Crowell
Hobby: Seen from the pub garden! 13:00.
Jim Rose
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For questions you can contact Adam at: adamchartley "at" gmail "dot" com or Jason at: jasoncppk "at" yahoo "dot" co "dot" uk
Sunday 30 June 2019
Saturday 29 June 2019
Goring 28th June
River Thames, above Goring
2 Egyptian Goose: Ad with one small gosling, on restaurant-side water. SU601823. 21:00.
Mike Amphlett
2 Egyptian Goose: Ad with one small gosling, on restaurant-side water. SU601823. 21:00.
Mike Amphlett
Thursday 27 June 2019
Wednesday 26 June 2019
Bicester Wetland Reserve 26th June
1 Green Sandpiper (first of the "autumn" period)
8 Lapwing
2 Teal
15 Gadwall
50 House Martin
15 Swift
juvenile Sedge Warblers being fed away from nest in the reed bed
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
8 Lapwing
2 Teal
15 Gadwall
50 House Martin
15 Swift
juvenile Sedge Warblers being fed away from nest in the reed bed
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
Sunday 23 June 2019
Sutton Courtenay: 23rd June
Sutton Courtenay
Grasshopper Warbler: One reeling this morning in meadow by weir. SU504946. 17:44.
Conor MacKenzie
Grasshopper Warbler: One reeling this morning in meadow by weir. SU504946. 17:44.
Conor MacKenzie
Thursday 20 June 2019
Otmoor rspb 20th June
Black-tailed Godwit 2 briefly this morning in front of the 1st screen (per Norman Smith)
All photos courtesy of Norman Smith.
Wednesday 19 June 2019
Bicester Wetland Reserve Wednesday 19th June
1 Redshank
10 Lapwing
1 Heron
28 Gadwall
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
10 Lapwing
1 Heron
28 Gadwall
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
Tuesday 18 June 2019
Sunday 16 June 2019
Blenheim: Grand Bridge: 16th June
Blenheim: Grand Bridge
30 Sand Martin: Colony very busy, lots of activity around the nest holes on the Bridge. 12:30.
Little Grebe 12:30.
Bob Pomfret
30 Sand Martin: Colony very busy, lots of activity around the nest holes on the Bridge. 12:30.
Little Grebe 12:30.
Bob Pomfret
Blenheim: Queen Pool: 16th June
Blenheim: Queen Pool
4 Shelduck: 2 adults with 2 young (about 1 week old) on the water behind the jetty. 12:30.
32 Gadwall 12:30.
Bob Pomfret
4 Shelduck: 2 adults with 2 young (about 1 week old) on the water behind the jetty. 12:30.
32 Gadwall 12:30.
Bob Pomfret
Saturday 15 June 2019
Beckley: Otmoor Lane: 15th June
Beckley: Otmoor Lane
Grasshopper Warbler: Heard near car park. 10:20.
Ian Paine
Grasshopper Warbler: Heard near car park. 10:20.
Ian Paine
Friday 14 June 2019
Standlake Pit 60: Friday 14 June am
1 LRP
2 Common Tern
2m Teal (early or late?!)
Swifts, Sand Martin
2 Common Tern
2m Teal (early or late?!)
Little Ringed Plover (c) Stephen Burch
For a larger image go to this page on my website
Thursday 13 June 2019
Port Meadow: 13th June
Port Meadow
2 Oystercatcher: On the re-formed floods. 08:29.
20 Black-headed Gull: ad + 1 juv. First juvenile bird of the year. 08:29.
Adam Hartley
2 Oystercatcher: On the re-formed floods. 08:29.
20 Black-headed Gull: ad + 1 juv. First juvenile bird of the year. 08:29.
Adam Hartley
Wednesday 12 June 2019
Bicester Wetland Reserve Wednesday 12 June
2 Oystercatchers- first of the year at reserve
7 Lapwing
1 Little Grebe
20 plus Gadwall
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
7 Lapwing
1 Little Grebe
20 plus Gadwall
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
Tuesday 11 June 2019
Ringed Dunlin – 25 May - Farmoor Reservoir
I’ve mixed views on ringing,
initially wondering why 3 rings then becoming increasingly curious what history may be available
– I can’t have it both ways. Just
received the following response from the Mid Wales Ringing Group
>>> This
is the first report since it was ringed (BT74263) as a juvenile on 19th
September 2016 at Ynyslas National Nature Reserve near
Aberystwyth, Wales
The
colour-ringing is part of a project aiming to study the origins, destinations
and turn-over rates of Dunlin using this important (RAMSAR designated)
migration stop-over site on the West Wales coast. In the last three years over
4,000 Dunlin have been individually colour-ringed with many sighting reported
around Britain and Ireland as well as movements recorded to or from Greenland,
Iceland, Faero Islands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, France,
Spain, Portugal, Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia. <<<
Port Meadow: The Perch: 11th June
Port Meadow: The Perch
Oystercatcher: Seen at different points on or close to river bank between the Perch and sailing club. 14:15.
Andrew Siantonas
Oystercatcher: Seen at different points on or close to river bank between the Perch and sailing club. 14:15.
Andrew Siantonas
Sunday 9th June, Port Meadow
Bicester Wetland Reserve Tuesday 11th June
5 Lapwing
26 Gadwall
20 House Martin feeding low over water in rain
Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap
2-3 Reed Bunting
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
26 Gadwall
20 House Martin feeding low over water in rain
Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap
2-3 Reed Bunting
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
Monday 10 June 2019
Thame: Cuttle Brook: 10th June
Thame: Cuttle Brook
Little Egret: Flying around the Cuttle Brook area for approx. 30 minutes. SP700059. 17:30.
Mike Bond
Little Egret: Flying around the Cuttle Brook area for approx. 30 minutes. SP700059. 17:30.
Mike Bond
Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 10th June
Otmoor: RSPB reserve
7 Redshank 15:00.
2 Shelduck: pair. 15:00.
Marsh Harrier 15:00.
2 Cuckoo: One over Moorleys; one calling from large tree close to 2nd screen adjacent to path. 15:00.
6 Sedge Warbler: At least six singing males. 15:00.
Steve Akers
7 Redshank 15:00.
2 Shelduck: pair. 15:00.
Marsh Harrier 15:00.
2 Cuckoo: One over Moorleys; one calling from large tree close to 2nd screen adjacent to path. 15:00.
6 Sedge Warbler: At least six singing males. 15:00.
Steve Akers
Sunday 9 June 2019
Stanton St. John: Stanton Great Wood: 9th June
Stanton St. John: Stanton Great Wood
Cuckoo 12:46.
David Brown
Cuckoo 12:46.
David Brown
Saturday 8 June 2019
Churn Area 8th June
Corn Bunting 5 singing males
Yellowhammer 3 singing males
Common Whitethroat 6 singing males
Grey Partridge 1
Friday 7 June 2019
Otmoor. Sad news.
Paul Greenaway, a familiar and much loved face to many Otmoor regulars and visitors, has sadly passed away. He died, peacefully in his chair at home on the 28th. May.
A simple service will be held at the Oxford crematorium at 2.30pm, on the 24th. June.
We will miss him.
Thame: Cuttle Brook: 7th June
Thame: Cuttle Brook
Little Egret: Flew SE along Cuttle Brook. SP700059. 17:45.
Mike Bond
Little Egret: Flew SE along Cuttle Brook. SP700059. 17:45.
Mike Bond
Farmoor Reservoir 7th June
1245-1315hrs
Sanderling 1
Common Redshank 1
Common Swift 80+
House Martin 30+
Sand Martin 10+
European Swallow 10+
Yellow legged Gull 2
Sanderling 1
Common Redshank 1
Common Swift 80+
House Martin 30+
Sand Martin 10+
European Swallow 10+
Yellow legged Gull 2
Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 7th June
Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Cuckoo: Flew in from north and left to southeast. 08:25.
Steve Holliday
Cuckoo: Flew in from north and left to southeast. 08:25.
Steve Holliday
Thursday 6 June 2019
Sydlings Copse nr Beckley 6th June
2 Quail calling in fields either side of Sydlings Copse this afternoon (per Will Langdon)
Wednesday 5 June 2019
Thame: Cuttle Brook: 5th June
Thame: Cuttle Brook
20 Swift: various. Previously only seen a few adults. These were clearly several family groups. SP700058. 19:30.
Mike Bond
20 Swift: various. Previously only seen a few adults. These were clearly several family groups. SP700058. 19:30.
Mike Bond
Beckley 5th June
2 adult Mediterranean gulls circling over Folly Farm, Beckley this afternoon (per Fergus)
Garsington: 5th June
Garsington
Cuckoo: Bird seen, probably the same bird heard in Denton & Chippinghurst. 15:49.
2 Grey Partridge 15:49.
Stephen Lockey
Cuckoo: Bird seen, probably the same bird heard in Denton & Chippinghurst. 15:49.
2 Grey Partridge 15:49.
Stephen Lockey
Tuesday 4 June 2019
Farmoor Reservoir 4th June
Monday 3 June 2019
Stanton St. John: Stanton Great Wood: 3rd June
Stanton St. John: Stanton Great Wood
Cuckoo 10:27.
David Brown
Cuckoo 10:27.
David Brown
Sunday 2 June 2019
Headington: Warneford Hospital: 2nd June
2nd June
Headington: Warneford Hospital
5 Grey Wagtail: 2 ad + 3 juv. 08:40.
Reed Warbler 09:15.
Isaac West
Headington: Warneford Hospital
5 Grey Wagtail: 2 ad + 3 juv. 08:40.
Reed Warbler 09:15.
Isaac West
Stanton St. John: Stanton Great Wood: 2nd June
Stanton St. John: Stanton Great Wood
Cuckoo 11:48.
David Brown
Cuckoo 11:48.
David Brown
Rushy Common car park.
Notice for Rushy Common and Tar Lakes visitors:
Improvement works will be starting on the Rushy Common car park during week commencing 3rd June 2019. The car park will be closed during the works for up to 2 weeks.
Apologies for any inconvenience.
Crog Hill & Woolstone Down: 2nd June
4 Curlew
2 Raven
2 Grey Partridge
20 Skylark
19 Corn Bunting
2 Meadow Pipit
4 Yellow Wagtail (inc. 'channel' type)
2 Raven
2 Grey Partridge
20 Skylark
19 Corn Bunting
2 Meadow Pipit
4 Yellow Wagtail (inc. 'channel' type)
Saturday 1 June 2019
Garsington: 1st June
Garsington
Hobby: Flew over sports ground. 18:00.
Cuckoo calling below Sports ground 15:00
Adrian Bletchly
Hobby: Flew over sports ground. 18:00.
Cuckoo calling below Sports ground 15:00
Adrian Bletchly
Farmoor Reservoir: 1st June
Farmoor Reservoir
Common Sandpiper 09:28.
Dunlin 09:28.
Ringed Plover 09:28.
4 Sanderling 09:28.
Tom Wickens
Common Sandpiper 09:28.
Dunlin 09:28.
Ringed Plover 09:28.
4 Sanderling 09:28.
Tom Wickens
May Review
Red-rumped Swallow at Grimsbury Reservoir, courtesy of Nick Truby |
As spring progressed with more twists and nuances of the passage season, the early days of May produced two outstanding records for Oxfordshire. Thereafter migration pulses matched a changeable weather pattern through the month with movements of Terns, waders and passerines all featuring on and off in this log, and more besides.
Grey-headed Wagtail in Port Meadow, courtesy of Thomas Miller Click on any image to enlarge |
Continuing April's theme of infrequent flava-type Wagtail taxa, a male Grey-headed Wagtail was discovered on the dried out Port Meadow floods on the evening of 1st. The sub-species M f thunbergi is most usually found in Scandinavia, with just a few turning up in the British Isles each year, so it was quite a find locally. This variety had visited our county only twice before, both times in 1992. The new Port Meadow bird drew an excited contingent of Oxon's finest birders that evening, but in the morning it had moved on.
Video courtesy of Gnome
Given the number of British records through April it always seemed likely Oxfordshire would score a Red-rumped Swallow this spring. The Oxon birding airwaves duly came alive on 3rd when the nationally rare hirundine materialised early in the day on the perimeter fence at Grimsbury Reservoir, Banbury. This bird returned in the evening then, with cold northerly winds holding up onward migration repeated that pattern on Saturday (4th) and lingered into Sunday; allowing some grateful growing listers (<230) in the county to add it to their life totals.
The image that announced this find to the Oxon and wider birding communities Courtesy of John Friendship-Taylor |
The fourth record for Oxon and the first since 2012 was a huge local mega for the patch affectionately known as "Grimbo" or "The Soap Dish", and the rarest bird ever recorded there. As one of the dedicated band of birders who watch the site through every day commented this is the stuff that any patcher at a lesser known inland water body dreams about. The "Rumper", that continued to return with low cloud for another eight days until the weather changed after 11th, must also be our county bird of the month. It was certainly the most testing of our photographers' skills as many endeavoured to capture it well.
Red-rumped Swallow, courtesy of Steve Burch (above) and Ewan Urquhart (below) |
Not quite so obliging was the Hoopoe which graced an Aston garden with its presence on 13th. Unfortunately and despite valiant attempts to gain access for the wider birding community, the opportunity was frustratingly denied by the owner.
Courtesy of Paul Wren. |
The second week of May brought a major movement of Black Tern through inland sites across England, and Oxfordshire got its share of the action. A flock variously counted at 35 and upward made an impressive spectacle for most of the day at Farmoor Reservoir on 7th, that date's second highest national tally amongst more than 230 sightings. The best counts from other sites were 10 at Baulking Pit (7th), 9 at LWV Pit 10 (8th) and 7 more through Sonning Eye GPs (8th). A further influx moved through just over a week later, with 10 Black Tern visiting Farmoor on 16th then more in the next few days.
Farmoor Black Terns, courtesy of Kyle Smith |
Black-necked Grebe, courtesy of John Workman |
Amongst other notable birds during the latter half of May a smart Black-necked Grebe in breeding plumage visited Farmoor Reservoir just for one afternoon on 16th. The following morning a Little Tern passed through there. Five Bittern were seen in one morning at RSPB Otmoor on 24th, including four circling over the reed bed together, while a Great White Egret was noted at the reserve on a few occasions.
Bittern cluster over Otmoor, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
The Best of the Rest
Intermittent blustery conditions with heavy showers in the first half of May ramped up wader passage through the county, with watchers of different sites logging up to 10 different species in a single day. The two best examples, both on 8th were:
- Grey Plover, Turnstone, Knot, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Sanderling at Farmoor
- Knot, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and Redshank at Otmoor
Passage Grey Plover, Knot and Turnstone at Farmoor Reservoir, courtesy of Terry Sherlock |
Greenshank at LWV Pit 60, courtesy of Dave Murphy |
Wader passage continued steadily right through to month's end. Sanderling in summer plumage are often an attractive feature at this time of year, and good numbers of such birds were noted at Farmoor and also Grimsbury Reservoirs from mid-May onward.
Sum plum Sanderling at Farmoor (above), courtesy of Nick Truby and Grimsbury Reservoir (below), courtesy of Kyle Smith |
Oxon patches attracting waders in this review period were (and I hope I have got them all): Port Meadow, Chinnor Cement Works, Appleford GPs, Henley Road and Sonning Eye GPs, LWV Pit 60, Stratfield Brake, Blenheim Park, Grimsbury Reservoir, Balscote Quarry and Baulking Pit; perhaps underlining the quantity of waders on the move. Pictures this month are mostly of species not highlighted in the previous two reviews.
Farmoor Ringed Plover, and Dunlin (below) Courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
Another feature of any May is the dapper and diminutive summer visiting Falcon, Hobby. Otmoor held several individuals on some days, while Pit 60 hosted another cluster amongst which one posing close to a hide drew some attention. But I can only include one picture herein and so it's from Otmoor. No offence guys. Another summer notable viewed at Pit 60 a number of times was Garganey, though records of that duck elsewhere remained few and far between in this review period.
Otmoor Hobby, courtesy of Norman Smith |
Garganey at Pit 60, courtesy of Dave Murphy |
Lastly, the latest arriving small passerine each spring is usually Spotted Flycatcher, and these were noted from a number of locations county-wide.
Spotted Flycatcher, courtesy of John Reynolds |
Now as spring turns to summer another passage season has played out its scenarios, with much that is familiar but also some surprises. Unless next month produces a good number of notable records there will be no June review, then a combined round up for the usually quieter months of June and July. I am happy to continue as your monthly reviewer but things remain open for more Oxon birders to take a turn. So if anyone else would like to have a go please contact either Adam or Jason.
Peter Law
Raptor Retreats creates breath-taking birding holidays that use the revenue generated to support raptor conservation in the amazing destinations we visit.
There has been a catastrophic decline in birds of prey the world over. There are many reasons, including loss of habitat, hunting and the use of pesticides. Vulture numbers have been particularly impacted, reducing by 99% over the last 30 years. In India, this is largely due to the use of Diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug, used for cattle. Vultures feeding on dead cattle cannot metabolise the Diclofenac which kills them. The loss of Indian vultures has led to a huge increase in the number of feral dogs and rabies cases. In Africa, poachers regularly bait carcasses so the vultures do not draw attention to them. Again, the loss of vultures and birds of prey has resulted in an increase in disease due to the rotting remains of dead animals being left to fester. Birds of prey are also important to our well-being closer to home. As they are top of the food chain, they help to balance ecosystems by managing the populations of smaller mammals, birds and insects - important for our farmers as well as natural areas.
Raptor Retreats is proud to support a number of raptor research and conservation efforts in the destinations we visit, including:
Costa Rica
Rajasthan, India
Pyrenees and Basque Country, Spain
Raptor Retreats - For birds, not profit
If you are interested please visit www.raptorretreats.com or contact Mike on 07974 704104 or email mike@raptorretreats.com. All our tours are guided by local experts. Accommodation is 3* and 4* and better than half board. We would be happy to give Oxonbirding viewers a 10% discount – please let us know when booking.
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