Kidlington January

Ring-necked Parakeet 4 in garden near the Moors recently.

Port Meadow: 14th January

Port Meadow
6 Goosander: 2 drakes, 4 regards at Wolvercote end of river. 14:06.
Kingfisher: At Wolvercote end of river. 14:06.

Yacky Morris

Oxford: 14th January

Oxford
Ring-necked Parakeet: 2 seen flying over from car near cutteslow roundabout. 15:41.

Yacky Morris

Oxford 14th January

Yellow-browed Warbler on northern side of Donnington Bridge 12:45 (M.P).

 

Raven Otmoor rspb courtesy of Malcolm Bowey.

Mapledurham - Friday 13th January 2023

 Egyptian Goose x 3 - still present on Golf Course lake

Nuthatch.

Coal Tit.

Marsh Tit x 3.

Long Tailed Tit x 12.

Great Spotted Woodpecker x 3 (2m 1f) all three together.

Chiffchaff  x 2.

Pied Wagtail x 50 - in flooded fields.

Starling ( early murmuration mid-day across farmland).

Lambourn: Red Barn: 13th January

Lambourn: Red Barn
Merlin: fem. In a chase and dogfight with a passerine. 15:35.
3 Raven 15:35.

Jed Cleeter

Standlake Pit 60: 13th January

Standlake Pit 60
30 Wigeon: No time for birding currently. Quick dash to check the wigeon flock. Relatively few of the species here this pm. Most duck species down in numbers. Nothing unusual with the wigeon. Flooding: Langley Lane hide inaccessible owing to flood. North hide accessed via Shifford Lane. Good wellies needed on parts of path to this hide. 18:42.

Mick Cunningham

Donnington Bridge Oxford 13th January

1400-1500hrs

Yellow browed Warbler 1 spending much time south of road

Goldcrest 2

Woodstock Water Meadows 13th January

Merlin - 1 hunting in the plantation area adjacent to the meadows. Plenty for it to target.

Woodpigeon - 200+

Skylark - 5+

Meadow pipit -10+

Chaffinch - 10+

Yellowhammer - 40+

Reed bunting - 10+

Blenheim

Very little on the lakes recently in terms of variety.

Tufted duck - 50+

Great White egret - 2 

Little egret - 1

Raven - 2

Port Meadow 13th January

Still no sign of the American Wigeon by 12:25

Dunlin c15

Redshank

Goosander 

(et al)

Oxford 13th January

Yellow-browed Warbler still present on northern side of Donnington Bridge 09:22 (per Phil Barnett).

Port Meadow 12th January

AMERICAN WIGEON drake at north end of port meadow floods this evening (per Thomas Miller). Best viewed from the Wolvercote side of the floods as they are so large at present.

Previous records this century:
Sep 2009    Sonning Eye GP
Feb 2011    Rushy Common GP
Nov 2018   One day bird at undisclosed site

Drake American Wigeon above & below courtesy of Thomas Miller

 

Oxford 12th January

Yellow-browed Warbler still present on northern side of Donnington Bridge 10:58 (per Phil Barnett).

Oxford: Donnington Bridge: 11th January

Oxford: Donnington Bridge
Yellow-browed Warbler: Seen from walkway on north side of Donnington Bridge Road right where weirs mill stream passes under - Moving methodically in branches right next to the road occasionally flying across the road to access branches the other side. Showing very well making ID easy. Alone - not attached to a Goldcrest or Tit group. SP523044. 11:30.

James Blunt

Cowley: 11th January

Cowley
Blackcap: male. 1st bird of winter in my nan's garden coming to fat balls. 13:30.

Jed Cleeter

Hinksey Lake 11th January

Goosander 4 (2m) (per Phil Barnett).

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Oxford 11th January

Yellow-browed Warbler still present c09:20 on northern side of Donnington Bridge (per Phil Barnett).

Firecrest again at Aston’s Eyot.

Nuneham Courtenay: 10th January

Nuneham Courtenay
Peregrine: male. Flew over small wood. 13:50.

Jed Cleeter

Oxford 10th January

Yellow-browed Warbler still present on northern side of Donnington Bridge 13:03 

(per Phil Barnett).

Oxford 10th January

Firecrest at Aston's Eyot near stream on west Side loosely associating with tit flock 11:40 (per Phil Barnett).

Goldcrest Oxford courtesy of Dan Miller.

 

Mapledurham - Monday 9th January 2022

Three Egyptian Geese (2 m 1f) - small lake on M/D Golf Course.

Little Grebe - still present on above small lake.

Marsh Tit.

Redwing.

Chiffchaff x 2.

Jay x 3.

Buzzard x 6 - Many out hunting in good weather across farmland.

Kestrel x 2.

Pied Wagtail x 30.

Song Thrush.

Cote: 9th January

Cote
Caspian Gull: ad. in field with LBBs. Gull numbers dimisihed as fields dry out. LBB down from 300 to 170. GBB 3. HG 24 Yellow-legged Gull 7. 16:27.

Mick Cunningham

Donnington Bridge Oxford 9th January

Yellow-browed Warbler 1

Goldcrest 4+

Tree Creeper1

: 9th January

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm and surrounding flooded Meadows and lakes
4 Chiffchaff: SU491947. 10:00.

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm and surrounding flooded Meadows and lakes
2 Egyptian Goose: SU491947. 10:00.

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm and surrounding flooded Meadows and lakes
200 Pied Wagtail: SU491947. 10:00.

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm and surrounding flooded Meadows and lakes
Grey Wagtail: SU491947. 10:00.

Abingdon: Abingdon Sewage Farm and surrounding flooded Meadows and lakes
Little Egret: SU491947. 10:00.

James Blunt

Oxford: Donnington Bridge: 9th January

Oxford: Donnington Bridge
Yellow-browed Warbler: Still there on northern side of bridge very close to road. 11:30.

Rachael Horwitz

Cote: 9th January

Cote
Caspian Gull: ad. 14:40.

Mick Cunningham

Standlake: 9th January

9th January

Standlake
2 Lesser Redpoll: SP388023. 13:53.

LWV Pit 27
2 Goosander: 2 drakes in pit 27. 13:15.

Yacky Morris

Oxford

Yellow browed warbler - showing well this morning

 

Oxford 9th January

Yellow-browed Warbler still present Donnington Bridge and showing well on & off 12:35 (per Ewan Urquhart).

Woodstock: Woodstock Water Meadows: 9th January

Woodstock: Woodstock Water Meadows
9 Golden Plover: Fly over. 11:00.
10 Skylark: Approx. 11:00.
5 Meadow Pipit: Approx. 11:00.
40 Yellowhammer: Minimum number. 11:00.
10 Reed Bunting: Approx. 11:00.

Gareth Casburn

Moulsford 9th January

Mouslford, Greenlands Farm
Brambling: Perched atop a tall sycamore, some odd call notes attracted my attention - Xeno-Canto seems to confirm. SU5883. 11:05.

Mike Amphlett

Fyfield Wick: 9th January

Fyfield Wick
Blackcap: male. 1st visit of wintering bird to the garden. The regular early Jan appearance in pyracantha. 09:00.

Jed Cleeter

Mid-Cherwell Valley 8th January

Pink-Footed Goose still late afternoon - much closer to Aynho end with Greylags at dusk

3 Black-Tailed Godwits

Good numbers of Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler and Pintail

1 Chiffchaff

1 Marsh Tit

Waterstock: River Thame: 8th January

Waterstock: River Thame
2 Gadwall 10:00.
Barn Owl 10:00.
695 Lesser Black-backed Gull 10:00.
1100 Lapwing 10:00.
18 Meadow Pipit 10:00.
2 Raven 10:00.
Chiffchaff 10:00.
6 Snipe 10:00.

Nick Marriner

Waterstock: River Thame: 8th January

Waterstock: River Thame
50 Common Gull 10:00.
2 Grey Wagtail 10:00.
790 Teal 10:00.
14 Shoveler 10:00.
300 Wigeon 10:00.
70 Greylag Goose 10:00.
320 Canada Goose 10:00.
Peregrine 10:00.
Yellow-legged Gull 10:00.
2 Pintail 10:00.

Nick Marriner

White-fronted Geese Standlake Village

Before I moved to Oxon, wildfowl weren't 'my thing'. Still working on them. Been searching Greylag and Canada flocks for anything different. These two White-fronts were with Greylags and Canadas in flooded fields opposite St Giles' church, Standlake this pm. Soon pushed off by kids.

In the field, both looked to have pink bills and were not large, relative to Greylags. So, the obvious ID is nominate albifrons.  But one is so much swarthier than the other yet, on the other hand, is the

smaller of the two. Should I not overthink it given past records of 'unknown origin' Taiga Gembelli (tho these don't seem to match them???). Sorry for grainy video.

Oxford 8th January

Yellow-browed Warbler still present on northern side of Donnington Bridge 14:20

(per RBA).

Aynho 8th January

Pink-footed Goose halfway between Aynho Warf and Somerton this afternoon (per Paul Wren).

Black-tailed Godwit 3

(et al).

Park at the Great Western Arms OX17 3 BP and follow towpath south to view floods.

Dix Pit: 8th January

Dix Pit
2 Great White Egret 12:46.
7 Raven 12:46.

Simon Bradfield

Port Meadow 8th January

Peregrine 

Pintail 16

Goosander 9

Egyptian Goose 4

Barnacle Geese 100+

No sign of the White-fronted Geese

(S.J).

Standlake Pit 60: 7th January

Standlake Pit 60
Marsh Harrier: 'cream crown'. Unsure is this Cream Crown is a new individual or one from late autumn more faded/progressed in moult. I'm now unsure if post-juv Marsh Harriers can be aged or sexed on plumage alone owing to a paper in BB by Blanc et al (I forgot to mention to JD t'other day). Blanc et al's study concluded plumage variability was independent of sex and age. They advocate the recognition of this species as polymorphic, at least in some parts of its range. They include the UK in this range. In this French study hardly any adult males were classic grey birds. Interestingly, they suggest (more migratory?) MHs in "Northern Climes" are less variable, with plumage like field guide descriptions. Today's bird seen in flight or poor light looked 'female', but poss a bit slim: v pale under secs and inner prims and blackish under wing-tip (old 'fems' can have this though). Tail base worn chestnut, but dusky tip and (?) 2 new darker central tail feathers. Iris looked dull. Need better views. 18:35.
Cetti's Warbler: singing. 18:35.
Great White Egret 18:35.
12 Pintail: 7 m 5 f. 12 duck species if I include the Ring-Necked Ducks (M+F) and Red-crested Pochards on nearby waters. 18:35.

Mick Cunningham

Donnington Bridge:7th January

Yellow-browed Warbler  Still present at dusk in trees along pavement N side of Donnington Bridge Road B4495. SP522043.

(Yacky Morris, Sylfest Muldal, SNT).

Courtesy of Steve Heath.

: 7th January

Boarstall
8 Woodcock: SP618150. 13:30.

Colin Oram

Balscotte Quarry Reserve 7th January

 

Male Brambling still present photo courtesy of Paul Wyeth.

BQR, 13:10 - 14:15. Brambling 1 (m); Blackbird 4; Chaffinch 30+; Dunnock 3; Blue Tit 5; Great Tit 2; Coal Tit 1; Greenfinch 22+; Robin 2; Yellowhammer 6; Goldfinch 6+; Reed Bunting 2; Teal 3 (2m, 1f); Kestrel 1 and Red Kite 1, over (per Paul Wyeth).

Kings Lock: 7th January

Kings Lock
9 Goosander: 4m/5f. Together on river a little downstream from King's Lock. 15:45.

Andrew Siantonas

Port Meadow: 7th January

Port Meadow
2 White-fronted Goose: By river in the Wolvercote Bathing area near car park. 14:30.
180 Barnacle Goose: At northern edge of the floods not far from north gate into Burgess Field. 14:30.

Andrew Siantonas

Hardwick: 7th January

Hardwick
2 Great White Egret: In flooded field by Hardwick village, with 2 Little Egrets. 15:30.

Ian Elkins

Standlake 7th January

Ring-necked Duck 2 m&f on 3T Pits (per RBA).

Kirtlington: Kirtlington Park: 7th January

Kirtlington: Kirtlington Park
2 Goosander: 1m, 1f. SP477173. 13:43.

Mike Simpson

Dix Pit: 7th January

Dix Pit
10 Goldeneye: 6m 4f. 8-10 on the water this morning. 09:15.
2 Great White Egret: Along Southern edge of pit. 09:15.
Raven: Over Devil's Quoits. 09:15.

Glen Pascoe

Oxford 6th January

Yellow-browed Warbler still present c14:10 on northern side of at Donnington Bridge with tit flock (per Steve Heath, Steve Roby).

Courtesy of Steve Heath.

Balscote Quarry Reserve; 6 January 2023

11:15-12:15

Brambling (male)

Greenfinch 30+

Yellowhammer 5

Fieldfare 10+

Old Caley's Diary

Somerton 6th January

Pink-footed Goose again from road just outside of village past the Mill with Canada Geese 08:17 (A.B).

Courtesy of Mike Pollard.

Drayton (nr Banbury): 6th January

Drayton (nr Banbury)
Merlin: imm/fem. Imm/Fem Merlin in fields between Drayton and Horley mid afternoon. Also Ad Peregrine flew over. SP426428. 15:05.

Theo De Clermont

Port Meadow 6th January

White-fronted Goose 2 from unknown origin by river Thames (per RBA).

Standlake 6th January

Ring-necked Duck 2 m&f on 3T Pits (per RBA).

Blewbury 6th January

6th January

Churn Estate
Stonechat: Male on fence line leading from the small barn on E side of road (i.e. S from the railway bridge). SU5182. 11:45.

Churn Estate
Stonechat: Lovely female, on the paddock fence nr the white bungalow. SU5182. 13:30.

Mike Amphlett

Kingfisher & chum Grimsbury Reservoir courtesy of Jon Huntbach.

 

Cote: 5th January

Cote
Caspian Gull: ad. In flooded field on track from Cote to Yelford c4pm.With 3 GBB, 2 YLG and 200 LBB. 19:48.

Mick Cunningham

Rushey Lock: 5th January

Rushey Lock
100 Lesser Black-backed Gull: Flooded meadows next to Thames Tadpole Bridge/Rushey lock area. 19:03.
2 Caspian Gull: ad. 19:03.
2 Egyptian Goose 19:03.

James Blunt

Standlake Pit 60: 5th January

Standlake Pit 60
2035 Lapwing: In Thames field. Pit 60 ducks seem to have dispersed across the large extent of floodwater. 13:43.

Standlake
2 Ring-necked Duck: m +f. Distant on 3 t. 13:43.
11 Bullfinch: In one flock. Feeding on buds (9). 13:43.

Mick Cunningham

 

Pale Common Buzzard Blenheim courtesy of Steve Curnock.

Standlake Pit 60: 4th January

Standlake Pit 60
Golden Plover: Late submits. Thames field with minimum 1500 lapwings. 13:40.

Mick Cunningham

Oxford 5th January

Yellow-browed Warbler still present nr Donnington Bridge 11:30 (per Steve Heath).

Port Meadow: 4th January

Port Meadow
7 Goosander: 4m/3f. On the river a little below Godstow lock. 15:00.
200 Barnacle Goose: Approximate count. Floods now extend halfway to Wolvercote and birds were feeding at the edge of the northern extent of the floods or swimming on the flood waters. 15:00.

Andrew Siantonas

Brambling Balscote Quarry Reserve courtesy of Edwin Barson.

 

Oxford 4th January

Yellow-browed Warbler still off B4495 just north of Donnington Bridge 15:00 (per Ben Sheldon).

Sonning Eye GPs: 4th January

Sonning Eye GPs
Raven 12:56.

Marek Walford

: 2nd January

Moulsford Downs, Wellbarn Estate
2 Raven: Perched in tree, with Red kite nrby. Flew a few minutes later, and calling. SU5782. 14:00.

Mike Amphlett

Oxford 3rd January

Yellow-browed Warbler still present at Donnington Bridge 10:40 (per Phil Barnett).

Aynho 3rd January

No sign of the Pink-footed Goose by 10:05 (per Conor MacKenzie).

Mid-Cherwell floods half way between Somerton & Great Western pub. Park at the pub OX17 3BP and take the canal towpath south to view flood.

: 2nd January

Hobb Hill, Bloxham
2 Raven: Heard kronking in trees near Firs Hill Farm. SP424366. 14:49.

JB Woodford

Churn: 2nd January

2nd January

Churn
Short-eared Owl: Hunting near railway line. 16:02.
Peregrine: male. Sub-Adult had 4 goes at a Fieldfare then another go at a different Fieldfare before disappearing low over ridge to the south still hunting. 16:02.
3 Stonechat: A pair and a single Male. 15:00.
40 Corn Bunting: Approx in flock at dusk. 15:00.
2 Raven: Over calling at dusk. 15:00.

Jed Cleeter

Standlake Pit 60: 2nd January

Standlake Pit 60
10 Pintail: 5m 5f. Minimum. Be aware, site flooding rapidly. Langley Lane hide totally inaccessible. North hide accessible pm but views against the sun and water rising over footpath at 4pm. 17:02.
Water Rail: Seen. 17:02.
9 Goldeneye: Counts very approximate as views against light. Teal c400, much lower numbers wigeon, shoveler, gadwall, mallard, 10_20 pochard, commuting goosander. 17:02.
Great White Egret 17:02.
400 Lapwing: Minimum. 17:02.
Chiffchaff 17:02.
Cetti's Warbler 17:02.

Mick Cunningham

Standlake: 2nd January

Standlake
2 Ring-necked Duck: P27. 17:00.

Mick Cunningham

Willow Walk NR, Wantage 2nd January

Firecrest 

Pair Blackcap

2 Chiffchaff

Sparrowhawk (m)

(Thanks for the tip off, Nick)  

Sonning Eye GPs: 2nd January

Sonning Eye GPs

Great White Egret: In the reedbed at then flew off north. 16:09.
Bittern: Usual reedbed. 16:26.
Raven 15:55.

Marek Walford

Heythrop: Heythrop Park: 2nd January

Heythrop: Heythrop Park
2 Woodcock: SP360261. 13:15.

David Watkinson

Oxford: Donnington Bridge: 2nd January

Oxford: Donnington Bridge
Yellow-browed Warbler still midafternoon.

(Ian Elkins, RBA)

Courtesy of Nick Truby.

Marsh Baldon: 2nd January

Marsh Baldon
4 Lesser Redpoll: 4 Lesser Redpolls, been visiting garden feeders with Goldfinch and Greenfinch daily. SU565999. 15:32.

Paul Torevell

Aston Eyot 2nd January

Firecrest behind the scrapyard 14:18 (per Ben,Steve Roby)

Aynho 2nd January

Pink-Footed Goose  with Greylags Mid-Cherwell floods half way between Somerton & Great Western pub. Park at the pub OX17 3BP and take the canal 

towpath south to view flood 12:54.

No sign of the Brent Goose.

(JFT)

Courtesy of John Friendship-Taylor.

Otmoor; 2 January 2023

07:30-11:00

Woodcock (in road by Elsfield/Beckley crossroads 07:15)

Peregrine (Greenaways 11:00)

Raven

Marsh Harrier (m&f)

Kingfisher

Otter 2 (first screen 08:15-30)

Old Caley's Diary

Grimsbury Reservoir: 2nd January

Grimsbury Reservoir
Kittiwake: ad. was on reservoir and flew off SE c.08:10.

Gareth Blockley

: 2nd January

Chinnor
3 Lesser Redpoll: St Andrew's Churchyard. SP755009. 09:30.

Jez March

New Hinksey, Oxford 2nd January

Yellow-browed Warbler still by Donnington Bridge (about here) and showing well at 9:45 am

 Peter Law et al.

Otmoor 1st January

 

Marsh Harrier second screen.(c) Bark

Charney Bassett: 1st January

Charney Bassett
Raven: Agressively pursuing rooks. A raven was later seen about 1/4 of a mile away, from the Buckland Road, flying over the fields towards Gainfield. SU380943. 13:31.

JB Woodford

Crawley: River Windrush: 1st January

Crawley: River Windrush
Woodcock: Flew from a small copse. 15:00.
2 Marsh Tit: 1 in small copse sw of River and 1 calling from garden near the Lamb Inn. 15:00.

Jed Cleeter

Oxford Lye Valley 1st January

Firecrest c09:39 (per Tom Bedford).

Leafield: 1st January

Leafield
2 Raven 13:00.
65 Golden Plover 13:00.

Jed Cleeter

Mapledurham New Years Day 1st January 2023

Little Grebe - on lake at M/d Golf Course. Stonechat x 2 M & F hedgerow on Chiltern Way. Blackcap - M. Greenfinches x 3 M & F. Chiffchaff x 3 - on manure heap. Grey Wagtail - on manure heap. Kestrel x 2. Buzzard x 2. Green Woodpecker - F. Redwing x 5. Fieldfare - on apple tree. Pied Wagtail 20+ in field off Chiltern Way. Meadow Pippit 20+ in field off Chiltern Way. Dunnock x 2. Jay x 3. Long Tailed Tits x 3. Chaffinches x 8 M & F. Linnet x 20 + M & F. Wren x 2.

Standlake, 1st January

Pit 27

Ring-necked Duck m+f

Goosander 3m, 2 R/H

Egyptian Goose 4

Ring-necked Ducks © David Hastings

Pylon field

Lots of Lapwing, gulls and ducks on the flood

Great White Egret 1

David Hastings

Dix Pit: 1st January

Dix Pit
2 Great White Egret 16:17.
2 Red-crested Pochard 16:17.
6 Pintail 16:17.
9 Raven: Flock on landfill. 16:17.

Simon Bradfield

Appleford GPs

Ring-necked duck - female still on riverside pit

Brambling - again one bird with mixed finch flock by riverside pit. 

Oxford 1st January

Yellow-browed Warbler on north side of Donnington Bridge 11:45  a.m.

(per Gnome, Nick Truby, Phil Barnett).

Firecrest by scrapyard bridge, leading into Aston’s Eyot c11:48 + Crossbill briefly (P.J).

Both photos courtesy of Nick Truby.

Otmoor rspb 1st January

Hen Harrier rt from the 1st screen 08:15 (per Luke O'Byrne).

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