August Review 2022

Wood Sandpiper courtesy of Mark Chivers.

Headliners

August has provided a much-needed change of pace after the quieter summer months, and we can all  now breathe a sigh of relief that birds are once again on the move across the country. This month has seen a welcome spread of migrants right across the county, although a distinct lack of any inclement weather has meant passage has felt quiet on occasions, there has been a steady stream of common species interspersed with the occasional rarity.

Headline birds have been a bit thin on the ground with one of these been sadly only viewed by a single observer.

Glossy Ibis

Potentially a somewhat taken for granted species in the county after the long staying and wide-ranging birds in 2021, with one bird present at Otmoor through much of the year and an additional 3 birds ranging across the county in the spring.  Having been recorded for the last 3 years belies its true status pre-2020 with only a handful records between 2000 and 2018, it has historically been a great county rarity.

Two birds were reported on Cassington GP’s from the 22^nd, although they have potentially been on site for up to two weeks, and both were still present until the 28^th at least.

Spotted Crake

The other highlight for the period concerns a bird that was, sadly, untwitchable to the wider birding fraternity. A bird was flushed and heard calling several times before landing in nearby vegetation, it was subsequently searched for, but thick vegetation and lack of open habitat meant it was unable to be relocated. Unfortunately, due to sensitive nature of the site the news wasn’t circulated and only the lucky finder got to observe the bird for a few seconds in flight.

The last spotted crake came during the lockdown of 2020 when a male was picked up singing by a camera trap set up by the team at Otmoor.

Waders

The best bird of the period came earlier in the month when a cracking spotted redshank dropped in on the lagoon at Ardley ERF. Unfortunately, this bird didn’t linger long and wasn’t seen the following day. 

Spotted Redshank Ardley courtesy of Gareth Casburn

Wood sandpiper had a good showing in the county with 5 birds across two sites through the period. A single bird was at Cassington GP’s on the 15^th while a high count of 3 birds were here on the 22^nd, equalling the high count from Appleford in 2020. An extremely confiding individual was also present on Radley GP’s from the 22^nd until 25^th.

Wood Sandpiper Radley GPs courtesy of Mark Chivers.

Courtesy of Badger

Whimbrel was only recorded from Farmoor with 3 flying over on the 25^th . Greenshank records came from at least 7 sites – Ardley ERF (4^th, 17^th), Appleford (5^th), Bicester (11^th), Otmoor (14^th-15^th), Pit 60. Some early records of golden plover came from Otmoor with 2 in stunning summer plumage on the 4^th which rose to 4 by the 9^th. A single turnstone remained from June on Farmoor until the 4^th, whilst 4 birds arrived on the 18^th with an adult and 3 juveniles, and one adult was present again on the 25^th. 

Black-tailed Godwit courtesy of Mark Chivers.

Black-tailed godwit also had a good showing across the county with records of mostly singles and pairs from at least 6 sites – Appleford (9^th, 25^th-28^th), Grimsbury (14^th), Farmoor (16^th, 23^rd and 25^th), Little Wittenham (15^th) and Pit 60 (23^rd). A magnificent flock of c60 Bar-tailed Godwit were seen flying around Farmoor on the 25^th probably brought in by inclement weather, a fantastic record.

Greenshank courtesy of Alan Dawson

As is typical, the bulk of our smaller wader records came from Farmoor. A single sanderling was on Farmoor on the 1^st and it probably remained until the 4^th, whilst another lone bird was recorded on the 23^rd until the 25^th.  Single ringed plover were recorded from Farmoor on the 4^th, 11^th 14^th-16^th and the 22^nd-23^rd. While a group of 5 were here from 25^th until the 28^th at least. Little ringed plover were present here on the 2^nd until the 5^th, with a new bird on the 11^th and again on the 15^th while 2 juveniles were present on the 17^th. Juveniles were also recorded from Appleford (7^th), Ardley (17^th) and Grimsbury (21^st). Dunlin were recorded on Farmoor throughout the month with a maximum of 2 present from the 1^st – 23^rd. 2 Two birds were also present on Appleford on the 7^th with possibly the same birds present until the 23^rd.

Ringed Plover courtesy of Caroline Rhymes Walker

Common sandpiper were recorded from at least 8 sites throughout the period mostly relating to single individuals. A maximum count of 10 came from Farmoor on the 15^th with Appleford hosting a maximum of 6 on the 23^rd. Green sandpiper were much wider spread with at least 11 sites hosting at least one bird, numbers of birds built through the month with high counts of 17 from Ardley (17^th), 12 on Appleford (10^th) and 13 on Bicester (4^th). Redshank were only recorded on two sites outside of Otmoor with 4 on Farmoor on the 1^st and singles on 8^th and 11^th whilst Pit 60 hosting one on the 15^th.

Green Sandpiper courtesy of Bryan Manston

Gulls & Terns

A single black tern was the only real rarity to speak of. One was recorded at Sonning eye GP’s on the 22^nd with presumably the same bird still present on the 26^th in what has been a poor showing of this species so far this year.

A very showy juvenile Caspian gull was present on Farmoor from the 15^th- 18^th, a repeat of last year’s confiding juvenile that gave local laruphiles a great opportunity to get up close and personal with this species. Grimsbury reservoir hosted a single Mediterranean gull on the 6^th while at least 2 juveniles were observed on the 9^th, none were apparently recorded from Farmoor throughout the period.

Juvenile Caspian Gull courtesy of Isaac West

Common tern numbers built throughout the month with up to 20 individuals recorded on the 12^th with several juveniles present in this number. These had largely cleared out by the end of the month. Good numbers of Yellow-legged gull continued to be recorded from Farmoor with a maximum count of 53 in the gull roost on the evening of 3^rd, whilst double digits continued to be recorded during much of the month. At least 4 other sites recorded yellow-legged gull, albeit in much smaller numbers.

Wildfowl etc

The July black-necked grebe remained at Otmoor until at least the 5^th after which no confirmed sightings were reported, with potentially the same juvenile relocating to Farmoor on the 15^th until at least the 25^th. A single Garganey was reported from Otmoor on the 6^th

Black-necked Grebe courtesy of Trudi Rowland

Ruddy shelduck continued to be recorded at Otmoor until at least the 20^th and occasionally two birds were reported. A single bird was recorded from Little Wittenham on the 6^th-7^th. Mandarin were recorded exclusively from Sonning eye GP’s with a maximum of 6 birds on the 23^rd and were recorded here throughout the month.

Only one quail record was received with 2 males singing in cereal fields near Eaton Hastings on the 7^th, in what has been poor year for quail records.

Egrets, herons etc

Cattle egret continued where they left off the previous month with birds frequenting Otmoor and Pit 60 regularly throughout August. An unprecedented count of 45 birds came from Otmoor between 18^th-19^th with regular counts of between 20-30 throughout the month, their status as a breeding species looks to be well established. Birds began to move around more through the month with 4 additional sites logging sightings – Stratfield Brake, Blenheim, Brighthampton and Farmoor.

Cattle Egrets courtesy of Steve Beasant

Two great bustard proved harder to pin down in Letcombe Basset when both were flushed again on the 1^st. Both were eventually tracked down and seen well in the same field on the 5^th until the following day, in what seems set to be an annual occurrence within our counties borders.

Great Bustards courtesy of Geoff Dymott

Great white egret were recorded from their usual locations in Pit 60 (11^th, 18^th & 26^th) and Blenheim (4^th & 30^th). Whilst 2 birds were recorded on Cassington GP’s on 15^th and 22^nd, 2 seen in flight over Port Meadow probably refer to the same birds commuting between feeding grounds around Oxford. A single bird was unusually observed on Farmoor causeway, and another single was recorded at Stratfield Brake. Our local Cranes continued at Otmoor with a single juvenile successfully fledged for a 2^nd year running, with both adults and juv seen regularly in flight. The 2^nd pair of adults were reported on the 7^th and hopefully points to more pairs nesting next season.

Great white Egret courtesy of Gnome

Passerines

With so many pied flycatchers on the move around the country and surrounding counties it would have been criminal for Oxfordshire not to get in on the action. Two female type birds came on the same day at opposite ends of the county with one in a lucky observers garden on the 22^nd in Burford, whilst the other showed extremely well in Cholsey from the 22^nd – 23^rd.

Pied Flycatcher Cholsey courtesy of Alan Dawson

Pied Flycatcher nr Burford courtesy of Dave Morgan

A single observation of Firecrest came from Aston Rowant on the 24^th. Whinchat were recorded from 9 sites around the county with singles recorded from Ardley (21^st-22^nd), Bicester (24^th), Moreton (24^th), Keen edge ferry (26^th) & Appleford (30^th).  Multiple birds were recorded from Devils punch bowl with 4 on the 20^th, Lark hill with 2 on 11^th and 17^th and 2 on Aston upthorpe on the 29^th. A great count of 10 came from Otmoor on the 24^th with birds present in various numbers throughout the month.

Wheatear were recorded from 16 sites with records mostly relating to single birds. Multiple birds were recorded from several sites with max counts of 4 recorded from Aston upthorpe (1^st) and Upper Heyford on the 29^th. The first returning tree pipit was logged from Southfield golf course on the 21^st with a second bird on the 28^th both picked up in flight, interestingly the only other record also came from Oxford with one over Aston eyot on the 29^th. Yellow wagtail were observed from at least 11 sites with the maximum count of 85 birds coming into roost on Otmoor on the 19^th, other double-digit counts came from Appleford (26^th), Port meadow (22^nd & 23^rd) and Moreton (24^th). A Flava type female bird was also recorded from Port meadow on the 23^rd.

Female Redstart courtesy of Geoff Dymott

Redstart continued to move through the county with at least 13 sites logging sightings. Most records related to multiple individuals with a maximum count of 5 recorded on Otmoor on the 6^th and 5 recorded Gramps hill on the 8^th. An unseasonable record of 6 crossbill came from Horley on the 8^th. Whilst a great count of 200 corn bunting came from Weathercock hill on the 9^th.

Reed Warbler courtesy of Anna Marlow

Spotted Flycatcher courtesy of Alan Dawson

Raptors

Its been a great month for picking up a local Osprey on passage through the county, with up to 5 individuals passing through in August. As is typical, most of the records came as single observer flyovers. One individual at Farmoor on the 2^nd remained until the at least the 6^th and a record of one on the 8^th probably relates to the same bird. Another bird was here towards the end of the month on the 28^th, with flyover records from Chinnor (5^th), Wolvercote (11^th) and Waterstock (16^th).

Osprey courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

One record of Honey-buzzard came from Gallowstree common on the 14^th typically a brief sighting from a single observer. A very early Merlin was picked up at Lark Hill on the 10^th, with possibly the same juvenile/female type was at Childrey Field on the 21^st of the month. Another disappointedly brief bird came from Farmoor in the form of Short-eared owl when one was seen perching on a post by the entrance before flying off.

Hobby were recorded from at least 9 sites around the county with multiple birds recorded at Farmoor (17^th) and South leigh (29^th) with up to 4 at each. Marsh harrier continued at their usually spots, namely Otmoor and Pit 60 with up to 4 and 3 respectively through August. Additional records came from Gramps hill (8^th) and Churn (24^th & 26^th).

Peregrine courtesy of Bryan Manston

This juvenile Peregrine photographed at Farmoor Reservoir this month

by Bryan Manston, is a male ringed as one of a brood of four on the 26th 

of May 2022 on the old Shredded Wheat silos in Welwyn Garden City town 

centre in Hertfordshire. (With thanks to Lyn Ebbs).

Courtesy of Bryan Manston.

Look ahead

September should hopefully bring with it some more intensity in passage migrants and there are still a few expected waders yet to be recorded that typically turn up on an annual – biannual basis. Expect at least red knot, bar-tailed godwit and ruff, with September also been a good month in recent years for little stint whilst it feels we are well overdue a curlew sandpiper.

On the rarer side of things September has as recently seen purple heron grace our county, with the elusive individual frequenting Blenheim for a couple weeks in 2021. With the recent individual at Weston turville in Bucks it could very well turn up somewhere within the counties borders this month. Wryneck are also pretty reliable birds to rock up somewhere in the county this month with the last 3 years producing one in September and 6 out of the last 8 years.

Our last records of both species of phalarope came in September with the last grey phalarope coming in 2018 with one at both Sonning eye GPs and another Grimsbury reservoir. In September 2017 the county was blessed with both red-necked and grey phalarope with the extremely confiding red-necked phalarope pleasing the small crowds at Farmoor.

Who knows what September 2022 will bring? Either way I will be hoping for a bit of a break from this record-breaking drought and maybe just the odd rarity in between!