September Review & News

The peak passage month just past produced a quite extraordinary sequence of sightings around Oxfordshire, though few of them were generally accessible. This review will focus unashamedly and in order of appearance on those headline birds that perhaps serve as a reminder of Oxon Birding's traditional purpose as a log of more notable records in our county. For this impressive tally of Osprey, Sandwich Tern, Wryneck, Manx Shearwater, Lesser Yellowlegs, Gannet, Lammergeier, Yellow-browed Warbler, Cattle Egret and more read on.

Farmoor Osprey (juv), courtesy of Roger Wyatt
click on any image to enlarge

The scarcity conveyor belt began to roll on the evening of 3rd when a southbound juvenile Osprey demonstrated its lack of experience at Farmoor Reservoir. It made a number of unsuccessful attempts to deplete the fishery's Trout stocks before being lost to view. Some birders who expected the visitor to roost nearby returned the following morning and were rewarded with a repeat performance, though by all accounts the young raptor went on its way still hungry.

Sandwich Tern, courtesy of Bryan Manston

A day later on 5th seven Sandwich Tern spent the morning at Farmoor, the first of several reports this month but the only actual sighting. Osprey was seen overhead there again that day and another passed high over Grimsbury Reservoir in Banbury on 6th.

One of the top September prizes for patch watchers anywhere is Wryneck. Oxon's only confirmed record this month was found at a private site near Wantage on 5th, and Eds were alerted in time to record the event herein. Sadly no more of this particular autumn favourite offered themselves more availably through the remainder of the review period.

Wryneck, courtesy of Badger

Back at Farmoor, the county airwaves hotted up again on 11th when a very twitchable Manx Shearwater spent much of the day on site. Though viewable mostly distantly, this was a popular draw and a welcome county tick for some Oxon birders who had missed the more obliging Manx at the same location 12 months previously. Two as distant Black-necked Grebe provided added interest through the same day, then all three birds moved on overnight.

Manx Shearwater, courtesy of Steve Burch

The month's stand out wader record also came from Farmoor Reservoir on 15th when Oxon's first Lesser Yellowlegs since November 2010 was found early in the day along the causeway. But this soon flew and so proved to be a single observer sighting as our possible bird of the month could not be relocated when reinforcements arrived. Other more notable wader sightings were a Knot over Farmoor on 4th and four more on 11th, and a Grey Plover over Cutteslowe on 21st; while passage of more frequently encountered species in the group remained steady.

Lesser Yellowlegs (above & below), courtesy of Terry Sherlock

The September sequence of events lurched further towards the bizarre with two quite exceptional fly-throughs. Firstly, strong north-easterly winds on the morning of 19th brought a juvenile Gannet to the Thame Valley near Waterstock. This blocker for some county listers was seen to head west over Wheatley and hence in the direction of Farmoor and the west Oxon gravel pit sites, but it was not seen again.

Then on 21st came possibly the most curious occurrence of all when the summer's long staying Peak District Lammergeier passed through Oxon airspace. Having been reported a day earlier heading south over Leicestershire, the errant juvenile was now sighted at around 12:30pm circling fairly low over Eynsham to the west of Oxford by a local birder. It was being mobbed by other raptors and soon drifted away also not to be seen again after the news went out.

One of the most popular and newsworthy birds nationally of 2020, whatever its provenance first announced itself in similar circumstances over a West Midlands garden back in early July, but that observer had a camera. Pictures tell a thousand words as the saying goes, so this record was cited as "probable" and both Oxfordshire and the finder missed out on lasting fame. Later sightings around Norfolk on 28th confirmed the star visitor had yet to depart England for the European mainland.

Yellow-browed Warbler, courtesy of Isaac West

Earlier on 21st back at Farmoor, the reservoir's fine run of form continued when two Oxon birders found a Yellow-browed Warbler during a marked national movement. This particular migrant was first seen in a hedge near the car park and could not be relocated despite searching, but record shots were forthcoming. There was another record from a private site in Faringdon a week later.

Cattle Egret, courtesy of Andrew Siantonas

Next up a first Cattle Egret for Port Meadow was discovered during the afternoon of 23rd, and it proved to be twitchable. A group of the site's regular watchers re-found the latest of an increasingly frequent item in the early evening before it eventually flew off south. Elsewhere Great White Egret were logged from five different Oxon sites - Cassington GPs, Blenheim Park, Otmoor, Standlake and Appleford GPs - through this quite outstanding review period.

Great White Egrets at Otmoor ↑ courtesy of Paul Wyeth
and Appleford GPs ↓ courtesy of Conor MacKenzie

The Best of the Rest

Briefly, other local and seasonal news around the county majored on wildfowl, some more familiar raptors and passerine movement. Garganey maintained its strong 2020 presence locally with an individual viewed regularly at Bicester Wetland Reserve to 12th and other sightings at Otmoor (3rd) and Cassington GPs (11th). A female Red-crested Pochard was logged a number of times at Appleford GPs and the category C5 flock of nine Ruddy Shelduck remained in Blenheim Park throughout.

Garganey at BWR, courtesy of John Friendship Taylor

Ruddy Shelduck at Blenheim, courtesy of Peter Law

Amongst raptors the juvenile Marsh Harrier was noted again on the Downs near Letcombe Regis on 6th, with another seen at Balscote Quarry the same day and an adult over Wytham Wood on 12th. The first returning Merlin of the autumn were reported from Cholsey (7th), Faringdon (10th) and Childrey (20th).

Yellow Wagtail, courtesy of Jim Hutchins

And so we come to smaller passerines, this being the time of year when their contribution to the birding landscape alters significantly. Amongst soon to depart species Yellow Wagtail made an especially strong showing right through September, being recorded at 19 different sites with double figure counts at six of those and three figure reed bed roosts at Otmoor on two occasions. Tree Pipit were noted in five places, mostly as fly-overs on call. Spotted Flycatcher continued to feature from 13 separate locations, the biggest party being four at Muswell Hill on 14th.

Amongst incoming birds Siskin produced an unusual volume of records from 15 different sites, while Redpoll were seen or heard at 8. The best counts (excluding vis- and noc-mig records) were 35 Siskin at Bletchingdon Park on 23rd, and 12 Redpoll at Blenheim on 21st. Common Crossbill also returned to traditional strongholds of Bagley Wood, Boars Hill and Headington.

Leucistic House Sparrow, courtesy of Nick Truby

At month's end Caspian Gull began to be picked out again at Grimsbury Reservoir, Appleford GPs and Farmoor Reservoir; and the first Redwing of autumn were reported over Banbury and Oxford. Finally the September novelty item is a House Sparrow from Oxfordshire's apparent leucistic hotspot of Bicester. This review has assumed a more traditional format because with all the headline birds there's been a much better story to tell. What now will October bring?

Peter Law

Threat to the Lye Valley

The Precious Lye Valley SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), Headington, Oxford is an Ice Age relict calcareous spring fed fen, under threat from a 10 house Oxford City Council development next to it, approved due incompetence, ignorance and callousness towards the green space deprived children who live nearby. Enjoy its beauty in this short 7 minute movie and appreciate the threat it is under. 

Please join Friends of Lye Valley (FOLV) to save this precious place at: 

email: friendsoflyevalley@yahoo.co.uk
web: www.friendsoflyevalley.org.uk 

 

 

Chilterns Champions
Outstanding in their field
Saturday 24th October (9.30 - 16.00)

 

The event is free (and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund)

Anyone is welcome to attend,we ask they register beforehand at: 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chilterns-champions-outstanding-in-their-fields-tickets-117674927877

The full programme is still to be confirmed but will cover: 

• Why Citizen Science matters - Chris Packham will share why he is so passionate about Citizen Science and chair a panel looking at the impact Citizen Scientists’ makes.
  
  
• Looking out for wildlife - Mick Jones (Chair, BMERC Advisory Group) and speakers from BTO, Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife, CEH, Chilterns Conservation Board, BBOWT will look at how Citizen Science informs population trends and habitat management
  
  
• Measuring the flow - Allen Beechey (Chiltern Chalk Streams Project officer) will lead a session sharing the research Citizen Scientists are supporting to better understand Chilterns Chalk Streams
  
  
• Hands on heritage - Wendy Morrison (Project Manager, Beacons to the Past) will lead a panel of speakers looking at how Citizen Science is at the forefront of groundbreaking new work piecing together the heritage of the Chilterns
  
  
• Inspiring the next generation - John Shaw (Chiltern Rangers) will chair a session led by the future stars of Citizen Science. A panel of young volunteers will share why Citizen Science matters to them and how we inspire a new generation