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 4^th. 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 6^th, incredibly just feeding on the lucky homeowner’s lawn! To the delight of many birders, another Wryneck was found at Lark Hill on the 19^th. Although elusive at times, it remained until the 23^rd, 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 13^th, before then being reported again on RBA on the 16^th. It was then seen well and confirmed on the morning of the 17^th. 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 18^th, but then appeared again on the 19^th and 20^th, before disappearing on the 21^st and 22^nd. It was then finally seen on the 23^rd and 24^th. 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 14^th. 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 18^th. Then on the 28^th, 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 1^st screen at Otmoor on the 4^th. It remained until the end of the day. Otmoor also briefly held a juvenile Wood Sandpiper on the 26^th, 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 1^st – a gorgeous orange-red individual. Farmoor also had the only records of Turnstone this month, with one on the 5^th, one on the 15^th and one on the 30^th.

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 6^th. On the 5^th, it was joined briefly by 3 others. Another was found at Farmoor on the 21^st. A single was at Appleford on the 2^nd, with 2 there on the 4^th. On the 5^th, this increased to 3. The trio stayed until the 10^th. A single then remained from the 12^th to the 16^th. Otmoor also hosted singles on the 18^th and 26^th. One was also at Pit 60 on the 13^th. Pit 60 also hosted the highest count of Black-tailed Godwit this month with 3 there on the 2^nd. Singles were at Appleford from the 2^nd to the 8^th and Otmoor on the 16^th, 18^th and then the 24^th to 26^th.

The peak count of Greenshank this month was at Appleford, with 3 on the 5^th. There were 2 at that same site on the 15^th, with individuals on the 16^th and 19^th. Singles were also reported from 3 other sites with one at Otmoor on the 1^st, one at Ardley Lagoon on the 1^st and one at Farmoor on the 15^th. Redshank records were more thinly spread this month, with one at Farmoor on the 2^nd, and then 7 found there the next day. One was also seen at Farmoor on the 15^th.

Greenshank Appleford (Badger)

There was just one record of Oystercatcher this month – one at Otmoor on the 1^st. Similarly, the only Curlew to be reported this month were 2 at Farmoor on the 19^th. 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 4^th, with 3 there on the 7^th. Otmoor also hosted one on the 16^th. A few Lapwing were on the move in the last month, with 231 flying S over Farmoor on the 28^th. Records also emerged from Otmoor, Chipping Norton, Appleford, Drayton and Port Meadow.

An impressive 8 Ringed Plover were found at Farmoor on the 19^th, 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 2^nd, 3 on the 6^th, 2 on the 8^th, and finally, 3 on the 10^th. Individuals were at Farmoor on the 8^th, 15^th, 18^th, and 19^th. The same site saw the peak count of Dunlin on the 15^th, 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 1^st. 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 3^rd.

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 13^th. In a much better month for Black Tern than August was, 15 were found at Farmoor on the 5^th and another 3 on the 13^th. There was also one at Cassington on the 6^th. A few Common Tern were recorded passing through with 5 at Pit 60 on the 3^rd and 3 there the next day. The same day, one was at Farmoor, with 2 more on the 5^th. Finally, on the 19^th, 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 3^rd, comprising 3 juveniles, a 1st summer, a 3rd summer, and an adult. On the 16^th, 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 1^st and 2^nd, and then a single 1st summer on the 3^rd, 4^th, and 13^th. An adult was also seen on 8^th, 9^th, and 13^th. One of the 1st summers seen at Pit 60 was then relocated in the Farmoor roost on the 2^nd. There was also a juvenile at Farmoor on the 4^th and a 1st winter on the 26^th.

Juvenile Caspian Gull Appleford (Badger)

There was a sighting of a putative adult Baltic Gull at Appleford on the 3^rd. 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 4^th, 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 30^th. Some of the Garganey continued at Otmoor, with a maximum of 6 seen on the 6^th. 2 were at Pit 60 up until the 12^th and one was at Appleford on the 19^th. 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 4^th. 4 Mandarin were seen at Otmoor on the 2^nd and one on the 6^th. 3 were at Blenheim on 17^th and 4 on the 24^th.

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 1^st to 10^th, mostly at the first screen. On the 13^th, 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 17^th 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 25^th, increasing to 20 by the 28^th. On the 29^th, 16 were then present at Port Meadow, with at least 3 having moved to near Wytham. On the 30^th, 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 16^th and a very showy individual at the first screen at Otmoor from the 23^rd to the 28^th. Aside from Otmoor on the 2^nd and 4^th, Bittern records emerged from Moreton when one was seen flying over on the 2^nd and Pit 60 on the 25^th.

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 12^th, though sadly was not relocated. Spotted Flycatcher were recorded from 11 sites this month with a peak count of 3 at Moreton on the 11^th.

There were several Rock Pipit records this September, with one at Farmoor on the 23^rd and 24^th, increasing to 2 on the 25^th, and then one recorded the next day. Another was reported on the 29^th and then 2 on the 30^th. One was also found at Appleford on the 26^th. A flyover Tree Pipit was seen at Southfield Golf Course on the 4^th and another in the same area, seen on the deck in the Lye Valley on the 8^th. 2 were at Harwell Lab on the 6^th and then a late individual there on the 28^th. One was also recorded from Blenheim on the 23^rd. There were some good counts of Meadow Pipit too with 185 at Waterstock on the 27^th and 344 at Farmoor on the 28^th.

Rock Pipit Farmoor (Ewan Urquhart)

Tree Pipit Harwell Lab (Mark Merritt)

A Black Redstart was reported from Notcutts Garden Centre on the 3^rd. Redstart were recorded from 9 sites - the highest count coming from Otmoor on the 6^th, with 5 present. The peak count for Whinchat this month was also at Otmoor with 7 on the 3^rd. Other notable counts emerged from Emmington on the 3^rd and Lark Hill on the 4^th, each recording 6 individuals. Whinchat were also recorded from 7 other sites. The largest count of Stonechat was at Aston Upthorpe on the 29^th, 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 11^th, and Sarsgrove, with 7 on the 7^th and 8^th. There were also records from 9 other sites. On the 19^th, 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 12^th. There was a White Wagtail at Farmoor on the 15^th and 3 there on the 16^th.

Some early Lesser Redpolls were seen at White Horse Hill with 4 on the 4^th and one on the 7^th.

Raptors

An Osprey was seen fishing at King’s Lock on the 8^th, before flying N. Another was seen nearby at Wolvercote Lock on Port Meadow on the 20^th. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Letcombe Regis on the 4^th and then a probable at Caversfield on the 22^nd. 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 18^th, with another there on the 22^nd. One was also at Cassington on the 21^st.

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 6^th. Singles of Peregrine were seen at Marsh Baldon on the 5^th, Appleford on the 16^th, Garford on the 18^th, Lark Hill on the 22^nd and Otmoor on the 23^rd. There were also 2 at Grimsbury Reservoir on the 10^th.

A Short-eared Owl was at Otmoor over Greenaways on the 14^th and a Little Owl was at Marsh Baldon on the 15^th.

Hirundines and swifts

The last few Swifts were recorded at Farmoor, with 11 on the 4^th, and Cowley, with 4 on the 8^th. Sand Martins were seen passing through Farmoor throughout the month with a peak count of 500 on the 5^th. 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.