March Review & News

Newly arrived Northern Wheatear, courtesy of Paul Chandler 

The first passage month of 2021 in Oxfordshire produced a varied and interesting medley of new season and notable sightings. Starting with March migrants, Sand Martin were recorded herein from 3rd / 4th and Little Ringed Plover from 17th with early records of each in Port Meadow. A House Martin there on 8th was way ahead of schedule, and the year's first Oxon Swallow was logged at Farmoor Reservoir on 23rd. Good numbers of incoming Wheatear passed through several locations from 25th including 14 in one day at the classic site of Lollingdon Hill near Cholsey.

Little Ringed Plover at Farmoor Reservoir ↑ courtesy of Ewan Urquhart
and with a Ringed Plover on Port Meadow ↓ courtesy of Thomas Miller
Click on any image to enlarge

Amongst those eagerly awaited vanguards Little Ringed Plover were seen in seven different locations across the county, a best tally being up to seven in Port Meadow on 28th. The first major falls of Sand Martin occurred when in excess of 900 were counted at Farmoor, then another 700 plus at Standlake GPs towards the end of this review period.

Glossy Ibis over Otmoor, courtesy of Terry Sherlock

Video courtesy of Badger.

Moving on to notables, one contender for bird of the month was a Glossy Ibis observed around the Otmoor basin. This was first spotted in flight on 12th from the RSPB reserve's second screen. Then it settled in a non-accessible area to the immediate north, becoming viewable mostly distantly from a right of way east of Oddington to 23rd. The same bird was also seen in more usually visited areas a few times before resettling after 24th on The Closes where it pulled in plenty of admirers.

Glossy Ibis on The Closes, courtesy of Peter Alfrey

Black-necked Grebes, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Another candidate were three smart Black-necked Grebe that arrived late morning on 23rd at Farmoor. Breeding plumage birds are a spring site speciality there and always a delight to encounter in any Oxon season. This trio remained for the rest of that day but had moved on by the following morning. A winter plumage bird also dropped in there on 31st.

Avocets over Port Meadow, courtesy of Christopher Knight

Video courtesy of Gnome

Wader passage was steady throughout March. Top billing in this group must go a party of five Avocet which spent much of 7th on the Port Meadow floods. After departing they were also seen moving through Farmoor Reservoir on their way out of our county. Another Avocet visited Otmoor at month's end. Black-tailed Godwit in stunning summer plumage were seen at several sites with 20+ counts on different dates on Otmoor, as well as up to 16 Ruff there. Spotted Redshank visited Farmoor on 21st and Otmoor from 29th.

Black-tailed Godwit on Port Meadow ↑ courtesy of Thomas Miller
and at Moreton golf course ↓ courtesy of Luke Marriner

Lone Brent and White-fronted Geese continued to associate with the Farmoor feral flocks. Another seven White-fronts were found there on 3rd but soon moved on. Up to six were recorded on Otmoor through to 25th and a singleton at Sutton Courtenay on 21st. A Brent also visited Otmoor on 24th. A latest Cattle Egret was seen near Woodstock on 30th.

Brent Goose at Farmoor, courtesy of Dave Murphy

White-fronted Geese at Farmoor ↑ courtesy of Ewan Urquhart
and the regular first winter bird ↓ courtesy of Peter Law

In other wildfowl news two Smew were logged at Henley Road GPs again on 2nd. The long staying pair of Ring-necked Duck remained at Radley GPs all month, while the three wintering Scaup were last reported together from Dix Pit on 14th. A Ruddy Shelduck of unknown provenance visited Otmoor on 25th, and migrating Common Scoter were heard in flight over Headington, Cholsey and Banbury.

Mediterranean ↑ and Little ↓ Gulls in Port Meadow, courtesy of Thomas Miller

March is traditionally a good month for Mediterranean Gull records. This year up to four were reported regularly at Farmoor and other sightings came from Port Meadow, Radley GPs and Blenheim Park. Early Little Gull were noted again at Otmoor (13th), and both Farmoor and Blenheim on various dates. Caspian Gulls continued to occur at their usual sites. Farmoor also played host to two Kittiwake on 16th. Another notable find there was a Sandwich Tern briefly on 28th.

Farmoor Kittiwake ↑ courtesy of Ewan Urquhart
and Sandwich Tern ↓ courtesy of Mark Pidgeon

Raptor records included a new visit to Oxon airspace by a White-tailed Eagle from the Isle of Wight release scheme, a female (G318) being seen over the Downs crossing the border with Berkshire on 6th. A ringtail Hen Harrier continued to frequent RSPB Otmoor to 22nd at least, and away from there a Marsh Harrier was logged at Standlake GPs on 6 & 7th. Our first north-bound Ospreys of the year were tracked over the mid-Cherwell valley on 27th and Port Meadow two days later. Up to three Short-eared Owl were reported from two locations on the Downs. 

White-tailed Eagle, courtesy of Mark Merritt

Short-eared Owl, courtesy of Roger Wyatt

More unusual passerine sightings included a Water Pipit seen again on Otmoor (7th), three Common Crossbill in Coxwell Wood near Faringdon (14th) and a pair of Black Redstart (m & f) around Chinnor Cement Works from 25th. Wintering Brambling continued to be reported from multiple sites around the county all  month.

Black Redstarts at Chinnor Cement Works
male ↑ courtesy of David Stracey, and female↓ courtesy of Luke Marriner

One very reliable Oxon site for Brambling has been the Banbury Ornithological Society's Balscote Quarry reserve. As a bonus feature for this review we have a video of a selection of birds seen on and around the feeders there during March.

Video courtesy of Badger

In the final few days of March falls of Blackcap and Willow Warbler occurred across the county. Other first of year migrant records herein at month's end were Sedge Warbler at Baulking Pit, Ring Ouzel on the Downs, Common Redstart at Lollingdon and White Horse Hills, Common Tern in Port Meadow, Hobby in central Oxford and Yellow Wagtail in three places. We have now reached the time of year when every day there can be something new to encounter. With lockdown 3.0 being eased through April there will be even more opportunity for connecting with local birds.

Peter Law

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It’s fair to say Swifts numbers have plummeted, a 53% decline between 1995 and 2016. 

Lack of or loss of nest sites is a large factor in this.

Putting up nest boxes or retro fitting S Bricks is an easy way to help them .

Birds returning in early May will return to previous nest sites, however younger birds returning later in May and right through July can be attracted to the sites you provide.

Playing the correct attraction call is crucial and greatly increases your chances.

 

Adding a timer allows for flexibility.

There are two main sites that will give you all the information you need. https://swift-conservation.org/

'Screaming parties of Swifts for me are the sound of summer. A bird worth trying to help ? 

I certainly believe so.'

Paul Wren.

A delivery of new Swift Boxes.

How to get involved.

Oxford City Swift Survey Volunteers

Help reverse the serious decline in Swift numbers. Oxford Swift City Group is recruiting volunteers to survey swift nest sites in Oxford City this summer. Just one hour twice a month during May, June and July. Training will be provided.  

 

If interested contact: OxfordSwiftCity@rspb.org.uk

Many thanks,

Colm Ó Caomhánaigh
Joint Coordinator, Oxford Swift City Group

Book Review of

 William Fagus' "The Purple-Bellied Parrot"

by Malaika Bedford (aged 11)

I loved this thrilling tale of a bird who never fitted in and yet was welcomed by an unlikely bunch of spuggies (House Sparrows), even after years of darkness and not knowing the outside world.

The spuggies helped him regain his confidence and gave him his first taste of the outside world, away from cages and darkness.

But even though the purple bellied parrot knows that it won't get any better, he knows that he doesn’t fit in. The literal parrot in a group of spuggies.
 

After asking around, he finds that ‘Brazeel’ is his true home, and does everything to go back to the emerald green.
 

Then, of course, the harsh journey across land and sea, meeting humorous characters along the way. Shag, an albatross who had lost hope during his journey north, and a purple-bellied parrot, roughly trained by a ‘sergeant’, make an unlikely pair, but they both bring out the best in each other. Together, they overcome predators, death and humans but most of all, their fears.

This was an emotional book, about the perseverance of those who trust and believe in others. It was about a journey of a parrot so innocent, and yet still overcame the harshness of the world. This book gave me a new perspective of pets, nature and how small things can make a big difference.

 Malaika Bedford, aged 11

The Purple-Bellied Parrot is available from amazon and is priced at £7.99.