School. 17:27.

D Moden

Balscote nature reserve: 22nd October

Male Merlin seen twice, at about 11am and 1pm.  Perched briefly on tall bush on reserve then flew off and spooked flocks of Lapwings, Skylarks and gulls on adjoining fields.
Also Stonechat, Redwing,
Mike Pollard and Kyle Smith

Juniper Valley: 22nd October

Juniper Valley
2 Stonechat: 1m 1f. 13:44.

John Taylor

Standlake: 21st October

Standlake
164 Fieldfare: Forecast looked good for thrushes heading NW but I could not do proper vismig so did casual (and sometimes naked-eye) observations which revealed constant NW-WNW thrush passage - some too high to identify to species but these noted here were my first autumn fieldfares locally between 11 am and 3pm. 19:28.

Mick Cunningham

20th October: Thames at Chimney/Duxford

A Cattle Egret seen in flight heading south at sunset on Sunday evening. May still be in area

Black Redstart, Farmoor 20th October

14:15-15:00

Showing well inside the Waterworks compound.

Farmoor. 20th. October.

Black Redstart (f.)  North end of waterworks, viewed from eastern side of F1 and still present this afternoon.

Per. Dai.

Cote: 20th October

Cote
8 Grey Partridge: On road between cote and buckland. Saw then 4 yesterday also. Flood water receding so large gulls down by a third. 14:00.

Mick Cunningham

Standlake Pit 60: 20th October

Standlake Pit 60
Garganey: Still here with c half dozen wigeon. Floods receded a lot on tracks but water still up to hides. 14:00.

Mick Cunningham

Jay at Radley courtesy of Mark Chivers.

Waterstock: River Thame: 20th October

Waterstock: River Thame
3 Goosander 09:00.
Mandarin Duck 09:00.
2 Raven 09:00.

Nick Marriner

Otmoor rspb 20th October

No sign of the Bearded Tits today (per Tezzer).
Apparently there were several sightings
yesterday which unfortunately went unreported.

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Port Meadow: 20th October

Port Meadow
3 Pintail: m & 2f.

Adam Hartley

Balscote Quarry Reserve 19th October

Merlin

Peregrine 

(per Ian Hobday)

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Port Meadow: 19th October

Port Meadow
2 Egyptian Goose: Seen briefly late afternoon. First for the year on the Meadow.

Wigeon and Teal are starting to return and there were at least 20 Shoveller. No gull roost to speak of so far.

Adam Hartley

Redshank Farmoor Reservoir courtesy of John Workman.

Cote: 19th October

Cote
16:20 Lesser Black-backed Gull: Count actually from Cote to Chimney and along (closed) road towards trout inn. Several fields have been flooded bringing in gulls. LBBs dominated with other LWHGs poorly represented ie YLG 28 HG 9 Many BHGs very few common and no scarce species. 17:53.

Mick Cunningham

Standlake Pit 60: 19th October

Standlake Pit 60
Garganey: fem/imm. Associating with wigeon and mallards. Whether the recent juv is hard to tell. Been away at spurn and, given what I saw there, I checked this bird for blue winged teal. But looks like garganey to me. The pit, Langley lane and area around LL is flooded. Underwater pot holes have been created on LL so please watch ankles. Flooded pit itself pretty devoid of birds. 17:40.
Barnacle Goose: Flew in to roost with greylags. 17:40.
2 Pochard: m. Brought in by high water. 17:40.

Mick Cunningham

Otmoor rspb 18th October

Bearded Tit 2 (m&f) this morning along the bridleway near to the turning for the 1st screen.

(per Peter Milligan)

All photos courtesy of Peter Milligan.

Port Meadow: 18th October

Port Meadow
40 Barnacle Goose: Large flock grazing on a drier patch of grass amongst marshy areas north of the main body of floods. Lots of usual canada and greylag geese as well. 16:15.

Andrew Siantonas

Farmoor Reservoir 18th October

Rock Pipit courtesy of John Workman.

Sarsgrove: 18th October

Sarsgrove
Stonechat: fem. 10:30.

Steve Akers

Woodcote 17th October

Ring Ouzel reported in Woodcote yesterday (per RBA) 

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Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 18th October

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Merlin: male. A male merlin in spectacular chase of passerines over the reserve. Caught a pipit/skylark c20 metres in air before landing in an adjoining field. Also 31 lapwing. 08:50.

Steve Holliday

Cholsey: 17th Oct

2 Stonechat
1 Little Egret

PC&AD

Warburg Reserve: 17th October

Warburg Reserve
2 Marsh Tit 16:40.

John Kearns

Lollingdon: 16th Oct

Courtesy of Paul Chandler Cholsey Wildlife

Ring Ousel (m)

PC & AD

Port Meadow 16th October

Short-eared Owl in Burgess Field c17:00 (per Phil Barnett). 

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Sarsgrove: 16th October

Sarsgrove
Stonechat: fem. 10:30.
5 Skylark 10:30.

Steve Akers

Chipping Norton: 16th October

Chipping Norton
2 Stonechat: pair. On hedge near small lake on Cornwell shooting Estate - good views from Bridleway. 13:30.
14 Meadow Pipit 13:30.
Kestrel: male. 13:30.
Mute Swan 13:30.
12 Long-tailed Tit 13:30.

Steve Akers

Sarsgrove: 16th October

Sarsgrove
Stonechat: fem. 10:30.
5 Skylark 10:30.

Steve Akers

Stanton St. John: 16th October

Stanton St. John
300 Golden Plover: circa 300 Golden Plover in the worked field at SP593099 for the fifth day. SP593099. 11:00.

David Brown

: 16th October

Stoke Row Farm
Stonechat: male. SU681845. 15:34.

John Taylor

Chinnor: Cement Works: 15th October

Chinnor: Cement Works
3 Stonechat: 2m 1f around brambles west of Lake 2b. 09:30.

David Stracey

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 15th October

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
Great White Egret 12:20.

Nic Hallam

Oxford, 15th October

8:05am - 2 peregrines flying low around Magdalen tower and botanical garden, one carrying prey (possibly a pigeon).  

Sarsgrove: 14th October

Sarsgrove
5 Swallow: Flying through low and fast. 11:00.
Common Sandpiper: Belated report of single Common Sandpiper at small pond/spring which is the source of Sars Brook close to Sarsgrove Farm - presumably on passage. 11:00.

Steve Akers

: 14th October

Bletchingdon
3 Grey Partridge: Small covey flew up from hedge while I was running - not seen them here before. SP512175. 11:15.

David Watkinson

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 14th October

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Brambling: At least one flew through, part of a small passage of finches, meadow pipits and skylarks. More finches around today with flocks of 48 goldfinch and c20 linnet. Lapwing flock has built to 48 and a male stonechat is on site today. 08:20.

Steve Holliday

Headington: Warneford Hospital: 13th October

Headington: Warneford Hospital
Little Owl: Seen briefly in flight. 18:15.

Isaac West

Sarsgrove: 13th October

Sarsgrove
36 Golden Plover: Flying in typical in-line formation overhead. 10:30.
Chiffchaff 10:30.

Steve Akers

rspb. Otmoor.

Merlin.  (Greenaways)
30+ Golden Plover.
No further reports of Hen Harrier (f.) since Thursday.

Per  R.L.  T.S.

Sonning Eye GPs: 12th October

Sonning Eye GPs
Black Tern: juv. A late bird but seen well enough to rule out surinamensis. 10:15.

Marek Walford

Bicester Wetland Reserve 12th October

Ducks look happy!

49 Gadwall
13 Shoveler
2 Wigeon
87 Teal
20 Moorhen
2 Heron
1 Cetti's Warbler
1 Sparrowhawk
Green and GSW

Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Cholsey: Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve: 11th October

Cholsey: Cholsey Marsh Nature Reserve
2 Egyptian Goose: 1m 1f. 11:19.

John Taylor

Otmoor rspb 10th October

Hen Harrier r/t over reedbed 16:30 (per Ron Louch)

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Chinnor: Cement Works: 9th October

Chinnor: Cement Works
4 Stonechat: 3m 1f around brambles west of Lake 2b. 14:30.
Barnacle Goose: 1 with flock of Canada Geese Lake2b. Presume Cat C bird, showing red and silver rings. 14:30.

David Stracey

Bicester Wetland Reserve October 9th

120 Teal
36 Gadwall
10 Shoveler
2 Wigeon
2 Heron
1 male Sparrowhawk being mobbed by party of Magpies

Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Adderbury: 8th October

Adderbury
Probable 4 Raven: Near Stilgoes Farm. 23:34.

Paul Conlan

Balscote nature reserve: 8th October

Male Ring Ouzel seen briefly at 11:40 in bushes at south-east corner (along trail from screen).  Not seen since despite searching surrounding area.
Also:
8 Snipe

Pit 60 Bittern Taken Yesterday

Courtesy of Sam Prior

Headington: 7th October

Ring Ouzel reported in the area behind Headington crematorium at 15:00, per Birdguides.

Chinnor: Cement Works: 7th October

Chinnor: Cement Works
2 Stonechat: 2 males around brambles west of Lake 2b. 15:00.
5 Swallow: Flying south. 15:00.
3 House Martin: Flying south. 15:00.

David Stracey

Standlake Pit 60: 6th October

Standlake Pit 60
Bittern: Landed opposite small hide between break in the reeds. 13:30.

Sam Prior

Farmoor Reservoir 7th October

Red-breasted Merganser at Farmoor today

Courtesy of Peter Alfrey. 

Henley Road GPs: 7th October

Henley Road GPs
9 Mandarin Duck: 7m+2f. 10:20.

Marek Walford

Farmoor Reservoir 7th October

Red-breasted Merganser (per RBA) 

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Oxford 6th October

South Park, 5:30pm
1 peregrine flying just above tree height heading toward city centre
2 ravens mobbed by crows
1 sparrowhawk

Chipping Norton: 6th October

Chipping Norton
5 Snipe: On Cornwell Estate. 18:00.
3 Grey Heron 18:00.
5 Teal 18:00.
3 Kestrel 18:00.
Green Woodpecker 18:00.

Steve Akers

Blenheim: Queen Elizabeth Island: 6th October

Blenheim: Queen Elizabeth Island
Cetti's Warbler: calling from the island.

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
Little Egret
7 Little Grebe
53 Shoveler
Kingfisher
73 Gadwall
7 Wigeon

Bob Pomfret

Otmoor: 6th October

Otmoor
Pintail: eclipsed drake. at first screen.
35 Snipe: at first screen.
80 Lapwing
5 Stonechat: at least five on Greenaways.
3 Cetti's Warbler: heard in song.

Ian Elkins

Headington: Warneford Hospital: 6th October

Headington: Warneford Hospital
27 Redwing 09:30.
2 Skylark 09:30.
2 Swallow 09:30.
Meadow Pipit 09:30.
2 Lesser Redpoll 09:30.
3 Chiffchaff 09:30.

Isaac West

Sarsgrove: 6th October

Sarsgrove
15 Meadow Pipit 10:30.
10 Swallow: Flying through heading South. 10:30.
50 Goldfinch 10:30.
2 Kestrel: One persued by two Rook. 10:30.

Steve Akers

A40: Carterton turn: 6th October

A40: Carterton turn
2 Corn Bunting: SP274085. 08:34.
Stonechat: SP274085. 08:34.

George Best

New Marston: New Marston Meadows: 5th October

New Marston: New Marston Meadows
5 Ring-necked Parakeet: Noisy group in area of Rainbow Bridge. 23:42.
6 Teal: all fem. First of the winter, arrived same week as rain revived their preferred pool. 23:42.
Snipe: First of winter. 23:42.
2 Chiffchaff 23:42.
Blackcap: male. 23:42.
2 House Martin: Also 4 other martins, not ided due to poor views. 23:42.

Tom Evans

Otmoor, 5th October

10:00-11:30

Greenaways;

Hobby

First Screen;

Common Snipe (20+)
Water Rail
Cetti's warbler (3)
Chiffchaff (4)
Wigeon (4)

Farmoor AM - 5th Oct

2 Rock Pipit
3 Dunlin
Water Rail from Pinkhill Hide

per The Wickster's Walkers

Dunlin

Barnacle Geese

Rock Pipit (record shot)

4 Rock Pipit along causeway mid-afternoon (per RBA)

: 4th October

Neals Farm Fields
Raven: SU683829. 19:03.

John Taylor

Farmoor Reservoir 4th October

Rock Pipit along causeway 16:58 (per Dai)
Also present yesterday (per John Workman)

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Wantage: Chain Hill: 2nd October

Wantage: Chain Hill
Whinchat 13:00.

Nick Lowton

Standlake Pit 60: 3 Oct AM

1 Green Sand
1 Little Egret

Distant Great Crested Grebe with large fish!

Lark Hill 3rd October

5 Stonechat
c70 Golden Plover
c50 Meadow Pipit
c100 Swallow
Yellow-legged Gull (3w)

Otmoor: 3rd October

Otmoor
20 Swallow: 20 plus from second hide. SP558140. 14:47.

Adrian Johnstone

Farmoor Goldcrest

Courtesy of John Workman

Northmoor: 3rd October

Northmoor
27 Redwing: Early morning vis attempt Crawley no good. But just had 27 redwing milling over church before heading south west Anyone else had late am arrival? 12:00.

Mick Cunningham

Sarsgrove: 2nd October

Sarsgrove
47 Meadow Pipit 09:00.

Steve Akers

: 2nd October

Neals Farm
Raven: SU683829. 18:20.

John Taylor

Crawley: 2nd October

Crawley
Merlin: juv/female. Trying yet another site for vis. Trickle mips and chaffs south on Monday but need to determine if only local. Today, wind wrong and sky too clear but, at c 7 30 am Merlin flew south after a brief tussle with kestrel. SP330137. 13:09.

Mick Cunningham

Stanton St John 2nd October

Probable Eagle sp reported Stanton St John

10:30 flew ESE towards Thame (per Birdguides).

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Cumnor: 2nd October

2 Ring-necked Parakeets over the village this morning, per Cindy Cave

Balscote Nature Reserve: 1st October

09:45 - 11:30
Whinchat

 2 Stonechat

 
Snipe
9 Golden Plover
50+ Meadow Pipits over

Mike Pollard

Grimsbury Reservoir: 1st October

Grimsbury Reservoir
Redwing: Dropped in to trees on eastern side of the river, c.07:30. 11:12.

Gareth Blockley

September Review

Autumn passage Wryneck © and courtesy of Ron Louch

September in Oxfordshire stayed on the quiet side for much of the time, but in amongst all the expected sightings for the time of year a number of notable and good county records stood out. Highlights included Manx Shearwater, two separate Wryneck, White-tailed Eagle, Knot at two sites and Little Stint; while passerine movement continued to keep our assorted patch watchers on their toes.

The month opened with an outstanding item when a Manx Shearwater visited Farmoor Reservoir on the afternoon and evening of 3rd. Our bird of the month was the first active and observable one of it's kind in Oxon for 10 years, the previous two occurring in the respective Septembers of 2009 and 2004.

Manx Shearwater, courtesy of Terry Sherlock
Click on any image to enlarge

 

A mystery then developed through the review period when a Manx was reported to have been taken into care near Oxford, then a dead one was found at Blenheim (first site record) towards month's end. It seems unlikely that three individuals should occur locally in such quick succession but whether these were one and the same bird is unclear. An exhausted juvenile Gannet was also rescued in Wantage on 27th.

September is when southbound Wryneck make their skulking and cryptic way through Great Britain and are a favoured patch target everywhere. There were two Oxon records this month, the earlier of which was in the first week from a private garden in Wroxton near the border with Northants.

Wyneck at Wroxton, courtesy of Jan Hall

On 19th news of an unknown Otmoor notable leaked out via Facebook and this was in fact a second Wryneck. Found near the RSPB reserve's first viewing screen by a visitor in the early afternoon, the bird was sighted briefly by just two diligent observers twice more before dusk. But otherwise it remained elusive and was not seen again after that date.

This month's second Wryneck © and courtesy of Ron Louch

An inevitable outcome of August's re-introduction of six juvenile White-tailed Eagle to the Isle of Wight will be many more "non-countable" records as the satellite tracked raptors range further afield. One of these adventured as far as Essex via central London soon after their release, and the first of the group to be noted in Oxon airspace was seen over Cholsey on 15th. More sightings will clearly be something to look out for in the months ahead.

White-tailed Eagle (archive photo) © and courtesy of Mike Crutch

15 White Stork, thought to originate from another release scheme in the Surrey / Sussex area, also flew over Cholsey at dusk on 18th. So that location may possibly have mystic powers of attraction, though rather more likely some very observant local birders. A Great White Egret was seen in Blenheim Park on 29th. Another long-legged item, our annual visiting pair of Common Crane, departed Otmoor on 6th for their wintering ground the Somerset Levels.

The Best of the Rest

Juvenile Ruff and Knot at Farmoor Reservoir, courtesy of Peter Law

Passage waders continued to trickle through the county at Farmoor Reservoir and other sites, but with no real headliners amongst their ranks. The highlight came towards the end of the third week when juvenile Ruff, Knot and Little Stint - each good county records - could all be encountered closely along the causeway. The reservoir margins are badly affected by blue green algae again this autumn as the pictures show. Two Knot also stopped off briefly at the Appleford pits.

Farmoor Ruff, courtesy of John Workman
and Knot, courtesy of Peter Law

Little Stint, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Wader sightings elsewhere included:

• Common and Green Sandpiper at Chinnor Cement Works (4th)
• Greenshank and Green Sandpiper at Lower Radley (9th)
• Black-tailed Godwit and Green Sandpiper at LWV Pit 60, Standlake (17th)
• Black-tailed Godwit on Otmoor from 21st and Little Ringed Plover earlier in the month
• The aforementioned Knots in the Appleford working GPs complex
• An early Jack Snipe at a private site on 27th

Two Knot at Appleford, courtesy of Badger.

Otmoor Black-tailed Godwit, courtesy of Terry Sherlock

Continued Tern passage was very light indeed with just two Black Tern and an Arctic Tern recorded this month at Farmoor on 12th, then an Arctic again on 29th with another at Pit 60. And there were no sightings of the annual early autumn staple, Little Gull at all.

Garganey at LWV Pit 60, courtesy of Mick Cunningham

The prime wildfowl performer in September was a Garganey at Pit 60 for much of the month. Farmoor hosted a Common Scoter on 12th and three Shelduck on 19th, while Mandarin continued to be viewed at Sonning Eye and Henley Road GPs in south-east Oxon. The category C Barnacle Geese that often frequent the Thames Valley west of Oxford became an attractive feature of the feral flocks at Farmoor through this month.

Barnacle Geese, courtesy of Peter Law

Migrant passerines maintained a strong presence as in August. Prominent amongst these were Northern Wheatear, with records from 14 locations including best counts of 13 at Lark Hill, Wantage (11 & 13th) and eight at Sarsgrove near Chipping Norton (5th).

Northern Wheatear, courtesy of Jeremy Dexter

Common Redstart were logged at eight locations, while Whinchat continued to be noted in various places including five at Lark Hill on 13th and seven in the Otmoor basin on 22nd. Numbers of resident Stonechat appeared to build ahead of winter, with sightings coming from nine separate sites county-wide, peaking at month's end when 14 birds were counted at Otmoor on 30th. The last named included only the second site record for Stonesfield Common on 15th

Redstart (fem), courtesy of John Workman
and Stonechat, courtesy of Alan Dawson

 

Amongst pre-departure parties of Yellow Wagtail, an individual of the continental Blue-headed Wagtail taxa was frequenting Port Meadow in amongst the cattle there. Patch workers also noted a significant autumn influx of Meadow Pipit, with counts of up to 100 at Sarsgrove in the north, 60 at Lark Hill in the south (21st) and 60 in Port Meadow (30th). And as in August Spotted Flycatcher continued to be recorded in above average numbers at multiple sites.

Blue-headed Wagtail, courtesy of Adam Hartley
and Spotted Flycatcher, courtesy of David Stracey

 

This review's novelty item is Farmoor's leucistic Coot that has become a fixture there in recent months. And finally, following their breeding success in central Oxford this year, five Ring-necked Parakeet observed in flight over Banbury on 19th suggested those colourful characters' further colonisation of our county.

Leucistic Coot, courtesy of David Hastings

So now just one autumn passage month remains and as the evenings draw in the upcoming few weeks are sometimes described as the best time of year for truly remarkable sightings, though possibly not as far inland as Oxfordshire. But with a Black-winged Stilt present in neighbouring Berkshire for much of this review period, and a Long-billed Dowitcher in Gloucestershire in the final week, we can but hope for something a little out of the ordinary in October.

Peter Law