April Highlights & News

Snow in mid-April with Chiffchaff, courtesy of Tom Bedford

An exceptional peak passage birding month in Oxfordshire was impacted greatly by a quite unusual climate pattern for April. Very mild conditions at the turn of the month that brought an early influx of waders were quickly followed by two weeks of cold northerly winds. Much passage then stalled temporarily through bitter conditions and frequent snow flurries in which one heavier fall on 12th briefly created the unusual picture opportunity of this review's banner. Latterly in a dry and sunny though still cool period from mid-month more typical April weather re-opened the migratory gates to a medly of notable events.

Yellow Wagtail at Farmoor Reservoir, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart
Click on any image to enlarge

Channel Wagtail in Port Meadow, courtesy of Joe Wynn

Treating that sequence more or less chronologically, passerine news featured prominently herein through the early part of April. Yellow Wagtail continued to arrive from 1st right through the month, being recorded at multiple sites county-wide. In amongst those were occasional Channel Wagtail, the annually recorded hybrid with the continental Blue-headed race.

Common Redstart in north Oxon, courtesy of Edwin Barson

Male Pied Flycatcher in central Oxford, courtesy of M Buckley

Female Pied Fycatcher at Letcombe Regis, courtesy of Brian Walker

Further passage passerines Common Redstart and Northern Wheatear were both recorded regularly, and Whinchat on a few occasions. Somewhat scarcer Pied Flycatcher were noted from Oxford's Magdalen College Deer Park (11 - 13th) and Letcombe Regis (22nd) as they made their own way through Oxfordshire to breeding grounds further afield.

Ring Ouzel at Otmoor ↑ and Marston ↓ both courtesy of Jeremy Dexter

An especially impressive Ring Ouzel passage for our county began on 5th and continued all month. Records of this iconic item came from several different locations on the Oxon Downs and Chilterns escarpment, in central Oxford, on Otmoor and elsewhere.

Farmoor Bar-tailed Godwits (above & below), courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Movement of waders picked up again with improved weather through the second half of April. In common with much of the south and east of England, Oxfordshire witnessed our most impressive Bar-tailed Godwit passage in maybe 10 years. Groups on various dates at Farmoor, Otmoor and Port Meadow all offered superb opportunities to observe this less than annual local visitor in summer plumage.

Farmoor Bar-tailed Godwit, courtesy of Mark Chivers

Whimbrel in Port Meadow, courtesy of Thomas Miller

One "Barwit" offered very close views as it fed along the west side of Farmoor 2 for much of 22nd, drawing many admirers. Early on the same day two more were a patch mega at Grimsbury Reservoir in Banbury. Amongst other less frequently recorded waders parties of Whimbrel also visited Farmoor and Port Meadow a number of times.

Summer Plumaged Spotted Redshank courtesy of John Workman

Spotshank courtesy of Geoff Wyatt.

Courtesy of Tezzer.

Wood Sandpipers courtesy of Badger

A Spotted Redshank remained faithful to Big Otmoor for much of this review period and a third was confirmed as present there on 26th. Two Wood Sandpiper were located on floods between Drayton and Sutton Courtenay on 24th, remaining for two more days; then another visited Otmoor on 29th with a further bird arriving on Port Meadow on the last day of the month. Throughout April our patch workers were diligent in recording all the more regular species at different wetland sites.

Glossy Ibis in Port Meadow, courtesy of Thomas Miller

In week three a remarkable sighting cluster of "long-legged" species occurred. Three Glossy Ibis were first reported entering Oxon airspace in the far south east of the county on 18th. They were seen at Otmoor on 20th then moved between there and Port Meadow through to 22nd. It was unclear whether by then one of that trio might be the long-staying Otmoor bird, given the earlier report on RBA, but if so the singleton returned to its adopted home for the rest of this month.

White Stork in Port Meadow, courtesy of Mario Garcia

White Stork courtesy of Manoj Nair

At the same time a White Stork too commuted between both places, and the twin attraction was watchable on the same day in Port Meadow on 21st. Its ring confirms the Stork as being from the Knepp re-introduction project. The third digit on the ring could not be clearly distinguished but this is thought to be GB9A, a two year old male who came from Poland in 2019. He was originally kept at the project's satellite site at Wadhurst Park in East Sussex, then released in the summer of 2020 since when he’s been spending time free flying around East Sussex. This was the first sighting of him since November 2020. If anyone can confirm the third digit or would like to send in additional locations (with a grid reference) the email is whitestorksgb@gmail.com

Our more regular release scheme stars the Common Cranes also made occasional forays away from Otmoor throughout the month. Other notable sightings in this group were Great White Egret on different dates at the RSPB reserve and elsewhere, and another Cattle Egret around Blenheim in the early days of the month.

Little Gull influx at Farmoor, courtesy of Richard Tyler

On the morning of 23rd during a national record movement of Little Gull more than 80 of them graced Farmoor reservoir, the largest Oxon count ever. Around 50 more passed through on the next day. Mediterranean Gull were logged on several dates there, as well as in Port Meadow and Moreton. Caspian Gull records also continued to be posted through April. 

Med Gull courtesy of Luke Marriner

Adult Little Gull, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

First-winter Little Gull, courtesy of Nick Truby

Farmoor Mediterranean Gulls, also courtesy of Ewan

On 28th a similarly marked national movement to the previous week's Little Gulls, this time of Arctic Tern took place with around 80 moving through Farmoor on that day. Spring records of Black and Sandwich Tern also issued through the second half of the month.

Arctic Terns at Farmoor, courtesy of Jeremy Dexter

Returning to more notable passerines, the first Grasshopper Warbler arrived at Otmoor as early as 13th, and more were logged there and by the Thames at Farmoor through to month's end. A stand-out item in this group was a Wood Warbler found in Oxford's New Marston Meadows (21st), then another in Radley Large Wood on 30th. By week four all 10 regular Warbler species of any summer were back in place around Oxfordshire. 

Grasshopper Warbler on Otmoor ↑ courtesy of Mark Chivers
and at Pinkhill Lock, Farmoor ↓ courtesy of Nick Truby

Wood Warbler, courtesy of Thomas Miller

A charismatic Black Redstart showed up at Farmoor Reservoir on the 30th which was a perfect end to a great month at the Oxford reservoir.

Black Redstart courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

April raptor sightings of note included three norh bound Osprey between 4th and 10th. The earliest Hobby arrived at Standlake GPs on 17th, then Otmoor from 19th onward and Farmoor on 25th. Other miscellaneous records worthy of mention were:

• Short-eared Owl around the South Oxon Downs; and at Appleford, Sutton Courtenay and Eynsham
• Cuckoo in several places around the county from 12th
• A pair of Garganey at Graven Hill near Bicester from 27th

Garganey pair at Graven Hill, courtesy of Patricia Clissold

Lastly, the following scarcities lingered for varying parts of this review period:

• Cattle Egret at Letcombe Regis until 4th
• Dark-bellied Brent Goose on Otmoor until 11th
• White-fronted Geese on Otmoor until 16th
• Ring-necked Duck pair at Radley GPs until 17th
• Another Garganey pair on Otmoor throughout

The level of recording this month was so good it would have been a marathon task to summarise everything completely. So this review majors on highlights and is less date and place oriented than usual. But huge appreciation still goes to all the patch workers and visitors who contributed so many more records of note to this log in what was a truly outstanding month of Oxon county birding.

Peter Law

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.

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