October review

Highlights

Tsu-weet! Is there a sound more eagerly sought than that for a dedicated patch birder? Once an Oxon mega, the recent surge in YBW records in the last decade or so along Britain’s coast has meant that almost all patch birders, inland or otherwise, can hope to find a little gem from the east. Anticipation usually reaches fever pitch in late September or early October when birds from the east coast start filtering through inland and will essentially turn up anywhere, usually hoovered up by roving tit flocks. With 33 recorded across Flamborough head on the 4th October, and countless many elsewhere along the coast, and with an increase of inland records surrounding the county, it really could only be a matter of time before Oxon got its first of the autumn.

One month of YBW records up until 10th October courtesy of BirdGuides

So, with a major influx underway the first record came on the 5^th October, coming from the Lye Valley in Oxford and much deserved reward for the ever dedicated patcher there. Not to be outdone, Farmoor swiftly followed suit later that afternoon. Farmoor has, over the years become the premier site for finding this eastern sprite with three records since 2020 and an unconfirmed bird in 2017. Both birds were present the following day, although the Lye Valley bird was much more forthcoming and easier to pin down. With the Farmoor bird departing by the 7^th the Lye Valley became the star bird for much of the counties birders. Port Meadow also then hosted a bird on the 9^th, although only heard on a couple of occasions, but with the Lye Valley bird still there until the 10^th, this was definitely a new bird in. 

The Lye Valley Yellow-browed Warbler, courtesy of Tom Bedford

Surely Yellow-browed Warbler is up there with one of the top garden birds around? Well no fewer than three birders struck gold this month, and it looks like the onset of home-working has some previously unforeseen benefits! The first came from Sunningwell Road on the 14^th with another record coming from Hurst Street on the 17^th and could very well relate to the same bird, given the distances. Neither bird remained and the county needed to wait a whole 8 days before its next record! Dix Pit saw the county’s 6^th record of the autumn on the 25^th which hung around until at least the 26^th and taken Oxfordshire to its joint record tally for the species in one year. But we weren’t quite done yet, with another lucky birder finding a calling bird in their garden right at the very end of the review period, in Abingdon on the 31^st.

With a huge 7 records in 2024, all coming in the space of 3.5 weeks, this has been a record year for the species in Oxon. Given the spread of records and how silent some of the birds have been, you have to wonder how many of these beauties have actually passed through the county unseen! The previous record year came in 2020, where a similar huge influx was noted along the east coast, but all of the county records came between September and December. The concentration of Yellow-browed Warbler this year has been unprecedented and you wouldn’t bet against yet more birds been found between now and the New Year.

Yellow-browed Warbler records in Oxon 1989- 2024 courtesy of Tom Bedford

For those interested in the changing fortunes of Yellow-browed Warbler and the emergence of a new migration route for this species some fascinating papers are below:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366274983_The_Yellow-browed_Warbler_Phylloscopus_inornatus_as_a_model_to_understand_vagrancy_and_its_potential_for_the_evolution_of_new_migration_routes

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alexander-Lees/publication/279447524_Vagrancy_theories_Are_autumn_vagrants_really_reverse_migrants/links/5592bedb08ae1e9cb4297652/Vagrancy-theories-Are-autumn-vagrants-really-reverse-migrants.pdf

Waders

The Spotted Redshank continued its extended stay at Otmoor this month, first been reported on the 3^rd and then been sporadically reported until at least the 10^th of the month, given folk enough time to enjoy this notoriously tricky species in the county with it been less than annual. 

The Otmoor Spotted Redshank courtesy of Luke O'Burn

There were at least four records of Grey Plover this month, with signs of at least one of these birds potentially looking to winter in the county, something which is becoming increasingly annual. The first came from Cholsey Hill on the 16^th, typically associated with a large Golden Plover, and after briefly going missing for a few days returned to the same spot on the 21^st, remaining until the 22^nd. The same bird was then at the nearby South Moreton on the 28^th remaining until at least the 30^th. Waterstock also recorded a single bird in amongst the masses of water birds gathered here on the 27^th, whilst Woolstone Down had a bird flying through on the 29^th. 

Grey Plover courtesy of Alan Dawson

Ruff records were confined to two sites this month, with most birds having passed through the county the previous month. A single bird was observed in a Lapwing flock at Peep-o-Day Lane on the 7^th, although had apparently been present longer. Potentially the same bird was then at Port Meadow, also associated with Lapwing and in flight on the 16^th, whilst it was again observed, albeit very distantly, a few days later on the 18^th. Port Meadow also saw several records of Black-tailed Godwit this month with 9 birds here on 9^th of the month. Presumably different birds where then here on the 28^th with only two here then, whilst a single bird remained on the site until at least the 29^th. Dunlin were also on Port Meadow this month, with records limited to two sites in October. Three were here on the 26^th with a single bird remaining until the 29^th. Aston in the west of the county, was an unlikely site to host the other record this month with a single bird here on the 24^th. One has to wonder if the west of the county may become the host to those massive flocks we saw in November of last year when a massive 586 birds were seen on floods at Cote!

As with other passage waders, Ringed Plover records were few and far between with two sites hosting birds. Farmoor had one on the 1^st of the month, whilst Aston in the west of the county had two birds on the 24^th. Green Sandpiper continued to dwindle through October as birds began to establish their winter territories. Only four sites reported birds this month with the most coming from Curbridge on the 12^th where 6 birds here. Bicester Wetlands hosted only two birds this month, present on the 23^rd. Single where then reported at Ardley and Peep-o-Day Lane on the 12^th and 14^th respectively. Common Sandpiper were even scarcer, with most birds now well on their way to west Africa. Singles were at Farmoor on the 3^rd and at Port Meadow on the 24^th. Away from the Otmoor the largest flock of Golden Plover noted came from Aston with over a 1000 here between the 24^th – 27^th, with a fair bit of wader action here in October this may be a site to watch for the coming winter!

Wildfowl & Game etc

Following on from the brief 8 birds at Farmoor the previous month, two Whooper Swan present in Thame on the 13^th were a bit more accessible to the county’s birders. That being said, it came with the added complication of which side of the border the birds were on, with Oxon Bucks border running though the north end of the town. The two birds were definitely on Oxon land at some point but were seemingly crossing into Bucks when moving between sites, the joys of birding on the edges of the county. Port Meadow subsequently hosted a single bird on the 22^nd and despite the abundance of people present on this site, this individual managed an extended stay until the 25^th. By the 26^th, though, the bird had seemingly had enough and departed with possibly the same bird observed flying westwards over Woodstock on the 27^th. Two birds at Otmoor on the 30^th, could have been the Thame birds reappearing/relocating, although they were seemingly gone the following day. 

The Port Meadow Whooper Swan courtesy of Adam Hartley

An unseasonal Garganey record came from Days Lock on the 23^rd, with at least one bird wintering in the county for the last few years, it will be interesting to see where or if this bird pops back up somewhere later in the year. One such site where wintering Garganey have previously turned up, Dix Pit saw its first returning Goldeneye on the 26^th holding its status at the most reliable site in the county for this dwindling wintering species. Shelduck were at three sites this month, with Balscote Quarry a seemingly unlikely host for a single on the 16^th. Five were at South Moreton on the 17^th, whilst Port Meadow hosted at least one bird between the 26^th and 30^th of the month. Goosander were only present at two sites, with Port Meadow hosting between 1 and 3 birds through to the middle part of October and a single flyover through Sutton Courtenay on the 22^nd.

On the weird and wonderful end of the wildfowl spectrum the feral Ross’s Goose was just outside Banbury for spell in the early part of October before making its return to its favoured Port Meadow and the comfort of the hordes of Canada and Barnacle Goose. A lone Mandarin record came from Grimsbury during October and an unusual Gadwall x Wigeon hybrid was added to the growing list of interesting Anas or Aythya hybrids that have graced the county of the years.

Herons, egrets etc

Another species with an ever changing status within the county, this years 5^th record of Spoonbill came from Otmoor on the 22^nd. Once a county mega, with flyovers accounting for much of the records pre-2020, it is now an expected and even twitchable annual. A sign of the UK’s ever expanding breeding population as well as continental populations continuing to do well. This bird remained on Otmoor until at least the 24^th. 

The Otmoor Spoonbill courtesy of Terry Sherlock

The summering Glossy Ibis reappeared, after a brief period of not been reported, on the 8^th October, although it seemingly did a disappearing act once more. Although with it having been in the county now for most of the year, it wouldn’t be surprising if it were to turn up again in the near future.

Cattle Egret were much less spread out this month with only four sites hosting birds in October. Otmoor continued to host a large flock of up to 44 birds, although most of these were birds coming into or departing roost with birds presumably spread more widely during the day. Peep-o-Day Lane hosted up to five birds from the 1^st until the 8^th, with a single here again on the 18^th. Wytham also hosted a fairly sizeable flock of 20 birds on the 17^th, presumably birds that go on to then roost at Otmoor (?). Dix Pit then had a single bird on the 30^th, with no other sites in the west seemingly hosting birds this month. 

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Cattle Egret courtesy of Conor Mackenzie

Great White Egret, though, continued to be recorded across a large number of sites presumably with summering 2^nd calendar years been boosted by 1^st calendar years from down on the Somerset Levels. At least 15 sites recorded birds this month, with at least 6 of those sites hosted 2 or more birds at some point in October. The highest count came from Radcot on the 24^th with a whopping 5 birds here. Peep-o-Day Lane and Shifford both hosted 3 birds on the 8^th and 13^th respectively. Whilst Port Meadow, Clanfield and Blenheim also recorded 2 birds present on the 19^th, 27^th and 30^th respectively. Radcot also recorded a very high count of Little Egret with 33 here on the 24^th, along with the 5 reported Great White Egret in what must have been some scene! 

Great White Egret courtesy of Conor Mackenzie

 

 

Passerines

Yellow-browed Warbler was not the only passerine to ‘invade’ the county in good numbers this month, with a sizeable irruption year for Hawfinch well under way. The first few records filtered through the county on the 15^th, where 4 were present at Cutteslowe Park and a single through Boars Hill on the 18^th, nothing too unusual yet. However the latter part of October saw masses of records through almost any site in the country with even a marginal bit height, and all counties were reporting higher than usual numbers through. At least 8 sites in Oxfordshire went on to report between 1 – 4 birds with records spread from as far north as Grimsbury Reservoir and as far south as Culham. Fingers crossed that the irruption continues and birds settle down as they did in 2017, where it felt almost impossible not to find a local Hawfinch!

The Woodstock Black Redstart continued its stay at the site until at least the 5^th of the month before seemingly departing for pastures new, before reappearing on the 25^th on the original finders neighbours roof of all places! Another cracking garden bird for the finder after a Tree Pipit there in August! A site that often hosts Black Redstart the housing estate around Chinnor Quarry saw a single bird return to the site for another year on the 22^nd, with two then here on the 24^th and at least one hanging on until the 25^th. Aston Upthorpe hosted the 4^th and final record of the month with a single juvenile here on the 24^th.  

Black Redstart courtesy of David Stracey

October is the peak month for Rock Pipit in the county and this month saw at least four sites record birds. The bulk of the records came from Farmoor, as is typical of the species, with 2 here on the 2^nd reduced to a single bird between the 3^rd and 10^th, whilst another single was here on the 22^nd. Two vis-mig records were a surprising addition to the county records this month with birds at Fyfield Wick on the 11^th and at Boars Hill on the 18^th. An unidentified Anthus was on Port Meadow on the 22^nd and was either a Rock or Water Pipit but was too brief to be pinned down. Whilst a probable Tree Pipit was over Farmoor on the 4^th, but again was too brief to be identified fully. 

Farmoor Rock Pipit courtesy of Debbie Cummins

With the season change well underway, the county’s first Brambling of the autumn came from Cutteslowe Park on the 3^rd, followed up by records from Drayton, Wantage and Aston Rowant on the 16^th, 25^th and 27^th respectively. Although some of the autumns southern bound migrants were still present or moving through with a Wheatear at Farmoor on the 3^rd and several Yellow Wagtail records from the Port Meadow from the 1^st to the 10^th. The changing of the guard continued as the month went on with Swallow and House Martin finally departing for the most part by the 12^th, with large numbers of Redwing noted arriving on the same date. That being said, the odd Swallow did hang on for a little while with a single present on the 18^th and a small flock of 9 in the north of the county on the 23^rd.

This section can’t finish without an honorary mention of the annual Woodpigeon movement that is observed across the country, typically towards the end of October to early November. This movement usually involves many 10s of thousands of birds moving south in clear and still autumn weather, with some sites in the west of the country noted counts into the 100s of thousands! Oxon did manage to get in on the action this year, albeit on a much smaller scale with only 100s – to the low 1000s noted, but the movement spectacular, nonetheless.

Gulls and Terns

A brief 2cy Baltic Gull was present on Port Meadow on the 1^st, in what is becoming almost an expected annual subspecies thanks to the almost sole effort of one gull enthusiast and was the 2^nd or 3^rd bird located this year.  

Baltic Gull courtesy of Thomas Miller

Caspian Gull, still the staple of the enthusiastic gull watcher, were present at three sites this month, with the bulk of the records coming from Farmoor. Up to 4 birds were present at any one time and records probably involved at least 6 different birds. Port Meadow had at least 1 first year birds, whilst Appleford also hosted a 1cy bird on the 6^th of the month. Mediterranean Gull were only present at Port Meadow from the 9^th and seen sporadically throughout the month, a single 1^st winter bird often seen coming into roost but also present during the day. 

Farmoor Caspian Gull courtesy of Ben Sheldon

Raptors

The arrival of Autumn proper saw the first Short-eared Owl turn up in the county on the 13^th. Although the first records came from Cow Down in Berkshire, given the closeness of the border it seems highly unlikely the two birds did not occasionally cross into Oxon airspace. Fully within the county though, a single bird was present at Otmoor from the 19^th, with it being sporadically observed right up until the 31^st. Continuing the autumnal feel, Merlin records came from two sites, with the classic site of Childrey Field hosting a single juvenile on the 12^th, whilst another juvenile was present at Woodstock on the 18^th. 

Merlin courtesy of Gareth Cashburn

A single Hobby remained at Otmoor this month and continued well into the latter part of the month, with two present on the 17^th and the lone bird still there until the 31^st. Also at Otmoor the makings of a spectacular Marsh Harrier roost got under way with a minimum of 12 birds seen coming into the reedbed through the middle and latter part of the month. The wing-tagged bird (AB) that was seen last month at Pit 60 was part of this contingent present at Otmoor. Interestingly, its sibling (AD) was present at Nosterfield LNR in North Yorkshire, and provided some useful context as to how birds disperse into the wider countryside despite coming from the same nest site.

 

Patchwork challenge

Patch	Birder	Points	Species	Highlight
Aston eyot	Ben Sheldon	83	81	Barnacle Goose
Ardley ERF	Gareth Casburn	108	98	Pochard
Dix pit	Simon Bradfield	87	80	Kingfisher
Grimsbury reservoir	Gareth Blockley	121	109	Hawfinch & Mandarin
Lye valley	Tom Bedford			Hawfinch & Yellow-browed Warbler
River Thames	Geoff Wyatt
Sutton Courtenay	Conor MacKenzie	141	123	Marsh Harrier, Firecrest, Ruff
Radley GP’s	Ian Elkins
Freeland	Glen Pascoe
South Hinksey	Alex Figueiredo	64	62	Raven
Cholsey	Alan Dawson	111	105	Grey Plover