Bicester Wetlands Reserve 22nd June

Green Sandpiper 6

Little Egret 4

(C.O)

Key holder reserve 

Drayton Flood 22nd June

Black-tailed Godwit 2

Green Sandpiper 3

Little-ringed Plover 5

(T.W)

Otmoor rspb 21st June

Glossy Ibis again at the 2nd screen this afternoon (per RBA)

Warburg Reserve, Bix - 21st June 2025

 Lots of juvenile activity at the pond this morning  - bathing. Raven x 2, Nuthatch x 4 (2 adult  + 2 Juv)

Blackcap x 4 (m & f + 2 juv), Goldcrest (1 adult, 1 Juv),  Marsh Tit (1 adult 1 juv), 

Chiffchaff x 9 ( 2 adult, 7 juv), Wren (1 adult, 1 juv), Bullfinch (m), Song Thrush x 3 (gathering mud),

Garden Warbler, Dunnock, Chaffinch (m & f) (Many juvenile Blue Tits, Great Tits and Robins)

Juvenile Goldcrest

Juvenile Blackcap - female

Juvenile Marsh Tit.

Otmoor rspb 20th June

Glossy Ibis 2nd screen

Little-ringed Plover 

Kingfisher

(et al)

RSPB Otmoor Thursday 19 June

Glossy Ibis 1
Common Sandpiper 1 
Cattle Egret 14
Great White Egret 2

Little Grebe 2

Common Tern 12
Spotted Flycatcher 1

Treecreeper 3

Goldcrest 2

Grasshopper Warbler 3

Bernwood Meadows: 19th June

A juvenile whitethroat in the bushes surrounding the main area of Bernwood Meadows

 

Berinsfield, 'The Wandering Kitchen at the Lake': 18th June

Berinsfield, 'The Wandering Kitchen at the Lake'
2 Oystercatcher: Calling, then seen in flight, just to E of the cafe. SU580953. 13:50.
Reed Warbler: Sporadic song from across the lake. SU579953. 13:50.

Mike Amphlett

Otmoor rspb 18th June

Glossy Ibis at the 2nd screen

Bittern

Little-ringed Plover 

Common Sandpiper 

Green Sandpiper 

Kingfisher 

(per Luke O'Byrne)

Swyncombe Down 18th June

Quail calling from the back of Swyncombe Down 16:40 (P.P)

Standlake Pit 60, 18 June am

2+ Cattle Egret
Little Egret
2-3 Common Tern
Oystercatcher
Lapwing inc post-breeding flock. Also birds still displaying territorial behaviour - for a good reason (see below).

Stephen Burch

Lapwing downy juv. Nice to see some breeding success for this struggling wader
© Stephen Burch

www.stephenburch.com

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 18th June

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
7 Cattle Egret: On the island. Two nests I think, possibly more. 06:00.
26 Little Egret: Mainly on or around the island, a mix of adults and fledged juvs. 06:00.
10 Grey Heron 06:00.
2 Oystercatcher: two adults flying to and from the island feeding unseen young. 06:00.
29 Great Crested Grebe: at least five fledged broods and four still sitting on nests. 06:00.
Little Grebe 06:00.
40 Sand Martin: At least 40. Most around the nesting holes on the bridge. 06:00.
10 Mute Swan: with three broods of four juveniles. 06:00.
3 Reed Warbler 06:00.

Bob Pomfret

Chinnor: Cement Works: 17th June

Chinnor: Cement Works
3 Little Ringed Plover: Lake 2b. 11:00.

David Stracey

Stonor: 17th June

Stonor
4 Raven 13:00.

Ashley Stow

Otmoor rspb 17th June

Glossy Ibis at the 2nd screen 15:02 (per Luke O'Byrne et al)

Letcombe Regis: 17th June

Letcombe Regis
2 Yellow Wagtail: Flew over together calling. 13:00.

Jed Cleeter

Letcombe Regis: 17th June

Blackbird singing in the early sunshine

 

A34: near Didcot: 16th June

A34: near Didcot
Great White Egret: Flew east towards Didcot. 14:35.

Jed Cleeter

Farmoor Reservoir: Pinkhill: 16th June

Pinkhill
5 Cattle Egret 10:30 (per Dave Murphy)

Lesser Emperor m viewable from the Pinkhill hide 15:45 (per Conor MacKenzie)

Oxon Dragonflies

Otmoor rspb 16th June

Glossy Ibis at the 2nd screen 11:00 

Crane 2 

(KN)

Garganey m at the 2nd screen (per RBA)

Otmoor: 15th June

Glossy Ibis: Showing very nicely, feeding at the edge of the water in front of the second screen. Thanks to others for the tip off. My first sighting in Oxfordshire. At last. 14:30.
2 Cuckoo: Still two calling. One sounding distinctly hoarse. 14:30.
7 Oystercatcher: At least 7. 14:30.

Bob Pomfret

Shepherds Pit 15th June

Baltic Gull 1s again on Shepherds Pit 11:13-11:45 with no further sign at 13:45.

(per Thomas Miller)

Otmoor rspb 15th June

Glossy Ibis at the 2nd screen 09:38 (per RBA)

Ardley ERF Lagoon 15th June

Oystercatcher - 2

Green sandpiper - 2  

Waterstock: River Thame: 14th June

Waterstock: River Thame
2 Yellow Wagtail 08:00.
3 Swift 08:00.
Raven 08:00.
Spotted Flycatcher 08:00.
Grey Wagtail 08:00.
15 Swallow 08:00.
2 Coal Tit 08:00.
3 House Martin 08:00.
9 Mandarin Duck 08:00.
Lapwing 08:00.
2 Kingfisher 08:00.
Treecreeper 08:00.
9 Blackcap 08:00.
6 Chiffchaff 08:00.
4 Whitethroat 08:00.

3 Reed Warbler 08:00.
Hobby 08:00.
3 Reed Bunting 08:00.
Lesser Whitethroat 08:00.
7 Linnet 08:00.
7 Sedge Warbler 08:00.
Garden Warbler 08:00.
Sparrowhawk 08:00.

Nick Marriner

Faringdon: 14th June

Faringdon
Hobby: Over cricket pitch. 15:40.

Jed Cleeter

Otmoor rspb 14th June

Glossy Ibis at the 2nd screen 12:46 (per RBA)

Bicester Wetland Reserve 14th June

2 Green Sandpiper- Cattle Bridge Pool
3 female Gadwall with ducklings 11, 3, and 3
5 Little Egret
1 Heron
1 Green Woodpecker
lots of warblers 

A Peters C Oram
Key Holder Reserve

Stonechat courtesy of Geoff Dymott 

 

Fyfield Wick: 13th June

Fyfield Wick
Hobby: Hawking Dragonflies. 15:05.

Jed Cleeter

Blenheim 12th June

Cattle egret - plenty of activity on the Queen Pool island, some probably now with young, others still prospecting.

Oystercatcher - Adult pair with 1 juv on Queen Pool island. The juv is now 1 month old and looking quite robust so should hopefully fully fledge. If there is another juv, it didn't show itself.  

Common tern - 1

Chimney Meadows BBOWT 12th June

Quail flushed from track this afternoon in an area with no general access (per RBA)

Otmoor rspb 12th June

Glossy Ibis at the 2nd screen

Great white Egret 

Green Sandpiper 

(et al)

Chipping Norton: 12th June

Chipping Norton
5 Lapwing: On the wetland at Swailsford Bridge nr Cornwell. 09:00.
Grey Wagtail 09:00.
2 Linnet 09:00.
2 Whitethroat 09:00.
Willow Warbler 09:00.
Green Woodpecker 09:00.

Steve Akers

Watlington Hill11th June

Crossbill 20 reported (per ebird)

Standlake Pit 60: 11th June

Standlake Pit 60
Cattle Egret: One from the LL hide. Also 2 Oystercatcher, 2+ Common Tern and Lapwing. 10:00.

Stephen Burch

Bernwood Forest: 11th June

Bernwood Forest
Oystercatcher: One flew over Bernwood Meadows calling. 12:05.

Robert Godden

Letcombe Regis: 11th June

Set aside land outside Letcombe Regis is currently home to a couple of goldfinch flocks

 

Bicester Wetland Reserve 11th June

 1 Green Sandpiper:  always a pleasure, an early date for the first returning bird

A Peters
Key Holder Reserve

Bodicote June 9th

 

The House Sparrows have just moved out of the swift boxes on my house and the Swifts are hopefully just moving in for the first time.

Otmoor rspb 9th June

Glossy Ibis at the 2nd screen

Great white Egret

Shelduck

(KN)

Farmoor Reservoir 9th June

Osprey over F1 10:29 then flew east (P.B)

Lye Valley, Oxford: 9th June

4 Crossbills flew west, calling constantly and quite low, giving superb binocular views. An amazing moment! 

Grasshopper Warbler Pinkhill
Courtesy of Ian Stewart 

 

Sonning Eye GPs: 8th June

Sonning Eye GPs
Garden Warbler: Seen and heard. 14:30.

Ralph Watts

May Review

Highlights

Well well, where to begin?! May is the magical month where things happen, spring migration reaches full throttle and with any luck brings with it a rarity or two. If we’re really lucky and the birding gods are feeling particularly generous we may even find ourselves dropping everything for a county mega. News of a Hoopoe somewhere in West Oxon on 1st May felt like an expected county rarity this year, given the record influx across the UK and Ireland this spring. A tantalising photo popped up on one of the many local Facebook groups, but the location details were frustratingly vague. As it turned out, the person who took the photo had been sworn to secrecy by the original finder—presumably the garden’s owner. A bad start to the month in what can often be the slim pickings of the Oxon rarity list. It later transpired that the bird was somewhere in Standlake but by the time that news broke, the bird presumably had long gone.

Witney Hoopoe courtesy of PJS Wildlife

Onwards and thankfully only a few days later NCVW continued its fine form and rescued the first week of rarity finding season with a fine Temminck’s Stint and provide the county with first proper twitch of the spring. With recent history showing us this species doesn’t hang about a quick visit to NCVW was a must on the 4^th May, particularly for Oxon year listers. Having showed pretty well for much of the morning, pleasing many, it became more elusive towards the end of the day hiding easily in some of the annual weeds which have begun sprouting at the site. As expected, by the following day it had departed along with some of its Ringed Plover companions.

The NCVW Temminck's Stint courtesy of Thomas Miller and video from Gnome below

 

With so many Red-footed Falcon around the country it was more than just optimistic dreaming that Oxon might get in on the action, particularly with Northants and Beds seeing a couple records in early May. In a case of history somewhat repeating itself it was a photo shared on social media that sparked the latest saga of this species within Oxfordshire. A causal post of “Hobby” hawking somewhere in Oxon was quickly recognised as a female Red-footed Falcon and so began the detective work. Unfortunately, as with Hoopoe the location wasn’t forthcoming due to concerns around disturbance but it was quickly realised the site in question was Chimney Meadows. Unfortunately the photo was taken on the 9^th and the bird having spent a few days in and around the reserve had clearly departed the site.

Courtesy of Denis Kennedy

A probable sighting just downriver at Pit 60 on the 18^th was tantalising enough to follow up on and it turned out to bang on the money. Unbelievably this was a different bird to one at Chimney, although presumably they arrived together. Thus ensued the mobilisation of Oxons finest to the Thames path upriver of Newbridge. It performed beautifully for those that made the journey, occasionally perching in a dead tree close to the river before rising and catching mayflies along with accompanying Hobby. For those unable to make it on the 19^th the bird remained in place until the 20th and although it seemingly became more unpredictable it did still perform well enough to keep everyone satisfied, before departing by the 21^st. The last record of Red-footed Falcon came back in 2020, during the peak of Covid which in retrospect seems almost like a different era. That bird was also identified from photos taken by contractors working on the railway line near Piddington. Although lots did manage to connect with that bird in a brief relaxation of Covid restrictions, the painful dip of this bird for others, was finally put to rest in May 2025.

The Red-footed Falcon, above courtesy of Ewan Urquhart, below courtesy of Thomas Miller

 

Video courtesy of Badger 

However, May was not quite through with us and our collective heart rates just yet though. On the 30^th May an out of county birder reporting a singing Savi’s Warbler at Otmoors 2nd screen was fairly or unfairly treated with some healthy scepticism, although the habitat was spot on for the species and wrong for Gropper. First responders however confirmed a singing bird from 2^nd screen albeit in windy conditions. And once again birders began arriving en masse for another major twitch of the spring. Savi’s Warbler has only been recorded once previously in the county, during the lockdown of 2020 when a singing bird was completely inaccessible except for one or two people who worked there and happened upon the record. So, with it being a new bird for everyone, this bird was always going to be extremely popular. A classic Oxon twitching vigil ensued with some folk staying at site all day hoping to be catching a glimpse of the trilling male, occasionally showing very well. Thankfully for those of us unable to get there on the day the bird remained in situ until the 31^st although was now showing less well and becoming less predictable. It was present until at least the 1^st although by that point it was singing much further into the reedbed, and it’s assumed to have departed overnight that day. 

The Savi's Warbler, above courtesy of Ian Lewington and below Roger Wyatt

Video courtesy of Rob Cadd

Recording courtesy of Thomas Miller

A May that will certainly live long in the memory with two county megas pleasing many of Oxons and even some out of county birders. As usual we will be taking our extended break over the summer, so our regularly monthly reviews will be back at the end of July where hopefully we have something to write about! Happy birding all.

Waders

Besides the star Stint of the month, a Little Stint at Farmoor on the 23^rd would have been a very popular bird given that we get only 1-2 records per year. Unfortunately, with news coming out slowly, the bird was probably back in the Arctic Tundra by the time anyone heard about it. More forthcoming though was NCVW 2^nd record of Avocet for the year with a pair dropping in on the site the morning of the 13^th. With the habitat there looking ideal, any hopes of a breeding pair were soon dashed when the pair departed sometime in the early afternoon. Continuing its fine form NCVW got its first Grey Plover of the year on the 8^th, taking its wader list to a respectable 14 for the 2025 and if it continues to look as it does currently into the autumn you can guarantee it will have a few birders keeping regular tabs on it. 

The Avocet courtesy of Glen Pascoe

Two records of Turnstone came in May with both of these coming from Farmoor. The first of these was on the evening of the 12^th before leaving overnight and in similar circumstances the second came a few days later in the late evening of the 14^th. Sanderling passed through the county in decent numbers this month, with almost all records coming from Farmoor. The first of these came on the 10^th with a lone individual followed quickly by a couple birds on the 12^th. Ardley ERF continued adding to its growing list of wader species with a single bird on the 16^th. A small break in proceedings was broken on the 24^th with a trio of birds, this time back on Farmoor. Birds were then recorded almost every day until the 31^st and into early June with a maximum of four here on the 28^th. Almost certainly each day saw a turnover of birds with new ones arriving and other departing, so the true number of birds that graced the site is hard to ascertain. 

Farmoor Sanderling courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Whimbrel continued to move through the county in the early part of month, although only dribs and drabs with only two sites reporting birds. Farmoor had singles through on the 4^th and 6^th, continuing its status as the most reliable site for the species in the county. Otmoor then had a single bird on site on the 17^th and 18^th of the month. Greenshank records were exclusively at Otmoor this month with most of the birds having passed through the county the previous month. Two were here on the 9^th whilst a lone bird heard calling on site was present on the 22^nd. Ringed Plover was the most numerous and widest spread of the uncommon waders this month, with four sites reporting birds. The highest count came from NCVW on the 4^th, where nine were present and had brought with them a much rarer wader along for the journey. Seven were still here the following day and had reduced to just on one by the 8^th. The 4^th of the month clearly was a day the species was moving in larger numbers with both Grimsbury Reservoir and Ardley ERF both hosting birds that same day. At the latter site two were present on the 16^th, whilst three potential tundrae candidates were present on the 25^th, whilst Farmoor also hosted a bird on the 12^th.

Dunlin courtesy of Steve Liptrot

Dunlin were present on two sites this month – Farmoor and NCVW. The former has a maximum of 6 birds between the 4^th and 6^th, whilst up to three birds were on site between the 24^th and 28^th although as with the Sanderling movements this probably involved a turnover of birds rather than the same birds continually. NCVW had a single bird on the 5^th and surprisingly had no further records of the species this month. The 10^th May saw the county potentially record its latest ever Jack Snipe with most birds having departed the county and much of the south of England by the middle of April, possibly an injured bird or maybe just a late straggler. Whilst Common Sandpiper continued to trickle through the county, being recorded at a minimum of 7 sites throughout May. Most of these came from the first 10 days of the month, although a pair present at Oxfordshire Golf Course in the 21^st was a fairly late record for the species. 

 

Wildfowl, game etc

The end of May brought with it the first records of singing Quail within the county boundaries, although all of these were confined to Oxon Downs, reports seem to indicate at least four singing birds so far this year. Although it doesn’t look to be a classic “Quail Year”, the early part of June will likely see a few more birds reported and some of these may even be away from their stronghold on the Downs. The big surprise this month was a very unseasonable Whooper Swan which was present at NCVW on the 13^th. Clearly a bird unable to follow the rest of its kind back to Iceland and was previously reported bouncing between sites in the south of England, and a candidate for our latest record of the species? 

The Whooper Swan above & below courtesy of Gareth Cashburn

Garganey have been pretty thin on the ground this spring, particularly compared with recent years where we have even had breeding confirmed several times. Two record this month was a pretty poor return, although it’s possible any breeding pairs at Otmoor or even elsewhere are hidden away somewhere. A drake frequented Otmoors first screen in the early part of the month potentially points to something interesting occurring. Otherwise, the only other record came from Peep-o-Day Lane on the 10^th where a drake was present for a single day. Shelduck were only recorded from two sites this month, with a single bird at Peep-o-Day Lane on the 10^th and six birds at Rushy Common on the 21^st. No reports of successful breeding yet but given the numbers in mid-late April I’m sure several sites must have breeding pairs present. A pair of female Goosander were the only record of the species in the county this month, although there seems to have been at least two pairs breeding in the east of the county based on records from April. 

 

Herons, egrets etc

For once this group has a bit more going on asides from the constant presence of Cattle Egret and Great Egret with both species now well established and present year round. A Spoonbill over the second screen at Otmoor  was a fantastic reward for the few birders that were there on the morning of 2^nd . Not quite the rarity it once was, mainly due to range expansion in northern and eastern England but also increases on the mainland, it is still a cracking bird to catch up with in the county. Surprisingly, given recent form, this bird was entirely a flyover and appeared to bomb straight through the site and south. Much more obliging, eventually, was a Glossy Ibis present at the 2^nd screen and elsewhere from the 15^th. After being elusive for periods, with the roost being the most reliable way to see it, once it began moulting heavily it remained much more sedentary and directly in front of the 2^nd screen for much of the day before roosting in with the Egret and Herons by the first screen. It is very possible this may be a returning bird from the previous year, which spent much of 2024 at Otmoor before departing on New Year’s Eve. 

The Glossy Ibis courtesy of Malcolm Bowey

For the most part both Cattle and Great White Egret remained in the same state as the previous month. Cattle Egret breeding was well under way at Blenheim with a minimum of 2 nests present at the end of the month. Chimney Meadows hosted the most birds with 30+ frequenting the nature reserve and wider Thames floodplain meadows, although whether these bird are breeding anywhere remains to be seen. Otmoor also hosted decent numbers with at least 15 present for much of the month, although mostly observed coming into roost. A further four sites hosted between 1-3 birds throughout May. Great White Egret were present at four sites, down from the previous month, although at Otmoor a minimum of nine were observed coming into roost on the 16^th. Pit 60, Peep-o-Day Lane and NCVW all hosted between 1-3 birds all in the first two weeks of the month. 

Otmoor Cattle Egret courtesy of Nick Truby

 

Gulls and Terns

Bonxie heading (insert direction) is phrase most of us have probably uttered at some point in our birding career. I suspect however that within the borders of Oxon this phrase has remained firmly unused, until now. A probable Great Skua over Towersy in May seems so improbable to be almost ludicrous, but for one lucky observer that is exactly what transpired. Fairly unmistakable as a taxa, it was put out as definitely a Skua sp., you can well imagine one taken a pop at a Red Kite, because why not, just as the observer described. There’s an epic OOS annual bird report cover in that scene! Being a less than annual species in the county, a trio of Little Tern at Sonning Eye GPs on the 15^th were an unexpected 2^nd record of the spring. The record was made even better with the addition of two Sandwich Tern also brought into the site in inclement weather. The latter did not hang around long however, but the Little Tern spent much of the day there much to delight of the birders assembled. 

The three Little Terns courtesy of Marek Walford

In what is becoming a near annual record, largely down to a single birder's efforts, a possible Baltic Gull was at Shepherds Pit on the 8^th. Unfortunately, the BBRC does not consider 1^st summer Baltic Gull records because of the immense difficulties in 100% identifying this age group and so without rings these records remain unconfirmed. 

The Baltic Gull courtesy of Thomas Miller

Two Black Tern records came from Otmoor this month, after several records in the latter part of April. Single birds on the 12^th and 25^th remained for most of the day, before departing early evening. Arctic Tern were confined to just two records this month, after the big push through the county and country the previous month. A small flock of seven flew through Farmoor on the 5^th followed by a much larger flock of 17 ten days later on the 14^th. 

Farmoor Black Tern courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Caspian Gull continued to be recorded from a couple sites this month, with the usual bird present at Farmoor irregularly through May. Shepherds Pit and NCVW recorded 1^st summer birds both on the 8^th. Also, at NCVW was an unseasonable Mediterranean Gull on the 30^th – a site that continues to impress this year. Finally, an interesting ringing record from the Common Tern colony at South Hinksey. A colour ringed bird incubating eggs on the new raft was ringed near Heathrow Airport in 2019 and had not been seen since. To think this bird may have travelled 30-60 thousand miles in the interim and then successfully bred at a nondescript wild swimming lake in urban Oxford – incredible. 

Caspian Gull courtesy of Thomas Miller

Passerines

An extremely quiet period this month with only two species of note. A late Ring Ouzel at Gramps Hill on the 10^th was a fairly notable record and probably doesn’t bear well for this birds breeding prospects, with most birds already well established in breeding grounds further north. 

The Ring Ouzel courtesy of Mark

Also on the 10^th was a Whinchat at Otmoor, in what has been a pretty poor spring passage for the species in the county. Our final breeding species, Spotted Flycatcher, returned to the county on the 4^thMay – only a few days after the median arrival date.

Spotted Flycatcher courtesy of Gareth Cashburn

A Grasshopper Warbler at Bisceter courtesy of Steve John

Raptors

With so many eyes on Otmoor with the immensely popular Savi’s Warbler present it unsurprising that something else might be picked up with many county and out of county birders present. A report of a Honey Buzzard over the 2^nd screen certainly wasn’t the most unlikely event to have occurred in the county this year, although with no photos or follow up information a healthy degree of uncertainty needs to be applied, I guess. Osprey records continued to be racked up in the county, although unfortunately all have been single observer records of birds just moving through or briefly fishing at Farmoor. Trinity College had a flyover bird on the 1^st followed by two records at Farmoor on the 3^rd and 16^th. Rushy Common also had a bird in the interim on the 11^th, with the final record coming from Otmoor on the 28^th. With at least 10 records this spring, the mind starts to wander about a possible non-breeding bird hanging around somewhere occasionally make sorties to suitable fishing spots. 

 

Patchwork Challenge

Patch	Birder	Points	Species	Highlight
Aston eyot	Ben Sheldon
Ardley ERF	Gareth Casburn	104	95	Sanderling
Dix pit	Simon Bradfield
Grimsbury reservoir	Gareth Blockley	98	93	Cuckoo – first in 20 years
Lye valley	Tom Bedford	67	66
River Thames	Geoff Wyatt	137	120	Marsh Harrier
Sutton Courtenay	Conor MacKenzie	127	112
Radley GP’s	Ian Elkins	106	100	Nightingale
Freeland	Glen Pascoe
South Hinksey	Alex Figueiredo	70	67

Oxon Big Year 2025

Happily, two more have joined the Oxon Big Year effort - Simon and Peerawat and with all their efforts this year a collective 200 species is certainly more possible. With all this collective effort it is unsurprising that two of our number are responsible for finding two of the major highlights this month - Thomas with the Temmicks Stint at NCVW and Simon the Red-footed Falcon along the Thames Path. 

Despite this, May has proved to be an expectedly stressful month for the Oxon Big Year group. With two county megas gracing the county and several decent rarities also making an appearance, the ability to mobilise at a moment’s notice has proven nail biting at times. “Having” to drag my 4- and 2-year-old to the Red-footed Falcon twitch was particularly stress inducing, although they behaved impeccably - the same could not be said for the Falcon, although I did eventually see it. Periods away for some of us have also not helped the stress levels, with some less than annual birds such as Little Tern, Spoonbill and Temminck’s Stint all being missed by some of us. 

Collectively as a group we stand at 184 out of 191 birds recorded in the county this year. Not a bad effort so far and some of that number will likely be got back in the autumn - Little Stint, Common Scoter, Spotted Redshank and Turnstone etc. With us now entering the quieter season it is likely most of us will not add much new between now and the next migration period, although summer does occasionally throw up the odd surprise - White Stork, Black-crowned Night Heron and Rosy Starling as examples in recent history. The aim of an individual 200 was always going to be difficult given the county often only just makes it to this number, but collectively this still seems eminently possible. 

Name	Total
Ben Sheldon	169
Thomas Miller	175
Neil Hayward	155
Conor MacKenzie	175
Simon Myers	167
Peerawat Chiaranunt	165

 

June Header

With thanks to Gareth Casburn who took the superb photo of the Cattle Egrets just north of Woodstock,
and as always to Pete Barker who creates them each time.

 

Photo Of The Month 

There was no contest this month with an amazing capture by Thomas Miller taken at the Red-fotted Falcon twitch that was good enough to make national television on Spring Watch.

An amazing Hobby photo courtesy of Thomas Miller