Standlake Pit 60
Pintail: f/imm (prob latter but a bit distant). A recent arrival.
Mick Cunningham
Blog Header Text
For questions you can contact Adam at: adamchartley "at" gmail "dot" com or Jason at: jasoncppk "at" yahoo "dot" co "dot" uk
Sunday 30 September 2018
Worton: 30th September
Worton
Shelduck: SP460110.
3 Pintail: Eclipse. SP460110.
40 Cormorant: SP460110.
110 Lapwing: SP460110.
Derek Evans
Shelduck: SP460110.
3 Pintail: Eclipse. SP460110.
40 Cormorant: SP460110.
110 Lapwing: SP460110.
Derek Evans
Otmoor Sunday 30th September Correction
Oops! The bird seen this morning has been re-identified as a transitional plumaged Male Marsh Harrier in its second calendar year. (picture to follow)
apologies.
Bark
apologies.
Bark
Farmoor 30th September
09:00-12:00
Ringed Plover 5
Dunlin 2
Red-crested Pochard fem
Warblers incl Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Com Whitethroat
Stonechat (Pinkhill)
No sign of BN Grebe
Old Caley's Diary
Ringed Plover 5
Dunlin 2
Red-crested Pochard fem
Warblers incl Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Com Whitethroat
Stonechat (Pinkhill)
No sign of BN Grebe
Old Caley's Diary
Otmoor 30th September
Juv Montagu's Harrier flew south over the reedbed mid morning
Per Peter Barker
Sent from my iPhone
Per Peter Barker
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday 29 September 2018
Farmoor ringed gull (September 16th)
This juvenile Great Black Backed Gull was seen on F1 on Sept 16th (eating a coot...). It was ringed as a pullus on the Ferkingstad Islands off the west coast of southern Norway on July 14th, see map. A distance of just under 1000km as the larid flys.
Farmoor 29th September
Black-necked Grebe on Farmoor 1 near boat moorings 9:25 am per Dai
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Friday 28 September 2018
Thursday 27 September 2018
Farmoor 27th September
juv Arctic Tern - still present on causeway around 13:10 until flushed by walkers
Wednesday 26 September 2018
Buckland Warren: 26th September
Buckland Warren
2 Spotted Flycatcher: juv. 13:00.
3 Raven 13:00.
Jeremy Dexter
2 Spotted Flycatcher: juv. 13:00.
3 Raven 13:00.
Jeremy Dexter
Tuesday 25 September 2018
Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 25th September
Balscote: Balscote Quarry
2 Stonechat: m. 14:30.
Peregrine: Mobbing a Buzzard. 14:30.
Mark Ribbons
2 Stonechat: m. 14:30.
Peregrine: Mobbing a Buzzard. 14:30.
Mark Ribbons
Standlake Pit 60: 25th September
Standlake Pit 60
Great White Egret: Moved to here from pit 38 Hope it winters.
2 Water Rail: 1 heard near north hide. Another running around mud on South shore.
Mick Cunningham
Great White Egret: Moved to here from pit 38 Hope it winters.
2 Water Rail: 1 heard near north hide. Another running around mud on South shore.
Mick Cunningham
Standlake: 25th September
Great White Egret: On pit immediately west of pit 60. Viewable from southern end of Shifford Lane ie just beyond where path turns left to pit 60 north hide.
Mick Cunningham
Sarsgrove: 24th September
Sarsgrove
2 Stonechat: ad pair. On close cropped hedge on field margin - feeding constantly. 16:30.
Steve Akers
2 Stonechat: ad pair. On close cropped hedge on field margin - feeding constantly. 16:30.
Steve Akers
Monday 24 September 2018
Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 24th September
Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Stonechat: male. In front of screen. Work will be carried out this week to re-profile the quarry floor, creating islands and deeper areas to benefit breeding waders and roosting curlew. Project supported by Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment and BOS. 17:30.
Steve Holliday
Stonechat: male. In front of screen. Work will be carried out this week to re-profile the quarry floor, creating islands and deeper areas to benefit breeding waders and roosting curlew. Project supported by Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment and BOS. 17:30.
Steve Holliday
Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 24th September
Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
Pintail: ecl drk.
9 Wigeon
14 Little Grebe
Yellow-legged Gull: ad w/p.
Derek Evans
Pintail: ecl drk.
9 Wigeon
14 Little Grebe
Yellow-legged Gull: ad w/p.
Derek Evans
Farmoor 24th
2 Arctic Tern juvs
1 Yellow Wagtail
2 Ringed Plover
2 Dunlin
1 Common tern
1 Sparrowhawk
Per A.L & Dai
Sent from my iPhone
1 Yellow Wagtail
2 Ringed Plover
2 Dunlin
1 Common tern
1 Sparrowhawk
Per A.L & Dai
Sent from my iPhone
Sonning Eye GPs: 24th September
Sonning Eye GPs
2 Arctic Tern: ad+juv. Per Adam Bassett. 11:45.
Marek Walford
2 Arctic Tern: ad+juv. Per Adam Bassett. 11:45.
Marek Walford
Sonning Eye GPs: 24th September
Sonning Eye GPs
Grey Phalarope: Per Adam Bassett. 11:15.
Marek Walford
Grey Phalarope: Per Adam Bassett. 11:15.
Marek Walford
Sunday 23 September 2018
Sonning Eye GPs: 23rd September
Sonning Eye GPs
Grey Phalarope 17:40.
Arctic Tern: imm. 17:40.
Marek Walford
Grey Phalarope 17:40.
Arctic Tern: imm. 17:40.
Marek Walford
Lark Hill 23rd September
Marsh Harrier (juv) through low to S
Whinchat
Stonechat (f)
3 Wheatear
5 Chiffchaff
Whinchat
Stonechat (f)
3 Wheatear
5 Chiffchaff
Appleford New Workings 23rd September
Caspian Gull (1stw)
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper 2
Snipe
Peregrine
Stock Dove 3
Peregrine
Stock Dove 3
Stonechat
Whinchat 2
Wheatear 3
Meadow Pipit 40+
Yellowhammer 5
(Badger, Jerry Quin)
Whinchat 2
Wheatear 3
Meadow Pipit 40+
Yellowhammer 5
(Badger, Jerry Quin)
Sonning Eye GPs: 23rd September
Sonning Eye GPs
2 Sandwich Tern: Circling the lake for c5 minutes calling, but never came down, then flew off S. No sign of Grey Phal. 11:25.
Marek Walford
2 Sandwich Tern: Circling the lake for c5 minutes calling, but never came down, then flew off S. No sign of Grey Phal. 11:25.
Marek Walford
Saturday 22 September 2018
Stratfield Brake: 22nd September
Stratfield Brake
2 Wigeon 08:40.
24 Teal 08:40.
Little Egret 08:40.
Spotted Flycatcher: With tit flock along canal. 08:40.
Derek Evans
2 Wigeon 08:40.
24 Teal 08:40.
Little Egret 08:40.
Spotted Flycatcher: With tit flock along canal. 08:40.
Derek Evans
Farmoor 22nd September
Sonning Eye GPs: 22nd September
Sonning Eye GPs
Grey Phalarope: With. M.W. H.N. And R.S. 10:00.
Ralph Watts
Grey Phalarope: With. M.W. H.N. And R.S. 10:00.
Ralph Watts
Grimsbury Reservoir 22nd September
Arctic Tern c09:55 (JFT)
No sign of the Grey Phalarope by 08:30 (per John Friendship-Taylor et al).
No sign of the Grey Phalarope by 08:30 (per John Friendship-Taylor et al).
Friday 21 September 2018
Grimsbury Reservoir 21st September
Grimsbury Reservoir 21st September
GREY PHALAROPE in S/E corner of the reservoir 17:48 (per John Friendship-Taylor)
Standlake Pit 60: 21st September
Standlake Pit 60
Spotted Flycatcher: With tit flock at N end of Langley lane No waders!
Mick Cunningham
Spotted Flycatcher: With tit flock at N end of Langley lane No waders!
Mick Cunningham
Thursday 20 September 2018
Rushey Common lake, 20th September
Little Egret 1ad 2 juv
Hobby 2 feeding close to hide
Common Sandpiper
Dunlin 2 flew behind island near owl box
1 unknown wader disturbed by grass cutter not seen again.
Clackers & Mrs Clackers
Hobby 2 feeding close to hide
Common Sandpiper
Dunlin 2 flew behind island near owl box
1 unknown wader disturbed by grass cutter not seen again.
Clackers & Mrs Clackers
Wednesday 19 September 2018
Bicester Wetland Reserve 19th September
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Green Sandpiper
1 Snipe
1 Water Rail
53 Teal
4 Gadwall
3 Chiffchaff
Key Holder Reserve
Alan Peters
2 Green Sandpiper
1 Snipe
1 Water Rail
53 Teal
4 Gadwall
3 Chiffchaff
Key Holder Reserve
Alan Peters
19th September Oxford, Walton Manor
Ring-necked Parakeet flew south along Kingston Road at 7:37 a.m. this morning.
Maybe the same bird that was seen at Headington Hill yesterday?
Maybe the same bird that was seen at Headington Hill yesterday?
Tuesday 18 September 2018
Oxford 18th September
Ring-necked Parakeet flew over Headington Hill heading S/W c09:00
(per Dave Doherty)
Raven 2
(per Dave Doherty)
Farmoor Reservoir: Farmoor I: 16th September
Belated report from Sunday:
5 Common Sandpiper: north shore.
3 Wigeon: 1 ecl male, 2 fem. west shore.
2 Yellow-legged Gull: ad. by water tower.
Farmoor Reservoir: Pinkhill
Hobby
Alan Horsley
5 Common Sandpiper: north shore.
3 Wigeon: 1 ecl male, 2 fem. west shore.
2 Yellow-legged Gull: ad. by water tower.
Farmoor Reservoir: Pinkhill
Hobby
Alan Horsley
Monday 17 September 2018
Chinnor: Cement Works: 17th September
Chinnor: Cement Works
Common Sandpiper: Lake 2b.
Hobby: 1 flew south over site.
David Stracey
Common Sandpiper: Lake 2b.
Hobby: 1 flew south over site.
David Stracey
Otmoor 17th September: evening
Short-eared Owl
Barn Owl
Tawny Owl
Whinchat
Yellow Wagtail 40
Whitethroat
Port Meadow: 17th September
17th September
Port Meadow
35 Yellow Wagtail: Central meadow with cattle at 0835.
Whinchat: Lower Wolvercote allotments. 07:30.
Derek Evans
Port Meadow
35 Yellow Wagtail: Central meadow with cattle at 0835.
Whinchat: Lower Wolvercote allotments. 07:30.
Derek Evans
Sunday 16 September 2018
Port Meadow Saturday 15th September
From yesterday:
Whinchat (looking like an adult female) on the Lower Wolvercote allotments (the ones on the Meadow) Saturday, at 3:45pm, hanging around on the fence and taller plants on the allotments.
Also 20+ Yellow Wagtails feeding by the cattle by the same spot.
per Nick Boyd
Whinchat (looking like an adult female) on the Lower Wolvercote allotments (the ones on the Meadow) Saturday, at 3:45pm, hanging around on the fence and taller plants on the allotments.
Also 20+ Yellow Wagtails feeding by the cattle by the same spot.
per Nick Boyd
Thrupp 15th September
Pied Flycatcher reported yesterday just north of Kidlington at Thrupp in bushes by canal at
LWV Pit 10: 16th September
LWV Pit 10
Little Gull: 1w. Brief circuit, left to the W. 10:30.
Mark Merritt
Little Gull: 1w. Brief circuit, left to the W. 10:30.
Mark Merritt
Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 16th September
Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
85 Teal
77 Shoveler
76 Gadwall
7 Wigeon
Mandarin Duck: fem.
13 Little Grebe
17 Great Crested Grebe
Kingfisher
Bob Pomfret
85 Teal
77 Shoveler
76 Gadwall
7 Wigeon
Mandarin Duck: fem.
13 Little Grebe
17 Great Crested Grebe
Kingfisher
Bob Pomfret
Saturday 15 September 2018
Otmoor 15th September
Golden Plover one flying over
Hobby
Cetti's Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Lark Hill 15th September pm
5 Whinchat
11 Meadow Pipit
c20 Corn Bunting
300+ Swallow
A.M: per SNT
11 Meadow Pipit
c20 Corn Bunting
300+ Swallow
A.M: per SNT
Whinchat 1
Grey Plover 1, flying east, calling
West Ginge to Scutchamer Knob: 15th Sep.
Woodcock
Spotted Flycatcher
4 Raven (2 pairs)
2 Wheatear
Whinchat
Spotted Flycatcher
4 Raven (2 pairs)
2 Wheatear
Whinchat
Friday 14 September 2018
Stratfield Brake: 14th September
Stratfield Brake
10 Gadwall
14 Teal
25 Pied Wagtail: On the playing fields.
Stonechat: male.
Cetti's Warbler
Raven
Derek Evans
10 Gadwall
14 Teal
25 Pied Wagtail: On the playing fields.
Stonechat: male.
Cetti's Warbler
Raven
Derek Evans
Thursday 13 September 2018
Farmoor Reservoir: 13th September
Farmoor Reservoir
Wheatear: f. In addition to Steve G's birds, the wheatear was on the causeway. Looked suspiciously like a Greenland.
Ringed Plover: juv. Flew in and landed on E Bank of F1.
Mick Cunningham
Wheatear: f. In addition to Steve G's birds, the wheatear was on the causeway. Looked suspiciously like a Greenland.
Ringed Plover: juv. Flew in and landed on E Bank of F1.
Mick Cunningham
Farmoor - 13th September am
5 Redshank - mobile flock on causeway & F2
3+ Common Sands
2 Yellow Wagtail - on E side F1 initially, then causeway. No sign later
1 Kingfisher
+plenty of dragonflies still on the meadows near the Thames
3+ Common Sands
2 Yellow Wagtail - on E side F1 initially, then causeway. No sign later
1 Kingfisher
+plenty of dragonflies still on the meadows near the Thames
Kingfisher (c) Stephen Burch
Garden Bird
This bird sits in our Silver Birch in our garden in the middle of Bicester, how times have changed. In the late 1970's a friend and I used to drive to central Wales for a big day out hoping to see a rare Red Kite.
Alan Peters
Alan Peters
Otmoor.A.M. 13th September.
6+ Yellow Wagtail
1 Whinchat ( per DD.)
15 Meadow Pipit
2+ Kingfisher
7 Snipe
2 Hobby
1 Raven (over)
1 Wigeon (per PW).
1 Whinchat ( per DD.)
15 Meadow Pipit
2+ Kingfisher
7 Snipe
2 Hobby
1 Raven (over)
1 Wigeon (per PW).
Wednesday 12 September 2018
Standlake Pit 60: 12th September
Probable 4 Green Sandpiper: Almost certainly Green Sandpiper (white rump in flight). Watched for 30 minutes on the shore to the right of the Langley lane Hide. 15:00.
Probable Little Ringed Plover: Pretty sure this was a LP though yellow eye ring not clearly visible. 15:30. Ian Chatt
Standlake Pit 60: 12th September
Standlake Pit 60
Probable 4 Green Sandpiper: Almost certainly Green Sandpiper (white rump in flight). Watched for 30 minutes on the shore to the right of the Langley lane Hide. 15:00.
Ian Chatt
Probable 4 Green Sandpiper: Almost certainly Green Sandpiper (white rump in flight). Watched for 30 minutes on the shore to the right of the Langley lane Hide. 15:00.
Ian Chatt
Oxford: Aston's Eyot: 12th September
Oxford: Aston's Eyot
Spotted Flycatcher: in bird party with tits, treecreeper; presumably on passge.
Anthony Cheke
Spotted Flycatcher: in bird party with tits, treecreeper; presumably on passge.
Anthony Cheke
Bicester Wetland Reserve 12th September
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Black-tailed Godwit landed briefly then flushed by farmer checking his cows grazing the reserve.
2 Little Egret
2 Heron
22 Teal
1 Little Grebe
Key Holder Reserve
Alan Peters
2 Black-tailed Godwit landed briefly then flushed by farmer checking his cows grazing the reserve.
2 Little Egret
2 Heron
22 Teal
1 Little Grebe
Key Holder Reserve
Alan Peters
Farmoor: 11th September
1 Juvenile Arctic Tern flew through (15.30)
92 Snow Geese
7 Common Sandpiper
Herring Gull with hooked bill
2 Hobby
92 Snow Geese
7 Common Sandpiper
Herring Gull with hooked bill
2 Hobby
Tuesday 11 September 2018
Lollingdon: 11th Sep
1 Pied Flycatcher
3+ Spotted Flycatcher
3 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Willow Warbler
2 Blackcap
10 + Chiffchaff
1 Hobby
C250 House Martin over
3+ Spotted Flycatcher
3 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Willow Warbler
2 Blackcap
10 + Chiffchaff
1 Hobby
C250 House Martin over
Standlake Pit 60: 10th September
Standlake Pit 60
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper: Juv.
Ringed Plover: Heard several times but couldn't locate. Flying around.
Mick Cunningham
Green Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper: Juv.
Ringed Plover: Heard several times but couldn't locate. Flying around.
Mick Cunningham
Monday 10 September 2018
Otmoor 10th September evening
Yellow Wagtail 78 going to roost in the reeds
Barn Owl 1 using posts in The Closes around dusk
Roby's
Barn Owl 1 using posts in The Closes around dusk
Roby's
Chinnor: Cement Works: 10th September
Chinnor: Cement Works
3 Common Sandpiper: On the Eastern side of Lake 2b.
David Stracey
3 Common Sandpiper: On the Eastern side of Lake 2b.
David Stracey
Farmoor Reservoir 10th September
Bicester Wetland Reserve 10th September
1 Dunlin
4 Green Sandpiper
2 Snipe
2 Heron
22 Teal
3 Gadwall
3 Swallows
65 Starlings
Key Holder Reserve
Alan Peters
4 Green Sandpiper
2 Snipe
2 Heron
22 Teal
3 Gadwall
3 Swallows
65 Starlings
Key Holder Reserve
Alan Peters
Sunday 9 September 2018
Otmoor, 9th September
Saturday 8 September 2018
Farmoor Reservoir: 8th September
Churn, 8th September
10:00-13:00
Wheatear
Swallow 100+ moving through with similar numbers of House Martins
Common Whitethroat
Chiffchaff 3
Old Caley's Diary
Wheatear
Swallow 100+ moving through with similar numbers of House Martins
Common Whitethroat
Chiffchaff 3
Old Caley's Diary
August Review & News
Roseate Tern courtesy of Jeremy Dexter
|
The return migration month of August started with a flourish as two local megas landed in the county in quick succession. Things then settled into a rather more predictable pattern before some further notable birds passed through towards month's end.
Bird of the month has to be the gorgeous adult Roseate Tern that delighted a small crowd of observers at Farmoor Reservoir on the afternoon and evening of 9th. This was the ninth record for Oxfordshire. Though there have been other mostly brief sightings in the recent past, this latest bird was by far the easiest to connect with, allowing several county listers to add it to their life totals. 2018 has incidentally been a modern record breeding year for the species in Britain.
Three days earlier on 6th, a Pectoral Sandpiper was viewed late in the day and filmed distantly on active gravel workings near Appleford. This is a site with no public access and parking at the viewpoint is very limited, so any mobilisation of the county's finest would have been problematic. In any case there was no sign of the bird the following day. The most recent previous Oxon records of Pec Sand were three individuals in 2007.
Pectoral Sandpiper courtesy of Badger
After this excitement a lull in notable migrants ensued until on 22nd a Pied Flycatcher visited a garden in Chinnor. There were also earlier sightings of that locally scarce passerine at Lockinge near Wantage on 10th and 11th.
Pied Flycatcher courtesy of David Stracey |
On 25th a Wryneck was found on private land in Abingdon. Due to site sensitivities the bird was also untwitchable, but with good numbers currently being recorded nationally this rather cryptic species will be one to look out for over the coming weeks.
Wryneck courtesy of BB |
The month's most popular migrant with our photographers was possibly a juvenile Knot that arrived at Farmoor Reservoir on 25th and remained until month's end. Like many young birds born in the remote wastes of the Tundra and heading south, this plump and rather immaculate wader displayed a total indifference to human attention. It thus afforded more of the kind of close picture opportunities the site is known for at this time year.
Knot courtesy of Peter Law |
The Best of the Rest
On Otmoor the first Short-eared Owls of approaching autumn, two birds were noted on 27th. Meanwhile the RSPB reserve's summer pair of Common Crane were seen stretching their wings, presumably prior to departure, a number of times towards the end of the month. We can only wish these much loved visitors better luck with raising young in 2019.
Common Cranes courtesy of Moth Clark |
At Farmoor juvenile Mediterranean Gull were logged twice on 18th and 28th, then Black Tern passage resumed as the month closed (31st).
Mediterranean Gull courtesy of Jeremy Dexter |
Black Tern courtesy of Jeremy Dexter |
There was a steady wader passage throughout August. Prominent amongst the regular species - at wetland sites throughout the county and Farmoor Reservoir - were Common and Green Sandpiper and Greenshank; while Sanderling, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit were all well represented.
Greenshank courtesy of Nick Truby |
Common Sandpiper courtesy of Jim Hutchins |
Green Sandpiper courtesy of Mick Cunningham |
Sanderling courtesy of Peter Law |
Turnstone courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
Black-tailed Godwit courtesy of Tezzer |
Our dedicated patch watchers across Oxfordshire also turned up a constant stream of small passerine records. Notable amongst these were Common Redstart, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear, as is usual in this period. As in July good numbers of Spotted Flycatcher including family parties were logged at various locations.
Redstart courtesy of Jim Hutchins |
Whinchat courtesy of Badger
Wheatear courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
All this serves to demonstrate just what can be seen in the countryside in late summer if everything is checked thoroughly enough, though I for one prefer to let others do most of the hard work! As autumn passage continues through September and into October we will all be hoping for a few rare waders or passerines to further enliven the pages of this blog.
Meet Our New Regular Monthly Reviewer
Peter Law has now agreed to become the regular compiler of this monthly review for Oxon Birding. But contributions from other local birders remain very welcome since different styles and viewpoints can only enhance the quality of our county web-site. So if anyone else would like to have a go at any time, please contact either Adam or Jason.
Peter Law |
Oxon Birding now even more mobile friendly.
We are trying out a more mobile friendly format for the blog when viewed on mobile devices.
The idea behind it is to make it easier to manage and quicker to search when out in the field.
There is still the option to view Oxonbirding in its original format from a mobile by selecting the
'View web version' at the bottom of the feed, as always we welcome your feedback.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)