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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 31 October 2021
Chipping Norton: 31st October
Brambling: With Chaffinch in woods on Oxon/Glocs border near Chastleton. 16:00.
Steve Akers
Heythrop: 31st October
30 Lapwing: Over fields toward Showell Farm. SP355296. 11:45.
Steve Akers
Saturday 30 October 2021
Standlake Pit 60: 30th October
9 Blackbird: A notable influx at north end of Langley lane early this a.m. leaping in and out of the bushes also chaffinches darting about . Arrivals from continent? 19:45.
Mick Cunningham
Blenheim: 30th October
3 Brambling: Several with mixed finch flock on sunflower patch. 16:00.
20 Mandarin Duck: m+f. In the inlet west side of the Great Lake, in the water and in a tree. 16:00.
Great White Egret: On the island. 16:00.
Colm O Caomhanaigh
Standlake Pit 60: 30th October
2 Marsh Harrier: both male. a juv and other. Fighting each other. One fully juv. Other older ie has grey in wings and tail. Appeared to have remnant dark trailing edge on underwing and grey tail tip ie not fully adult but better view desired. 12:10.
Great White Egret 12:10.
Mick Cunningham
Friday 29 October 2021
Chipping Norton: 29th October
4 Stonechat: two male; two fem. Two pairs on vegetation alongside Cornwell Brook at marsh near Cornwell. SP283268. 16:00.
4 Grey Heron: SP283268. 16:00.
Steve Akers
Port Meadow 29th October
PECTORAL SANDPIPER juv again on the southern flood 16:21 (per Gnome).
Also
150 Wigeon
50 Golden Plover
~10 Lapwing
plus a few Teal
Swallow: 1w. SP491092. 15:30.
(per Nicholas Boyd)
Thursday 28 October 2021
Otmoor: 28th October
Blenheim 28 October 2021
Farmoor Reservoir 28/10/2021 (10:30 - 12:00)
Scaup - imm/f still present with tufted duck n/w F1
Common sandpiper - 1
Port Meadow: 28th October
: 28th October
5 Brambling: 3 male; 2 fem. First records this year - feeding on beech mast with Chaffinch near Chastleton on Oxon/Gloc border. SP257283. 11:30.
Chipping Norton
50 Linnet: SP257283. 11:30.
Chipping Norton
6 Skylark: SP257283. 11:30.
Chipping Norton
5 Jay: A lot of Jay movement hear this morning - three birds flying through heading WNW. SP257283. 11:30.
Steve Akers
Bicester Wetland Reserve 28th October
1 Stonechat
1 Chiffchaff
42 Snipe
70 Teal
12 Gadwall
11 Shoveler
1 Little Egret
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
Wednesday 27 October 2021
Port Meadow, 27 October
Early afternoon, showing "well" on southern end of flood (near side).
Pectoral Sandpiper © Stephen Burch. Click here to enlarge |
Crop of photo above © Stephen Burch. Click here to enlarge |
Pectoral Sandpiper © Stephen Burch. Click here to enlarge |
Crop of photo above © Stephen Burch. Click here to enlarge |
Port Meadow: 25th October
170 Barnacle Goose: at least; close-packed flock on grass well north of flood hard to count accurately. 11:00.
Anthony Cheke
Port Meadow 27th October
PECTORAL SANDPIPER juv on southern flood early afternoon (per RBA)
...but no sign late afternoon (per Gnome & Michael Jezierski)
Also,
~40 Golden Plover
~10 Lapwing
100+ Barnacle Geese
~25 Wigeon
~600 Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Blenheim Park 27th October
Tuesday 26 October 2021
Sarsgrove: 26th October
8 Golden Plover: A group of five flew back and forth low over the field of newly sprouting winter wheat before settling. Then shortly after another three joined them. Clearly settling to roost. 17:30.
Steve Akers
Port Meadow 26th October
16 Golden Plover: flying as a flock near the southern flood area. there should be more according to other birders' reports but I only saw 16. 14:00.
Pectoral Sandpiper: I didn't see it at first at around 1:30 pm, it disappeared for a while due to an un-leaded dog(according to a birder who arrived early mentioned, a dog owner threw a stick for the dog to pick it up near the flood, pec sandpiper and golden plovers got frightened and flew away). after 10 or 15mins it back to the southern flood area. 14:00.
Zhenhuan Zhang
Sarsgrove: 26th October
300 Starling: Largest flock here this Autumn so far wheeling back and forth like a mini-mumuration. 10:30.
18 Skylark 10:30.
10 Yellowhammer 10:30.
Steve Akers
Standlake Pit 60: 26th October
Marsh Harrier: male. 12:08.
Great White Egret 12:08.
2 Goldeneye 12:08.
Mick Cunningham
Monday 25 October 2021
Sarsgrove: 25th October
23 Golden Plover: Settled in field between Sarsgrove Farm and Chipping Norton - first flock this autumn. 17:30.
Steve Akers
Chipping Norton: 25th October
2 Stonechat: male and fem. Pair in usual location in bramble patch near Cornwell Brook and the marsh - possibly a third bird. SP283268. 16:00.
Reed Bunting: SP283268. 16:00.
7 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 16:00.
12 Linnet: SP283268. 16:00.
3 Grey Heron: SP283268. 16:00.
Jay: SP283268. 16:00.
Steve Akers
Milton Common: 25th October
2 Swallow: 1w. I stopped for a 15 watch. 2 1w swallows bombed through going south. 15:47.
Mick Cunningham
Appleford GPs
Port Meadow 25th October
Port Meadow: 25th October
Little Egret: near bf gate. 13:24.
100 Wigeon: near bf gate. the population is approximate. 13:24.
60 Golden Plover: 2 flocks, one population is 20(approximate), and another one is 40(accurate). other people's population records are 100, maybe I didn't see all. 13:24.
Pectoral Sandpiper: have been there at the flood area since 23/10/2021 morning. 13:24.
Zhenhuan Zhang
Port Meadow: 25th October
Pectoral Sandpiper: Very close down to about 30 yards ish. You could see without Binoculars. With Bert and Richard Berkshire boy's. 11:10.
Ralph Watts
Wantage: 25th October
3 Brambling: At least three in trees just east of Lock's Lane mill pond. SU394877. 09:00.
Leo Bateman
Abingdon 25th October
Standlake Pit 60: 25th October
Black-tailed Godwit: Still present. A lot of large scapulars missing. Need to check whether this relevant to aging. 11:32.
Great White Egret 11:32.
Peregrine 11:32.
Mick Cunningham
Farmoor Reservoir 25th October
Harwell Laboratory: Rutherford Laboratory: 25th October
Brambling
Lesser Redpoll
Mark Merritt
Sunday 24 October 2021
Shillingford 24th October
5 Whooper Swan: ad. Viewed for 30 minutes on backwater before flying East. SU567945. 15:00.
Robert Gray
Port Meadow: 24th October
Pectoral Sandpiper 15:00.
Golden Plover 15:00.
12 Lapwing 15:00.
150 Black-headed Gull: 150 plus on the larger flood. 15:00.
200 Barnacle Goose 15:00.
Steve Akers
Standlake Pit 60: 24th October
Black-tailed Godwit: wp. Yesterday's bird flew in just after dawn. 15:52.
Great White Egret 15:52.
455 Redwing: As well as c20-30 'present', the was an obvious, but modest thrush migration from c10 30 am until noon. So 400+ in several small parties not exceeding 10.all going WSW. 15:52.
2 Siskin: Going west. Almost certainly under count. See chaffinch. 15:52.
150 Chaffinch: Movement west started 10 30 am. Watch ended noon. All small parties between 2 and 6 . 15:52.
Skylark: 13. Small parties south . 15:52.
Snipe: Seen to go WSW initially high but possibly dropped into fields. 15:52.
9 Fieldfare: Caught up in redwing push. 15:52.
Sparrowhawk: m. Stooged around for an hour. Seemed to be attending thrushes. 15:52.
250 Golden Plover: 29 flew south. Rest in large flock often rising high into air to east of pit. 15:52.
78 Teal
Mick Cunningham
Port Meadow 24th October
Saturday 23 October 2021
Chimney: 23rd October
4 Stonechat: 2m 2f. One pair near reserve car park. Another pair near new hide. 18:54.
Mick Cunningham
Standlake Pit 60: 23rd October
Black-tailed Godwit: w/p plumage. Seen late pm. Wasn't present on my first visit this morning. 18:49.
Marsh Harrier: cream crown. 18:49.
30 Redwing 18:49.
Mick Cunningham
Port Meadow 23 October
Pectoral Sandpiper © Steve Burch. Click here to enlarge |
Pectoral Sandpiper © Steve Burch. Click here to enlarge |
Port Meadow: 23rd October
Pectoral Sandpiper: Still showing very well, nice one Thomas ! 15:37.
3 Siskin 15:37.
Luke Marriner
Port Meadow 23rd October
Video courtesy of Badger.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER juv found by Thomas Miller this morning and still on southern pool
of Port Meadow floods at 13:10
Also
Green Sandpiper (morning only)
15 Lapwing
4 Teal
Meadow Pipits
100+ Barnacle Geese
Henley-on-Thames: 23rd October
5 Egyptian Goose: Along River Thames. 11:45.
John Kearns
Appleford GP: 23rd October
Redpoll 3
Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 23rd October
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: male. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen approx 100metres before second screen at midday in some bushes on right. Have photographs of bird. SP561129. 13:07.
John Strachan
Letcombe Bassett: Gramps Hill: 23rd October
Ring Ouzel: 1w fem.
2 Brambling
Raven
17 Corn Bunting
Mark Merritt
Standlake Pit 60: 23rd October
3 Goldeneye: Now 3 bh. 09:43.
Great White Egret 09:43.
Peregrine: ad. 09:43.
2 Cetti's Warbler 09:43.
Mick Cunningham
Grimsbury Reservoir 23rd October
Friday 22 October 2021
Standlake Pit 60: 22nd October
2 Goldeneye: I returned to site at dusk. As I suspected earlier, there's actually 2 brown head goldeneyes. 18:13.
Marsh Harrier: cc. 18:13.
Great White Egret 18:13.
Mick Cunningham
Port Meadow: 22nd October
50 Wigeon: at the flood area, numbers are approx. 16:25.
12 Lapwing: at the flood area, numbers are approx. 16:25.
20 Pied Wagtail: at the flood area, numbers are approx. 16:25.
Zhenhuan Zhang
Standlake Pit 60: 22nd October
Goldeneye: bh. First of autumn. 13:51.
Mick Cunningham
Blenheim: 22nd October
3 Brambling: 3 brambling with chaffinch's & greenfinch's in larch tree's by the sunflower's. SP428167. 12:05.
Paul Willis
Charlton on Otmoor 22nd October
Thursday 21 October 2021
Chipping Norton: 21st October
Stonechat: fem. Over on far side of marsh at small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 15:30.
5 Reed Bunting: SP283268. 15:30.
7 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 15:30.
18 Linnet: SP283268. 15:30.
7 Snipe: At least seven put up from the marsh. SP283268. 15:30.
5 Teal: SP283268. 15:30.
7 Grey Heron: Largest number seen here this year. SP283268. 15:30.
Mute Swan: SP283268. 15:30.
Steve Akers
Blenheim: Grand Bridge: 21st October
6 Mandarin Duck: 5m 1f. Favoring the corner of the Lake near the palace side of the bridge. SP437164. 15:00.
2 Egyptian Goose: 2ad. With small flock of Canada Geese. SP437164. 15:00.
2 Little Grebe: SP437164. 15:00.
Glen Pascoe
: 21st October
Raven: Flying SW to NE, and cronking. SU337934. 17:33.
JB Woodford
Blenheim: 21st October
Brambling: Several in a small flock with chaffinch and greenfinch around sunflower patches and adjacent trees towards the farm. 14:22.
Gareth Casburn
Wednesday 20 October 2021
Tuesday 19 October 2021
Standlake Pit 60: 19th October
Great White Egret 19:40.
Peregrine: ad. On pylon. 19:40.
Cetti's Warbler: I briefly visited Langley hide. Cetti singing from S shore. 19:40.
118 Mallard: Majority males! Unless I missed females. 19:40.
88 Teal 19:40.
53 Shoveler 19:40.
47 Wigeon 19:40.
4 Little Grebe 19:40.
12 Pochard: Possibly under count as I had to leave early. 19:40.
Mick Cunningham
Letcombe Bassett: 19th October
Redstart: fem/imm. Seen well enough to rule out Black Redstart. Sound recording taken.
Raven
9 Corn Bunting
Mark Merritt
Ardley ERF Lagoon: 19th October
Black-tailed Godwit 10:30.
4 Green Sandpiper 10:30.
Gareth Casburn
Monday 18 October 2021
Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 18th October
Cattle Egret: Dropped in briefly at the 1st screen around 18.00. 21:07.
Great White Egret: At the 1st screen. 21:07.
Steve Roby
: 18th October
100 Golden Plover: Flock flying around new backwater linked to the River. SU569945. 19:41.
David Eccles
Chipping Norton: 18th October
Raven: SP283268. 14:30.
5 Stonechat: 3 male; 2 fem. Three male and two female Stonechat on the vegetation alongside Cornwell Brook and bramble bushes beside straw shooting butts. The males are especially striking and beautifully marked. SP283268. 14:30.
Reed Bunting: SP283268. 14:30.
7 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 14:30.
12 Linnet: SP283268. 14:30.
Mute Swan: ad male. Flew in and settled in pool on marsh. SP283268. 14:30.
3 Grey Heron: SP283268. 14:30.
Green Woodpecker: SP283268. 14:30.
Steve Akers
: 18th October
32 Golden Plover: They stood on the northwest side of the flood area and then flew to the north. SP496080. 17:58.
Zhenhuan Zhang
Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 18th October
Great White Egret
78 Gadwall
35 Tufted Duck
10 Wigeon
31 Shoveler
14 Teal
Bob Pomfret
Sunday 17 October 2021
Chipping Norton: 17th October
4 Stonechat: 3 male; 1 fem. On and around the straw bales next to the marsh at small lake and Cornwell Brook. SP283268. 15:30.
Snipe: SP283268. 15:30.
2 Reed Bunting: SP283268. 15:30.
6 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 15:30.
Grey Heron: SP283268. 15:30.
5 Redwing: SP283268. 15:30.
12 Linnet: SP283268. 15:30.
Kestrel: SP283268. 15:30.
Steve Akers
Northmoor: 17th October
2 Snipe: This traditional ie since I moved to oxon 2017 site currently very dry. 18:12.
Mick Cunningham
Standlake: 17th October
800 Redwing: Minimum count of a single flock heading north over my Rack End Garden just now. Heading north, presumably to a roost or, conceivably, setting off on overnight (reorienting) migration. 18:08.
Mick Cunningham
Appleford GPs 17th October
Ducklington: 17th October
Brambling: Home farm 7 45 to 8 45. A brambling heard during vain attempt at vismig. 09:35.
Mick Cunningham
Saturday 16 October 2021
Otmoor Saturday 16th
Merlin hunting over greenaways
Bittern
2 Stonechat
2 Raven
Kingfisher
Sent from my iPhone
Port Meadow: 16th October
120 Barnacle Goose: On muddy area opposite Burgess Field Gtae. 15:00.
Andrew Siantonas
Sonning Eye GPs: 16th October
Redshank: Sat on the string of buoys in the middle of the lake. 15:21.
Marek Walford
Standlake Pit 60: 16th October
Great White Egret 13:38.
2 Cetti's Warbler 13:38.
Water Rail: Heard. 13:38.
Redwing: A single east. As was a song thrush and 2 meadow pipits between 7 30 and 8 20 when i gave up. 13:38.
Standlake
Stonechat: m. Near village site that proved productive for Jack snipe and snipe last year. Latter has died up/ been 'improved. 13:38.
Mick Cunningham
Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course: 16th October
Rock Pipit: Still on small lake. 10:16.
2 Lesser Redpoll: Over. 10:16.
Brambling: Over. 10:16.
27 Golden Plover: Over. 10:16.
Luke Marriner
Farmoor Reservoir 16th October
Friday 15 October 2021
Chipping Norton: 15th October
2 Stonechat: male and fem. Pair still present - possibly a third bird - at the small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 13:00.
2 Lapwing: SP283268. 13:00.
4 Jay: Two over - two heard. SP283268. 13:00.
Steve Akers
Tar Lakes: 15th October
6 Red-crested Pochard: 4 male, 2 fem. 18:00.
Richard Catling
Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 15th October
Pintail: A female on back pool flew off NW. Also first golden plovers of the autumn, a flock of 33 in adjoining fields . 16:20.
Steve Holliday
Bicester Wetland Reserve 15th October
2 Green Sandpiper
18 Snipe
24 Gadwall
85 Teal
4 Shoveler
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
Tar Lakes: 14th October
6 Red-crested Pochard: 4 male, 2 fem. 17:45.
Richard Catling
Farmoor Reservoir: 14th October
Peregrine: Flew over road houses near entrence. 16:03.
Yacky Morris
Thursday 14 October 2021
Chipping Norton: 14th October
2 Stonechat: male and fem. Same location at small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 14:30.
62 Black-headed Gull: SP283268. 14:30.
14 Lesser Black-backed Gull: SP283268. 14:30.
Grey Heron: SP283268. 14:30.
Sparrowhawk: SP283268. 14:30.
Jay: SP283268. 14:30.
Steve Akers
Standlake Pit 60: 14th October
Great White Egret 18:17.
Snipe: Spooked into open by the horrendous flock of mutant greylags. 18:17.
Mick Cunningham
Warburg Reserve: 14th October
Port Meadow: 14th October
10 Lapwing: On small flood near Burgess field nature reserve. SP496086. 16:56.
Matthew Southwell
Wednesday 13 October 2021
Standlake Pit 60: 13th October
Yellow-legged Gull: 1w. Received info on a ringed bird seen at Pit 60 in Sept 2021. 1st w Yellow-Legged Gull green ring 749:C recorded at Standlake Oxfordshire England 2nd September 2021 until at least 10th September 2021. Banded on 03.06.2021 at the stage of 'Chick', Carteau - Port-Saint-Louis-du-rh�ne - Bouches-du-Rh�ne - FRANCE (N43�22'40", E04�51'27") PVC band : 749:C in white on green background, reading direction : from bottom to top, position : right tarsus Metal ring : EC111703, position : left tibia Sex : Unknown . 23:23.
Mick Cunningham
Chipping Norton: 13th October
60 Redwing: Flock overhead between Churchill and Kingham. SP264246. 16:00.
50 Linnet: SP264246. 16:00.
100 Starling: 100 plus gathered on electricity wires. SP264246. 16:00.
2 Kestrel: Plus two Roe Deer and Brown Hare. SP264246. 16:00.
Steve Akers
Chipping Norton: 13th October
2 Stonechat: male and fem. Pair in same location at small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 13:00.
54 Black-headed Gull: On the lake and over the marsh. SP283268. 13:00.
2 Grey Heron: SP283268. 13:00.
2 Jay: SP283268. 13:00.
2 Kestrel: SP283268. 13:00.
Steve Akers
Thame: Cuttle Brook: 13th October
55 Redwing: In two groups over. 17:40.
Luke Marriner
Ducklington: 13th October
275 Redwing: Home Farm vismig 11 30 am to 12. All west, mainly in two large flocks. 15:41.
11 Fieldfare: 5, 3 and 3 west with redwings. 15:41.
Mick Cunningham
Standlake Pit 60: 13th October
1496 Redwing: 7 30 to 10 am. Vismig started badly as realised I'd forgotten notebook and phone. And then found usual viewpoint fenced off. Did have one clicker though. 45 redwing milling around first light deemed to be leaving roost. Vis count from Thames Fields Redwing 1149 west 302 north Un counted small numbers of following moving Sky larks c 25 west Meadow pipit c7 west Siskin h.o. Reed bunt c4 N Song thrush c4 h.o. Chaffinch c15 south. 15:27.
3 Great White Egret: 2 on the pit. A third flew north v high with, presumably same, south 20 min later. 15:27.
2 Marsh Harrier: all cream crowns. Minimum count. A third was, possibly, a different bird on plumage but views brief. 15:27.
Peregrine: Adult flew n over Thames fields carrying prey. 15:27.
6 Goldcrest: In hedgerows Thames field. Unsure if an influx as I rarely check these fields. 15:27.
Mick Cunningham
Eynsham: Oxford Road: 13th October
Stonechat: male. SP445089. 10:30.
Thomas Stevens
Port Meadow: 13th October
100 Barnacle Goose: Approximate count. Birds grazing on meadow opposite Burgess Field gate. 10:00.
Andrew Siantonas
Thame: 13th October
8 Skylark: Over. 11:07.
4 Meadow Pipit: Over. 11:07.
Reed Bunting: Over. 11:07.
3 Siskin
Luke Marriner
Tar Lakes: 13th October
5 Red-crested Pochard: 3 male, 2 fem. 17:30.
Richard Catling
Cutteslowe: Cutteslowe Park: 13th October
45 Redwing: flock in flight. 07:35.
Nicholas Boyd
Tuesday 12 October 2021
Eynsham 12th October
Chipping Norton: 12th October
2 Stonechat: male and fem. Pair still present on and around straw shooting butts near marsh at small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 13:15.
60 Lapwing: Circling over toward Salford. SP283268. 13:15.
2 Grey Heron: SP283268. 13:15.
12 Black-headed Gull: On the lake. SP283268. 13:15.
Kestrel: SP283268. 13:15.
2 Jay: Flying N. SP283268. 13:15.
Steve Akers
Monday 11 October 2021
Otmoor: 11th October
Whilst Roger was enjoying a proper falcon I had to make do with an escape. What do people think Lanner (erlangeri) type ? High over the Closes being mobbed by Red Kites
Standlake Pit 60: 11th October
Marsh Harrier: cream crown. Also a great white Egret. No sign of the black- necked grebe, although my visit was brief. 18:11.
Mick Cunningham
Sunday 10 October 2021
Waterstock: River Thame: 10th October
4 Raven 10:00.
Snipe 10:00.
Kingfisher 10:00.
5 Teal 10:00.
7 Grey Heron 10:00.
Little Egret 10:00.
8 Linnet 10:00.
4 Goldcrest 10:00.
3 Treecreeper 10:00.
16 Redwing 10:00.
26 Meadow Pipit 10:00.
Wigeon 10:00.
3 Reed Bunting 10:00.
2 Stonechat 10:00.
Grey Wagtail 10:00.
Chiffchaff 10:00.
Nick Marriner
Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 10th October
11 Jay: Movement of jays with parties of 6 and 5 flying nortth. Also 5 snipe, first common gulls of autumn (2), 13 skylarks over and single redwing and redpoll south. 08:30.
Steve Holliday
Saturday 9 October 2021
Otmoor: 9th October
: 9th October
Stonechat: Male on track from Emmington to Henton. SP753028. 10:30.
David Stracey
Moreton nr Thame: Moreton Golf Course: 9th October
2 Egyptian Goose: Only my second record here. 16:48.
Rock Pipit: On the small lake calling. Then flushed by the golfers. My first for the county. 16:48.
Luke Marriner
Pit 60 Standlake 9th October
Moreton nr Thame: 9th October
44 Little Grebe 09:00.
14 Gadwall 09:00.
9 Wigeon 09:00.
Raven 09:00.
2 Redwing 09:00.
8 Linnet 09:00.
2 Brambling 09:00.
16 Skylark 09:00.
8 Meadow Pipit 09:00.
2 Goldcrest 09:00.
Nick Marriner
Friday 8 October 2021
Port Meadow: 8th October
10 Egyptian Goose: 2 ad 8 imm. Same family group as earlier in the year back on the floods.
11 Golden Plover
3 Cattle Egret: in amongst the cattle, per Mary MacDougall.
Adam Hartley
Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 8th October
Siskin: Flew over south. Also 5 snipe on site. 15:45.
Steve Holliday
Chipping Norton: 8th October
3 Stonechat: male and two fem. Still present - perched on vegetation bordering the marsh at small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 14:00.
2 Reed Bunting: SP283268. 14:00.
5 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 14:00.
16 Linnet: SP283268. 14:00.
7 Snipe: A pair flew up and circled the marsh before settling gain. A separate group of five seen later further into the marsh flying low. Always wonderful to see them here. SP283268. 14:00.
3 Grey Heron: SP283268. 14:00.
4 Lapwing: SP283268. 14:00.
Steve Akers
Thursday 7 October 2021
Chipping Norton: 7th October
6 Stonechat: 3 male; 3 fem. Three pairs in the same locations as yesterday. Together with Reed Buntings and Chiffchaff. SP283268. 15:00.
4 Reed Bunting: SP283268. 15:00.
Chiffchaff: SP283268. 15:00.
10 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 15:00.
17 Linnet: SP283268. 15:00.
2 Snipe: SP283268. 15:00.
2 Grey Heron: SP283268. 15:00.
Green Woodpecker: SP283268. 15:00.
Steve Akers
Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 7th October
Great white Egret
Paul Woodham
Standlake Pit 60: 7th October
Black-necked Grebe Still present 7 30 am. 08:07.
Great White Egret 08:07.
Mick Cunningham
Wednesday 6 October 2021
Chipping Norton: 6th October
4 Raven: Two pairs over. SP283268. 15:00.
3 Stonechat: One male on vegetation and hedge near lake; pair on straw butts in field next to marsh. Very 'birdy' today - Stonechat, reed bunting, meadow pipit and robin all in frame at one point when looking through bins. SP283268. 15:00.
4 Reed Bunting: Two males with Stonechats. SP283268. 15:00.
45 Meadow Pipit: Highest count here so far this year - numbers increasing daily. SP283268. 15:00.
4 Grey Heron: SP283268. 15:00.
4 Swallow: Flying through low and hard heading SW. SP283268. 15:00.
Chiffchaff: SP283268. 15:00.
Kestrel: juv male. SP283268. 15:00.
Steve Akers
Standlake Pit 60: 6th October
Marsh Harrier: male. Briefly over south shore. 19:04.
Cetti's Warbler: Singing. 19:04.
Mick Cunningham
Port Meadow: 6th October
120 Barnacle Goose: Large group grazing on meadow opposite Burgess Field gate. 15:15.
Andrew Siantonas
Sutton Courtenay: 6th October
2 Siskin: At least 2 calling over. SU500935. 11:34.
Conor MacKenzie
Farmoor Reservoir: 6th October
Farmoor Reservoir
2 Whooper Swan: Flew over N/E. 08:30.
Knot: On East side of F2. 09:30.
Gareth Casburn
Tuesday 5 October 2021
Letcombe Bassett: Gramps Hill: 5th October
Wheatear
6 Grey Partridge
Raven
Mark Merritt
Chipping Norton: 5th October
Stonechat: ad male. On the cut hedge next to the small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 17:00.
5 Swallow: SP283268. 17:00.
4 House Martin: SP283268. 17:00.
8 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 17:00.
3 Snipe: Circling the marsh and descending sharply to settle. SP283268. 17:00.
2 Grey Heron: SP283268. 17:00.
Steve Akers
Monday 4 October 2021
Farmoor Reservoir: 4th October
Stonechat 09:00.
2 Common Sandpiper 09:00.
Peter Alfrey
Eynsham: Eynsham Mill: 3rd October
Eynsham: Eynsham Mill
8 White-fronted Goose: Infront of large pond near house. 14:13.
4 Stock Dove: Feeding in nearby fields. 13:58.
Yacky Morris
Sunday 3 October 2021
Chipping Norton: 3rd October
3 Stonechat: two ad male and fem. In favoured location on fence beside reed bed near small lake near Cornwell. SP283268. 14:00.
10 Swallow: Flying through heading SSW. SP283268. 14:00.
Snipe: SP283268. 14:00.
2 Grey Heron: SP283268. 14:00.
2 Teal: SP283268. 14:00.
Chiffchaff: SP283268. 14:00.
Steve Akers
Tar Lakes: 3rd October
7 Red-crested Pochard: 4m 3f. On Tar Lakes. SP383070. 09:30.
3 House Martin: SP383070. 09:30.
2 Chiffchaff: SP383070. 09:30.
3 Snipe: Edge of Rushy Common near reedbed along the North side. SP383070. 09:30.
Marsh Harrier: Over Rushy Common briefly. SP383070. 09:30.
Glen Pascoe
Sutton Courtenay: 3rd October
Hobby: Feeding on insects over Thames, just upstream of pools. 15:49.
James Bennett
Port Meadow: 3rd October
Standlake Pit 60: 3rd October
Bittern: Flew along reeds into NW corner. 10:59.
Mick Cunningham
Saturday 2 October 2021
Ardley ERF Lagoon: 2nd October
Great White Egret 11:15.
20 Teal 11:15.
Shoveler 11:15.
3 Green Sandpiper 11:15.
250 Lesser Black-backed Gull 11:15.
8 Yellow-legged Gull: Loafing in field near quarry with lbb gulls. 11:15.
Gareth Casburn
Bicester Wetland reserve 2nd October
10 House Martin feeding over filter pools
2 Green Sandpiper
4 Snipe
60 Teal
13 Gadwall
5 Shoveler
Alan Peters
Key Holder Reserve
Friday 1 October 2021
Chipping Norton: 1st October
Stonechat: At the marsh by small lake on Cornwell Manor Estate. SP283268. 12:00.
6 Meadow Pipit: SP283268. 12:00.
15 Linnet: SP283268. 12:00.
36 Lapwing: SP283268. 12:00.
Steve Akers
Chimney: Chimney Meadows: 1st October
Marsh Harrier: imm. male; 2cy?
2 Water Rail
Barn Owl
2 Cetti's Warbler
Buckland
3 Grey Partridge
Mark Merritt
Chinnor: Cement Works: 1st October
Caspian Gull: Adult in the gull roost Lake 2b. 10:00.
David Stracey
September 2021 Review
Headline birds
September is always an exciting month for birding, with huge
potential for something rarer to turn up. This last month has not failed to
produce, starting off with a sub-adult Gannet seen flying over Standlake
Pit 60 in an ENE direction on the 4th. A real inland rarity, though
remarkably, this is the third September in a row when Oxon has hosted a Gannet,
with a juvenile taken into care in 2019 and a juvenile over Waterstock in 2020.
With Wrynecks turning up all over the UK in late August
and early September, it was no surprise when one was found in a private garden
in Oddington on the 6th, incredibly just feeding on the lucky homeowner’s
lawn! To the delight of many birders, another Wryneck was found at Lark
Hill on the 19th. Although elusive at times, it remained until the
23rd, allowing many to connect with this truly extraordinary member
of the woodpecker family.#
Wryneck Lark Hill (Stephen Burch) |
Wryneck Oddington (Mark Stanley Price) |
The next headline bird this September was a Purple Heron at
Blenheim, initially reported as a probable on the 13th, before then
being reported again on RBA on the 16th. It was then seen well and
confirmed on the morning of the 17th. It proved difficult to connect
with though, partly because the bird could be quite mobile, but also because it
spent a large majority of its time feeding in tall, thick vegetation, where it
remained obscured. It was not seen the next day on the 18th, but then
appeared again on the 19th and 20th, before disappearing on
the 21st and 22nd. It was then finally seen on the 23rd
and 24th. The last record of this species in Oxon was in 2016, when
an individual stayed at Otmoor for 7 weeks.
Purple Heron Blenheim (Ewan Urquhart) |
Purple Heron Blenheim (Jeremy Dexter) |
Another species recorded in Oxon for the first time in a few years was Roseate Tern, with 2 ringed birds found at Farmoor on the 14th. They remained until the evening, allowing several county birders who had missed the last record of one at Farmoor in August 2018 to see them. Given that both terns were metal ringed on the left leg, it seems likely that these are individuals from Coquet Island.
Roseate Tern Farmoor (Roger Wyatt) |
Roseate Terns Farmoor (Jeremy Dexter) |
Following on from an incredible spring for Glossy Ibises in Oxon, one was reported at Otmoor on the 18th. Then on the 28th, another flew high N over Farmoor. The next day, one was seen at the first screen at Otmoor.
Glossy Ibis Otmoor (Terry Sherlock) |
Waders
Wader passage is still in full flow in September, with a
juvenile Little Stint found at the 1st screen at
Otmoor on the 4th. It remained until the end of the day. Otmoor also
briefly held a juvenile Wood Sandpiper on the 26th,
which was on Big Otmoor, until it flew off W.
Little Stint Otmoor (Pete Roby) |
There was a single record of Knot this month at
Farmoor on the 1st – a gorgeous orange-red individual. Farmoor also had the
only records of Turnstone this month, with one on the 5th, one
on the 15th and one on the 30th.
Knot Farmoor (Marian Payne) |
It was an excellent month for Ruff with the juvenile
male that was present at Farmoor at the end of August continuing until the 6th.
On the 5th, it was joined briefly by 3 others. Another was found at
Farmoor on the 21st. A single was at Appleford on the 2nd,
with 2 there on the 4th. On the 5th, this increased to 3.
The trio stayed until the 10th. A single then remained from the 12th
to the 16th. Otmoor also hosted singles on the 18th and
26th. One was also at Pit 60 on the 13th. Pit 60 also hosted
the highest count of Black-tailed Godwit this month with 3 there on the
2nd. Singles were at Appleford from the 2nd to the 8th
and Otmoor on the 16th, 18th and then the 24th
to 26th.
The peak count of Greenshank this month was at Appleford,
with 3 on the 5th. There were 2 at that same site on the 15th,
with individuals on the 16th and 19th. Singles were also
reported from 3 other sites with one at Otmoor on the 1st, one at Ardley
Lagoon on the 1st and one at Farmoor on the 15th. Redshank
records were more thinly spread this month, with one at Farmoor on the 2nd,
and then 7 found there the next day. One was also seen at Farmoor on the 15th.
Greenshank Appleford (Badger) |
There was just one record of Oystercatcher this month
– one at Otmoor on the 1st. Similarly, the only Curlew to be
reported this month were 2 at Farmoor on the 19th. After one at
Otmoor last month, September saw a few more Golden Plover start
to arrive. One was seen at White Horse Hill on the 4th, with 3 there
on the 7th. Otmoor also hosted one on the 16th. A few Lapwing
were on the move in the last month, with 231 flying S over Farmoor on the 28th.
Records also emerged from Otmoor, Chipping Norton, Appleford, Drayton and Port
Meadow.
An impressive 8 Ringed Plover were found at Farmoor
on the 19th, with birds also being recorded at Grimsbury Reservoir
and Appleford. Appleford hosted most of the Little Ringed Plover records
this month with 2 on the 2nd, 3 on the 6th, 2 on the 8th,
and finally, 3 on the 10th. Individuals were at Farmoor on the 8th,
15th, 18th, and 19th. The same site saw the
peak count of Dunlin on the 15th, with 5 present. They were
also recorded from 5 other sites.
Little Ringed Plover Farmoor (Ewan Urquhart) |
Ardley Lagoon continued hosting an impressive tally of Green Sandpiper, with 12 on the 1st. There were also records from Chipping Norton, Appleford, Bicester Wetland Reserve, Drayton, and Pit 60. Common Sandpiper were recorded at Appleford, Grimsbury Reservoir, Moreton, and Chinnor Cement Works, with the highest count of 4 from Farmoor on the 3rd.
A leucistic Redshank was seen and filmed in the north of the county walking around seemingly indifferent to the identification head scratching, near to the centre of South Newington on the 4th.
Leucistic Redshank courtesy of Steve Akers.
Terns
Aside from the Roseate Terns, there were 2 Sandwich Tern
at Farmoor on the 13th. In a much better month for Black Tern
than August was, 15 were found at Farmoor on the 5th and another 3
on the 13th. There was also one at Cassington on the 6th.
A few Common Tern were recorded passing through with 5 at Pit 60 on the
3rd and 3 there the next day. The same day, one was at Farmoor, with
2 more on the 5th. Finally, on the 19th, 14 were seen to
fly straight through, before another flock of 18 arrived, bringing the total
count to 32.
Sandwich Tern Farmoor (Jeremy Dexter) |
Gulls
There were plenty of individual Caspian Gulls seen at
Appleford this month. Most notably, there were 6 present on the 3rd,
comprising 3 juveniles, a 1st summer, a 3rd summer, and an adult. On the 16th,
6 were recorded again. This time there were 3 juveniles, 2 1st summers and a 2nd
summer. At Pit 60, there were 2 1st summers on the 1st and 2nd,
and then a single 1st summer on the 3rd, 4th, and 13th.
An adult was also seen on 8th, 9th, and 13th.
One of the 1st summers seen at Pit 60 was then relocated in the Farmoor roost
on the 2nd. There was also a juvenile at Farmoor on the 4th
and a 1st winter on the 26th.
Juvenile Caspian Gull Appleford (Badger) |
There was a sighting of a putative adult Baltic Gull at
Appleford on the 3rd. It looked promising as it showed no moult in
the primaries, with all primaries still old. However, without a ring, adult Baltic
Gulls can be very difficult to prove. A possible adult Azorean Yellow-legged
Gull was seen in the Farmoor roost on the 4th, but as open wing
details were not seen, it could not be confirmed.
Wildfowl and grebes
A Black-necked Grebe was found at Farmoor on the 30th.
Some of the Garganey continued at Otmoor, with a maximum of 6 seen on
the 6th. 2 were at Pit 60 up until the 12th and one was
at Appleford on the 19th. Returning Pintail were recorded in
small numbers at Otmoor, Pit 60, Cassington, and Appleford, and returning Wigeon
were recorded at Appleford, Pit 60, Cassington, and Blenheim. Teal and Shoveler
were both recorded at 6 sites.
Black-necked Grebe Farmoor (Richard Tyler) |
Red-crested Pochard were recorded from Tar Lakes on
several occasions, with a maximum of 18 on the 4th. 4 Mandarin
were seen at Otmoor on the 2nd and one on the 6th. 3 were
at Blenheim on 17th and 4 on the 24th.
Egrets, herons etc
A superb month for egrets and herons with the Blenheim
Purple Heron and several Glossy Ibis sightings. The Cattle Egrets that
bred at Blenheim have started dispersing across the county, leading to
sightings from multiple sites. Initially, a large number were at Otmoor with as
many as 19 recorded from the 1st to 10th, mostly at the
first screen. On the 13th, one was at Farmoor – only the second
record for the reservoirs. Most of them appeared to be coming into roost at Blenheim
still, with 11 seen leaving the roost on the morning of the 17th and
then 15 seen coming into roost that evening. There were 2 juveniles that could
be seen at Blenheim during the day feeding on the grass banks and proving very
confiding at times. Towards the end of the month, the group that had been at
Otmoor appeared to gradually move to Port Meadow, with 12 there on the 25th,
increasing to 20 by the 28th. On the 29th, 16 were then present
at Port Meadow, with at least 3 having moved to near Wytham. On the 30th,
there were at least 5 near Wytham and 6 at Port Meadow.
Cattle Egrets Otmoor (Pete Roby) |
Cattle Egret Blenheim (Michael Enticott) |
Singles of Great White Egret were recorded at
Stratfield Brake, Pit 60, Port Meadow, Blenheim, Farmoor and Appleford. There
were also 2 at Otmoor on the 16th and a very showy individual at the
first screen at Otmoor from the 23rd to the 28th. Aside
from Otmoor on the 2nd and 4th, Bittern records
emerged from Moreton when one was seen flying over on the 2nd and
Pit 60 on the 25th.
Great White Egret Otmoor (Steve Liptrot) |
Passerines
Always a good month for migratory passerines, this September
did not fail to produce, with some excellent records. A Pied Flycatcher
was found in University Parks on the 12th, though sadly was not
relocated. Spotted Flycatcher were recorded from 11 sites this month
with a peak count of 3 at Moreton on the 11th.
There were several Rock Pipit records this September,
with one at Farmoor on the 23rd and 24th, increasing to 2
on the 25th, and then one recorded the next day. Another was
reported on the 29th and then 2 on the 30th. One was also
found at Appleford on the 26th. A flyover Tree Pipit was seen
at Southfield Golf Course on the 4th and another in the same area,
seen on the deck in the Lye Valley on the 8th. 2 were at Harwell Lab
on the 6th and then a late individual there on the 28th.
One was also recorded from Blenheim on the 23rd. There were some good
counts of Meadow Pipit too with 185 at Waterstock on the 27th
and 344 at Farmoor on the 28th.
Rock Pipit Farmoor (Ewan Urquhart) |
Tree Pipit Harwell Lab (Mark Merritt) |
A Black Redstart was reported from Notcutts Garden
Centre on the 3rd. Redstart were recorded from 9 sites - the
highest count coming from Otmoor on the 6th, with 5 present. The peak
count for Whinchat this month was also at Otmoor with 7 on the 3rd.
Other notable counts emerged from Emmington on the 3rd and Lark Hill
on the 4th, each recording 6 individuals. Whinchat were also recorded
from 7 other sites. The largest count of Stonechat was at Aston Upthorpe
on the 29th, with an impressive 8 seen, as well as being recorded
from 6 other sites. The highest counts of Wheatear this month were from
Lark Hill, with 8 on the 11th, and Sarsgrove, with 7 on the 7th
and 8th. There were also records from 9 other sites. On the 19th,
there was a Greenland Wheatear seen at Lark Hill.
Whinchat Otmoor (Jeremy Dexter) |
Redstart Grimsbury Reservoir (Kyle Smith) |
Yellow Wagtail were recorded from 12 sites this month
with a peak count of 26 at Waterstock on the 12th. There was a White
Wagtail at Farmoor on the 15th and 3 there on the 16th.
Some early Lesser Redpolls were seen at White Horse
Hill with 4 on the 4th and one on the 7th.
Raptors
An Osprey was seen fishing at King’s Lock on the 8th,
before flying N. Another was seen nearby at Wolvercote Lock on Port Meadow on
the 20th. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Letcombe Regis on the
4th and then a probable at Caversfield on the 22nd. Away
from Otmoor, 3 individual Marsh Harriers were recorded at Pit 60 throughout
the month – a juvenile, immature male, and an adult female. A female was at Lark
Hill on the 18th, with another there on the 22nd. One was
also at Cassington on the 21st.
Osprey Farmoor (Bryan Manston) |
Hobby were recorded from an incredible 16 sites this
month, with the highest count of 5 recorded at Otmoor on the 6th. Singles
of Peregrine were seen at Marsh Baldon on the 5th, Appleford
on the 16th, Garford on the 18th, Lark Hill on the 22nd
and Otmoor on the 23rd. There were also 2 at Grimsbury Reservoir on
the 10th.
A Short-eared Owl was at Otmoor over Greenaways on
the 14th and a Little Owl was at Marsh Baldon on the 15th.
Hirundines and swifts
The last few Swifts were recorded at Farmoor, with 11
on the 4th, and Cowley, with 4 on the 8th. Sand Martins
were seen passing through Farmoor throughout the month with a peak count of 500
on the 5th. House Martin were seen at Chipping Norton and
Farmoor. Swallow were seen at Chipping Norton, Farmoor, Balscote Quarry,
Waterstock and Otmoor.
Otmoor Appeal:
A rare chance has arisen for the rspb to buy adjacent land and substantially increase the size of the Otmoor reserve. A place close to many of our hearts and a site and habitat increasingly important not only locally but nationally, we can not miss this opportunity.
The Birds of Otmoor:
And if you are in any doubt as to just how fabulous this reserve is, Otmoor stalwart Peter Barker
has written and compiled a comprehensive and detailed account of all of the bird and mammal
species recorded on the Otmoor reserve it's a great read and a must for anyone with an interest in
this wonderful reserve.