December 2022 Review

December 2022 Review

Highlights

A memorable Oxon birding year comes to a close and although not with a bang one might have hoped, as the saying goes ‘all good things must come to an end’. A spell of brutally cold weather in middle part of the month gave hope that any movements of wintering birds might drag with it the odd rarity in search of some unfrozen ground. 

Bittern over an icy Otmoor rspb courtesy of Anna Marlow. 

Typically shy species like water rail and snipe became more confiding in their search for open water whilst movements of lapwing and golden plover were noticed in new locations. The highlight for the period, was unfortunately another single day/observer record and came in the shape of an American counterpart of one of our more commoner duck species in the winter.

Water Rail Otmoor rspb courtesy of Pete Barker

Green-winged teal

Although not quite the rarest American species for the 2022 Oxon year list, green-winged teal is a proper county rarity that would certainly get plenty of admirers if pinned down long enough. The most recent record was actually only 4 years ago when a drake bird was present at Pit 60 for several days in 2018, although the next previous record goes all the way back 2002! So when one was found with a flock of 10 of its European cousins in Letcombe on the 18^th by Mark Merritt, it looked like the year was going to finish on a high note. Unfortunately for the rest of us, the bird was only present long enough to get the diagnostic features identified before flushing with the flock of Eurasian teal and disappeared, despite an hour-long search it wasn’t relocated. With the number and spread of teal flocks present in the county it is entirely possible it is still out there lurking in amongst the masses just waiting for someone to pick out that diagnostic vertical breast stripe in 2023.

Green-winged Teal Standlake 2018

Waders

An unexpected brace of grey plover records topped off a typically quiet period for waders this month. A single flyover over Farmoor on the 16^th and a similar record came from Fyfield Wick came on the 21^st, in what probably relates to the same bird potentially hiding in amongst the golden plover flocks somewhere within the county. A black-tailed godwit did its best to avoid the throngs of winter dog walkers on Port Meadow between the 1^st of the month until the 3^rd at least, before hopefully departing to less disturbed grounds. A dunlin then replaced the godwit as the wader interest on the meadow on the 4^th but only remained for a single day whilst another lone bird was on Grimsbury Reservoir on the 7^th only.

A single redshank record came from Blenheim on the 12^th presumably moved there by the cold weather whilst two were at Port Meadow on the 29^th, with green sandpiper recorded on two sites – Bicester Wetlands and Appleford GP’s both on the 21^st of the month. A wintering common sandpiper came from Farmoor between the 7^th until at least the 14^th and was observed to be tackling the cold weather conditions by following the diggers excavating around Pinkhill reserve. It would be interesting to know if this is the same individual who wintered here last year.

Common Sandpiper Farmoor courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Jack snipe were recorded from only two locations in December, the first coming from Bicester on the 5^th of December. The 2^nd record, from Lye valley, and came on the 13^th and was again present until the 14^th at least and continues the fine form for this small urban patch in 2022. 

Jack Snipe Lye Valley courtesy of Badger

Notable counts of snipe came from Port Meadow on the 10^th with at least 50 present whilst an even better count of 110 came from Bicester Wetlands on the 29^th. Woodcock came from at least 9 locations mostly relating to single birds observed on just the one day. A decent count of 5 birds came from Boarstall on the 3^rd and two birds apiece came from Otmoor (16^th) and Lye Valley (17^th).  Single birds came from Lark hill (10^th), Stanford-in-the-Vale (10^th), Water Eaton (16^th), Fyfield Wick (26^th), Neals Farm (27^th), Chimney Meadows (28^th) and Moreton (29^th).

Woodcock Lye Valley courtesy of Tom Bedford

Notable counts of golden plover came from Balscote Quarry (92 on the 2^nd), Hinton Waldrist (265 on the 4^th) and Port Meadow (70 on the 4^th).

Wildfowl

Aside from the one-day Nearctic teal on the 18^th much of the wildfowl composition this month consisted of long staying and expected birds. The long staying ring-necked duck were in their usual haunts with the almost resident female bird still at Appleford GP’s on the 6^th and again on the 29^th. Standlake hosted a pair on the 17^th whilst the drake remained until the 21^st at least. A drake was reported from Port Meadow on the 26^th but unfortunately wasn’t located the next day. 

The brent goose around Day’s Lock remained into the early part of the month until the 4^th, possibly the same bird was on Port Meadow the previous day although some subtle plumage difference might point to two birds present in the county. In any case neither location hosted one after the early part of December. Another bird, a juvenile, was located at Aynho on the 30^th with a flock of Canada and greylag geese, possibly the same bird from Port Meadow relocating or the 3^rd bird for the county this year?

The female scaup remained on Farmoor for the whole of December with no forays to any other sites reported for the duration of the month, whilst the Blenheim white-fronted geese were on Port Meadow on the 4^th and again on the 27^th. Shelduck were recorded from 3 locations with 2 on Tar Lakes on the 10^th, Farmoor on the 17^th and Port Meadow from the 22^nd-27^th all presumably relating to the same pair touring the county. Goldeneye were only recorded from 3 locations this month with a nice flock of 13 coming from Farmoor on the 16^th. The other two sites, Dix Pit and Standlake recorded between 2 and 6 birds through December. Good counts of Goosander were recorded from 4 sites with a high count of 13 Pit 60 on the 29^th, with Port Meadow recording 8 on the 20^th and 6 over West Hendred on the 9^th.

Not typically mentioned in the review for obvious reasons but a count of 30 Egyptian goose from Chimney Meadows on the 6^th was a notable sighting. Red-crested pochard came from 5 sites with single birds from Farmoor, Appleford, Grimsbury and 4 birds on the Dix Pit. A large flock of 90 came from the usual location of Tar Lakes on the 8^th.

Herons, egrets etc

For the first time this year only one record of cattle egret came within the review period. 7 birds from Yarnton Mead came early in the month on the 2^nd. Great white egret on the other hand were recorded from 8 locations throughout the month.  A high count of 5 birds on Dix Pit on the 28^th with multiple birds recorded from 3 locations (Blenheim, Pit 60 and Tar lakes) and singles reported from Appleford, Sutton Courtenay, Standlake and Henley road GP’s.

Great white Egret Blenheim courtesy of Gareth Casburn

Gulls

No white wingers were recorded this month in what has seemingly been a poor showing nationally for these arctic wanderers. Another winter gull staple, however, had a better month with Caspian gull recorded from 6 locations and concerned at least 10 individuals. Upper Cherwell had the highest count with 3 birds (2 adults and a 1^st winter) on the 3^rd. 

Caspian Gull Blenheim courtesy of Gareth Casburn.

An adult was recorded from Blenheim several times in the early part of the month with another adult recorded on Port Meadow at the same time. Farmoor recorded two birds on the 7^th and another reported on the 14^th both 1^st winters. A ringed adult observed on Cassington GP’s on the 7^th was ringed as a chick back in 2016 from a German ringing scheme, it was subsequently recorded in Poland, Spain, Poland and Norfolk.

German ringed Caspian Gull Cassington courtesy of Terry Godfrey

A single adult Mediterranean gull was recorded coming into the Farmoor gull roost twice – on the 3^rd and again on 12^th.

Passerines

In what has been already a great year for the species in the county, 2 records of yellow-browed warbler were picked out in a roving tit flock both coming from Oxford. An elusive bird was picked up in Marston on the 1^st and subsequently melted away as they so easily do. What is possibly the same bird relocating another record came on the 29^th from Donnington Bridge this time remaining long enough for several locals to connect. This individual briefly got the heart rate going of several observers by appearing ‘dull’ in the initial field views, this was quickly proved not to be the case and an outrageous end to the year in the form of an Oxon Hume’s warbler will have to wait for another time. The bird remained until the 31^th at least.

Yellow-browed Warbler courtesy of Nick Truby

In keeping with the above a new black redstart record also came from Oxford this month. Firstly recorded on the university buildings in central Oxford on the 1^st the same bird relocated to Christchurch Meadow and the surrounding area between the 6^th and 9^th of the month. A record also came from a private garden on the 2^nd from Harwell village. A wintering firecrest also came from urban Oxford with a bird seen frequently at Aston Eyot through the month, whilst two records of hawfinch came from Blenheim and Woodstock on the 5^th and 6^th respectively.

Black Redstart 20/11 Grove courtesy of Steve Wilson.

Again, another bird that doesn’t typically warrant mention in the monthly review but for notable counts a flock of 41 ring-necked parakeet flew over Summertown in Oxford on the 26^th. A cold weather inspired movement from elsewhere or a sign the previously small population has exploded over the summer? In any case something that will be worth keeping an eye on in 2023!

Raptors

The ring-tailed hen harrier was again reported sporadically from Otmoor throughout the month up until just before Christmas and will hopefully continue to the winter here in to 2023. Merlin records increased this month with 7 sites recording birds. Male birds were recorded from Fyfield Wick and Taynton on the 17^th and 13^th respectively, whilst the remaining records related to female or immature birds from Peep-o-day lane, Otmoor, Childrey field, West Hendred and Standford-in-the-Vale.

Hen Harrier Otmoor rspb courtesy of Mathew O'Byrne

2022 - Year in Review

Being a relative newcomer to the Oxon birding scene and having only birded the county since 2015 I don’t have the historic knowledge to compare this year with other great years, but there’s no doubt this year has been one to remember. Possibly a sign of things to come my 2022 got off to a great start when a spoonbill flew over the A34 on New Year’s day, but 2022 really kicked off with a bang though when a Pallas’s warbler was located at Abingdon STW just off Peep-o-day Lane on the evening of the 5^th of January. A county first and superb find by Gareth Blockley, this incredible bird was always going to cause a stir and a nervous wait ensued as the sun set and birders across the county had to wait until the following day. The Oxon crowd gathered at first light on a frosty morning the following day and luckily after what felt like an age someone shouted ‘got it’ in a copse just to west of the STW. The ensuing chaos of everyone running at once when the bird had been called out will live long in the memory! The Pallas’s warbler stayed for 23 days and was well twitched from within the county but also by many from outside the county borders also. A real treat for birders from bordering counties who didn’t have travel all the way to the east coast for this Siberian sprite. Ring-necked duck were almost ever present in the county with a drake and female bird recorded from January up until May at various locations and not always together. The pair would then disappear over the summer before returning in the middle of October. The record staying great northern diver continued from 2021 and stayed well in May affording some great photo opportunities for folk at Farmoor.

February continued the rarity form when a ferruginous duck was located on one of the pits (Allen Pit) between Dorchester-on-Thames and the River Thames on the 8^{th of} February. Luckily this bird appeared to show no signs of hybridisation as well nothing pointing towards captive origin and so was apparently the real deal. With nearly a decade between this and the last fudge duck it was a popular bird admired by many and a great find by Geoff Wyatt on his local patch. The ferruginous duck remained well into March. February also saw the year’s first record of glossy ibis with on briefly on Port Meadow early in the month after a probable pair back in January at Henley-on-Thames.

March saw the return of our first garganey along with the usual returning migrants making their way back through or to the county. Although much quieter on the rarity front both the ferruginous duck and great northern diver remained into March. A wintering Siberian chiffchaff at Port Meadow remained into April after at least two birds had been picked up at Abingdon STW with the Pallas’s warbler back in January. A white stork from the reintroduction project arrived in the county in April initially picked up at Cassington GP’s it was later located at Otmoor where it remained for a few days before been picked up in Long Hanborough later in the month. Cattle egret returned to their breeding colony at Blenheim later in April and remained there to breed successfully for another year after the first breeding record back in 2021.

Another spoonbill came in May with a single bird frequenting Otmoor for a week or so, before reappearing briefly in June.  The first singing quail also noted this month across the typical haunts of the Oxfordshire downs. From here and throughout the summer months much of the focus turned to some of the rarer breeding birds in the county. Cattle egret set up back in their breeding colony and some even appeared to be setting up shop at Otmoor but nothing apparently coming of noted breeding behaviour. Garganey seemingly had a good year at Otmoor with several birds noted through June and throughout the summer.  More spoonbill turned up in June this time at Bicester Wetlands with two juveniles there for two days and seemingly different to the bird noted at Otmoor the previous month. Another white stork was reported from Brize Norton and was seemingly a different bird than the one seen earlier in the year.

July was surprisingly productive on the rarity front for the county. A little tern initially picked up on Farmoor at the beginning of the month was unusual for the time of year, it then when on a jaunt up the Thames and was seen fishing by Port Meadow. It returned to Farmoor the following day before disappearing for a couple weeks and reappearing again later in the month. A fantastic Dartford warbler was found up on the downs in the middle of the July, a very unusual record given their rarity status in the county but was quite apt given it was found in the middle of a heatwave. August got off to good start when an early spotted redshank was picked up on Ardley ERF Lagoon before departing the overnight. The 2^nd record of glossy Ibis came later in the month with two birds at Cassington GP’s sporadically before both relocated to Kidlington and remained there throughout most of September.

September came and the arrival of two curlew sandpiper was a most welcome return of this species after several years absence. Three wryneck passed through the county this month but none were twitchable as all were in private gardens. The first yellow-browed warbler came on the 25^th of September at Port Meadow in what has turned out to be a fantastic year for this species. I myself spent several hours searching in vain for this individual the following day, if I only knew what was to transpire less than 2 hours later. If you offered Oxon birders in December 2019 a Pallas’s warbler the following month, they would almost definitely of snapped your hand off and been happy with their lot for the year. The Wantage common nighthawk will go down in Oxon birding folklore as one of the most outrageous records for the county, literally no one had this species on their radar. Arguably up there as one of the best rarities in the UK for 2022 never mind Oxfordshire. Given its location this bird could so easily of been missed and all I can say is thank god someone had the good sense to ring Ian Lewington to come have a look! Surely one of the biggest one-day twitches in Oxon history later ensued with no one believing for a second it would stay any longer than the single day. It proved correct and the bird flew off into the twilight much to the delight of the assembled but somewhat diminished crowd, what a bird and what year!

October followed and although not quite the dizzying heights of an American mega, there was plenty to keep folk busy. A further four records of yellow-browed warbler came with birds in Abingdon, Farmoor, Ardington and Ardley. A new Dartford warbler was found at Balscote Quarry in later October and thankfully unlike the summer bird stuck around for several weeks and allowed for many county birders to add this elusive and deceptively rare species to their county lists. Much of the next couple of months was highlighted by long staying rarities and scarce wildfowl with a couple dark-bellied goose, whooper swan and female scaup the pick of the bunch. Another or possibly one of the same yellow-browed warbler was found in Oxford that topped of the fantastic year for the species. A fly through grey phalarope back in November is the only sore point of an otherwise fantastic year for the county in 2022. Who knows what 2023 will bring, surely it wont top this year but it just goes to prove what is out there with a bit hard graft and a whole lot of luck! Hopefully see you all at the next mega!

Conor Mackenzie

Oxon scores another first in 2022

What started as a regular visit to a patch soon turned in to a dream find as Paul Wren discovers Oxfordshires first Red-flanked Bluetail. Unfortunately it was only a one day bird with subsequent visits over the next month, drawing a blank. Below is Pauls heart stopping account.

I am fortunate to be able to visit a private site in the county with no general access. My main reason for this visit was to put in some trail cameras. I had a quick walk around and with nothing much about and a family commitment I decided to get the cameras in and leave. A mobile tit flock drew me to an area I’d not been to for a while and with these checked they soon moved on. I walked a little further and was about to get the first camera in when a bird flew towards me, perched, bobbed it’s tail which got my attention somewhat then immediately moved closer and perched up on an upright bare branch. Onto it quickly I was stunned to see I was looking straight at a Red-flanked Bluetail !

Dream find.

Heart thumping i thought I really need a photo of this. It turned fully side on as I kept my eyes on it whilst scrambling to extract my camera from its case. Frustratingly it wouldn’t lock on so I looked through my binoculars again. It soon moved to a lower branch and then away onto a fallen tree dropping into the leaf litter a couple of times. Flicking slightly right into some smaller branches it sat facing away occasionally turning its head then turned side at which point I thankfully got one photo. It flew behind these branches and was clearly mobile so I decided not to chase it and wait to see if it returned.

An hour passed and with no more sign I set three cameras up on likely perch places knowing I couldn’t return until Thursday. On my return home and despite knowing the answer I asked about access should it stay and was politely told it wouldn’t be possible. I spent around eighteen hours searching the the area and it wasn’t seen on the trail cameras despite them being in position nearly every day. One of my favourite birds which I’ve always wanted to actually  find. I guessed that would happen on Shetland or Spurn certainly not Oxfordshire.

Paul Wren

All photos courtesy of Paul Wren.

Local birding in 2023

Some of you that are on twitter may have noticed or even participated in the #LocalBigYear started and promoted by BirdGuides. The basic premise was to get as many people as possible birding locally either within the constraints of an already existing patch or through a certain distance from home i.e 5km or 10km radius from home. For me this has been a great incentive to not only bird my local patch but also to get know some of the areas just outside of the village, I had initially set a target of 150 within 10km of my house. I have seen some fantastic species including Pallas’s warbler, wood warbler, turtle dove and ferruginous duck landing finally on 148 for the year. Having missed several birds including two yellow-browed warbler and missing out on the common nighthawk by 200m 150 was certainly doable for my 10k from home!

In 2023 I plan to take part in the patchwork challenge. The premise is much the same as in 2022 except that all patches are set at 3kmsq and each species seen are set a certain number of points, with rarer birds and self finds collecting more points. The scoring system is slightly biased towards coastal patches in so much that rare birds for Oxon such as knot are worth only 1 point but a red kite is worth two. When I initially signed up, I felt slightly outgunned as one of the few patches that wasn’t recognisable by name alone but thankfully quite a few Oxon birders have now signed up and there is a plan to set up a mini league for Oxfordshire to compare scores/species and general friendly competition between locals. If anyone is interested in taking part do look up @patchbirding on twitter and get signed up and give me a shout on social media if you want to join the Oxfordshire part of the competition.

Conor Mackenzie

 

The Oxon Birding Review of 2022

The traditional review of the year from Gnome Studios. Note that this was compiled before the revelation of the Red-flanked Bluetail find so there were in fact three county firsts this year, not two.

Gnome

Birds in Black & White

Is a book written by Oxon birder Phil Barnett and charts Phils exploits and thoughts on birds and birding in our county and beyond. Phil has been an active birder in Oxfordshire since the 80s

and as well as a collection of sketches, there's also a well thought out guide to some of the counties

hot spots.

 

'Birds in Black & White' is a great & enjoyable read and available to buy at the Abingdon Arms in Beckley and the village shop in Stanton-St-John it's priced at a very reasonable £10.

Contributers

We are always on the lookout for articles for the monthly review, if you have an opinion, a trip report, a birding diary, we would love to welcome you to the team, be it a one off or a regular monthly

piece, let us know as we are always looking for contributers.

jasoncppk@yahoo.co.uk