Pit 60 Standlake 10th August

Black tailed godwit

Little-ringed Plover 

Common Sandpiper 2

Great white egret

Redstart m

(AL)

Ket holder reserve 

Gramp's Hill: 10th Aug.

2+ Tree Pipit

2 Redstart 

Appleford GPs 10th August

Greenshank 

Great white Egret 

Headington, Oxford: 10th August

 

This TREE PIPIT flew SW calling, an amazing garden tick! A short blog post is here. 

Grimsbury Reservoir 10th August

Mediterranean Gull 2 juv 08:00

Mandarin 2

(JFT)

Courtesy of John Friendship-Taylor 

Cowleaze Wood: 9th August

12 Crossbills at Cowleaze Wood

Otmoor: 9th August

30 Yellow Wagtail: C30 with cattle on Ashgrave. Occasionally perching on bushes where some juveniles could be seen.
2 Spotted Flycatcher: Around the edge of Noke wood.

Hobby: Direct flight over Ashgrave, appeared to be carrying prey.
7 Cattle Egret: 2 juveniles present.

Steve Roby

Bicester Wetlands Reserve 9th August

Green Sandpiper 10

Little Egret 6

(CO)

Key holder reserve 

Wantage: Market Square: 9th August

Wantage: Market Square
5 Swift 09:41.

Jed Cleeter

Cutteslowe Park 9th August

Tree Pipit flew over heading south 08:55 (JD)

Farmoor Reservoir 9th August

Shag still present 08:44 (BM)

Otmoor rspb 9th August

Glossy Ibis 

Whinchat on Greenaways 

Otter at the 1st screen

(SM)

Christmas Common: 8th August

Christmas Common
Spotted Flycatcher 17:20.

Kate Ashbrook

Letcombe Regis: Blandys Farm: 8th August

Letcombe Regis: Blandys Farm
2 Redstart
Yellow Wagtail
9 Grey Partridge

Mark Merritt

Farmoor Reservoir: 8th August

Farmoor Reservoir
Common Sandpiper: SP448067. 20:00.

Steven Portugal

Farmoor Reservoir 8th August

Shag 1 juvenile

Lesser Whitethroat 8

Common Whitethroat 19

Sedge Warbler 11

Reed Warbler 2

Willow Warbler 2

Yellow Wagtail 1

Sand Martin 40+

Egyptian Goose 2

Little Egret 15

Common Tern 5+

Otmoor rspb 8th August

Glossy Ibis 13:20 (per RBA)

Farmoor Reservoir 8th August

Shag juv still present F1 on valve tower 09:21 (per Ewan Urquhart).

Harwell Laboratory: Rutherford Laboratory: 8th August

Harwell Laboratory: Rutherford Laboratory
Tree Pipit: No general access.

Mark Merritt

RSPB Otmoor Thursday 7 August

Jay 2
Treecreeper 4
Lesser Whitethroat 3

Goldcrest 1
Cattle Egret 20
Little Egret 2
Great White Egret 1

Courtesy of Steve Liptrot 

Snipe 12

Little Grebe 1

Lapwing 50

Common Tern 4
Little Ringed Plover 1

Courtesy of Steve Liptrot 

Common Sandpiper 1
Glossy Ibis 1 
Sparrowhawk 1
Peregrine 1

Kestrel 2

Farmoor Reservoir 7th August

Leucistic Pied Wagtail

Shag 1 juvenile

Yellow legged Gull 6+

Common Tern 6

Little Egret 7

Red crested Pochard 1 juvenile

Ringed Plover 1

Sanderling 1

Dunlin 2 

Common Sandpiper 1

Pied Wagtail 40+ incl the leucistic individual

Grey Wagtail 3

Yellow Wagtail 2

Whinchat: Female on bushes either side of track into pinkhill lock. 15:20. (per Yacky Morris)

Courtesy of Yacky Morris 

Sand Martin 40+

House Martin 5+

Swallow 1

Lesser Whitethroat 4

Garden Warbler 1

Reed Warbler 3+

Willow Warbler 1 male in full song!

Courtesy of Steve Liptrot 

Balscote Quarry Reserve 7th August

Whinchat 12:59 (AT)

Farmoor Reservoir 6th August

Shag 1 juvenile

Yellow legged Gull 6

Great Black backed Gull 1 adult

Common Tern 5+

Little Egret 12

Red crested Pochard 1 juvenile

Egyptian Goose 2

Green Sandpiper 1

Common Sandpiper 1 

Juvenile Sand Martin

Sand Martin 200+ including the leucistic individual

Swallow 40+

House Martin 10+

Yellow Wagtail 4+

Pied Wagtail 1 leucistic individual

Lesser Whitethroat 7

Common Whitethroat 4+

Garden Warbler 2

Blackcap 3+

Reed Warbler 4+

Willow Warbler 1

Common Chiffchaff 10+

Farmoor Reservoir

Adult and juvenile Sand Martins at Farmoor 
All photos courtesy of Lucy Roberts

Courtesy of Lucy Roberts

Courtesy of Lucy Roberts

 

Bicester Wetlands Reserve 6th August

Green Sandpiper 11

Redshank juv

Lapwing 10

Little Egret 6

(JFT)

Key holder reserve

Farmoor Reservoir 6th August

Shag still present on pontoon at eastern end of F1 13:05 (per Ewan Urquhart).

Warburg Reserve: 6th August

Warburg Reserve
Hawfinch: Seen from hide bathing at the pond. 11:58.
Spotted Flycatcher 11:58.

Paul Torevell

Above & below courtesy of Paul Torevell 

Otmoor rspb 6th August

Glossy Ibis 10:06 

Little-ringed Plover 

Snipe 9

(per RBA et al)

North Cross Valley Way 5th August

Caspian Gull 1s this evening (per RBA)

Farmoor Reservoir 5th August

Shag image taken with i-phone

SHAG 1 juvenile still 20:45

Yellow legged Gull 4 adults

Great Black backed Gull 1 adult

Common Tern 1

Red crested Pochard 1 juvenile

Green Sandpiper 1

Little Egret 8

Sand Martin 30+

Pied Wagtail 1 leucistic individual

Farmoor Reservoir 5th August

Shag juv still present 19:52 on valve tower at east end of F1 17:32 (per Ewan Urquhart et al)

Woodstock 5th August

Crossbill 3 Blenheim Park in conifer plantation by cattle grid to the north of the fisherys cottage 10:04

(per Paul Willis)

Stonesfield Common 4th August

Redstart 08:27 (per Paul Wren)

Otmoor rspb 4th August

Glossy Ibis 1st screen

Cattle Egret 6

Little-ringed Plover 

Common Sandpiper 

(KN)

Juvenile Peregrine courtesy of Simon Booker 

 

Bicester Wetland Reserve 4th August

 11 Green Sandpiper
 19 Gadwall
 4 Teal

A Peters   C Oram
Key Holder Reserve

Spotted Flycatcher Warburg Reserve courtesy of Connor Pimm 

 

Summer review

Highlights

After our usual summer break, I had hoped to be discussing a local mega disrupting this usually very relaxed birding period. In recent years we have been treated to Black-crowned Night Heron and even two Rosy Starling records. This summer, however, has been more normal in nature with nothing too unexpected occurring between June and July. That is except for the Savi’s Warbler, which just about creeped into the period on the evening of June 1st, but by this point was quite literally last month’s news. A White Stork over Bladon would have been very notable only a few years ago, but all records are now very much marked with an asterisk these days, given so many introduction projects around the south of England. 

Despite this, there is still plenty that has kept birders busy over the lean period. Wader migration, for example, never really seemed to stop. A trickle of northward bound Sanderling continued at Farmoor until the end of the first week of June. This then not long followed up by the first southward bound Green Sandpiper on the 11^th June at Bicester Wetland. The first returning Common Sandpiper came the following week on the 18^th with several Black-tailed Godwit coming only a few days after. July then saw even more wader species arrive, Whimbrel, Greenshank and Turnstone, mostly from the middle of the month and were quickly followed by the first movement of Terns with Black, Sandwich and non-locally bred Common Tern all passing through the county. 

Greenshank courtesy of Dave Murphy

August should hopefully see a few more species added to the county year list and with the recent downpours, some sites are starting to look in fine shape again and should provide a good draw. Although if all else fails Otmoor and Farmoor will hopefully provide in their place. The county year list currently stands at 190, not including the non-BOU species, and with only a few expected species left to fall there is definitely a rarity or two to be found between now and the end of the year, or at least you would hope!

Waders

Sanderling continued to trickle through the county in the early part of June with both Farmoor and North Cross Valley Way (NCVW) recording birds. A flock of six were present at the former site on the 3^rd, with possibly another seven here later in the evening. NCVW also had five birds on the 5^th, possibly the same flock but more likely part of larger group of birds pushing northwards. The last record of ‘Spring’ came on the 5^th, from Farmoor whilst the first record of the ‘Autumn’ came only 41 days later on the 16^th July also from Farmoor followed by another bird on the 30^th. Also continuing into the first part of June a single Dunlin was on Farmoor on the 4^th, following the small group of Sanderling. Similarly to Sanderling the first ‘Autumn’ record came only 42 days later with three on the 16^th July. The odd single was then recorded in the latter part of July, mostly at Farmoor although Ardley ERF also hosted a single bird on the 28^th July. 

Farmoor Sanderling courtesy of Brian Walker

 The autumn period really began however, with the first returning Green Sandpiper at Bicester Wetlands on the 11^th June – a reasonably early bird for the site. This was quickly followed by birds at Otmoor and Ardley by the 15^th. Numbers continued to pick up slowly through the latter half of June and by the end of July a minimum of 9 sites had hosted their first birds. Bicester Wetlands, as ever, had the highest count with a maximum of 12 birds here on the 22^nd July. Common Sandpiper soon followed after with the first returning bird surprisingly not at Farmoor but at Otmoor on the 18^th June. Farmoor was far behind however, with a small flock of seven birds on the 23^rd. Birds continued to trickle throughout the summer period with at least 9 sites recording at least one bird, although most sites saw multiple birds and the highest count coming from Farmoor with 10 on the 17^th July.

Green Sandpiper courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Black-tailed Godwit were a very welcome returnee, with a several birds recorded within the county’s borders on the 22^nd June. Two were present at Peep-o-Day Lane on the 22^nd, whilst Shepherds Pit also had a single. Interestingly, the latter bird was colour-ringed and a quick response from the project revealed it was ringed in 2013. Having spent much of its time between Iceland and Dorset/Hampshire over the last 12 years, this was only the 2^nd time the individual had been intercepted whilst migrating between these two areas. Several other sites saw further records with Otmoor clearly hosting the most birds, a 2^nd colour-ringed bird present for a week highlighting the turn over of birds on southward migration. This individual was ringed in 2017 as a 1^st year in Suffolk and has subsequently been seen in Iceland a few times, but this was the first time it had been seen outside of those two places with almost all of the 137 resightings coming from Suffolk. Two more sites reported birds over the summer period – Bicester Wetland and Pit 60 whilst Otmoor hosting at least one bird for much of the month with a possible flock of 20+ birds here in the latter part of July. 

Black-tailed Godwit courtesy of Andrew Hall

The first Turnstone of the autumn was on Farmoor on the 21^st July, an uncharacteristic flighty and nervy bird that remained for no more than 40 minutes. This was followed by a couple more birds on the 30^th, albeit just flyovers, followed by two more flyovers again on the 31^st. The first Whimbrel came on the 11^th, also from Farmoor and was followed up by another bird on the 30^th. With so little water present at many local patches, it is somewhat unsurprising that most of the early autumn wader records came from Farmoor. That being said, a NocMig recording did pick up a couple Whimbrel flying over in the early hours of the 24^th, possibly heading to or from Otmoor. Greenshank also made their return to the county on the 11^th with multiple birds present at various times at Otmoor during July, Farmoor also got the odd bird in this period but with so much disturbance at the site during the summer none hung around very long. A lone juv Ruff just about squeaked into the recording period with an individual on Farmoor on the evening of the 31^st. 

Farmoor Turnstone courtesy of Brian Walker

Ringed Plover had a much longer period out of the county than most of the other species, with the last record coming on the 4^th June at Farmoor and the first returning bird not coming until the very last few days of July from Otmoor. The summer period also saw a notable increase in the number of Little Ringed Plover records, presumably of many locally breeding birds moving south and gathering at suitable locations. A whopping count of 19 birds from Ardley on the 3^rd July surely must be close to the county record count for the species (?) and appeared to be made up of a mixture of locally bred birds and migrants passing through. Other sites also saw notable increases with at least two more sites hosting 5+ birds this month whilst Farmoor had sporadic records of adults and juvs passing through.

Wildfowl, game etc

The latter part of May saw the first records singing Quail, typically our last returning breeding migrant. The Oxon Downs is usually the first spot to get returnees and this was again true this year with up to three birds singing between Aston Upthorpe and Churn during the early part of June. The latter part of July will often see birds turn up sporadically throughout the county, usually with a western distribution bias, but not always. Swyncombe Down, Otmoor and Swalcliffe Lea all saw records of singing males from the 18^th June all the way up to the 30^th July for the latter site. An unusual record of a bird flushed from Chimney Meadows on the 12^th June was the only record of the species that didn’t relate to a singing individual. 

Calling Quail courtesy of Kevin Heath

Not often the time of year associated with Common Scoter records, with so many birds making overland migratory jaunts to the north of us it seemed likely record might pop up at some point in late July. A drake on Farmoor on the 17^th only stuck around for about an hour, long enough for some to connect but unfortunately not for others. A 2^nd chance however came on the 26^th with two birds over F1 but these individuals were even less twitchable seemingly departing the site as quickly as they were found. A single drake Garganey on Otmoor on the 16^th June may have been some indication that local breeding may have occurred or attempted although no further evidence was apparent and the individual was not again reported this period in what has been a disappointing year so far for the species. 

Farmoor Common Scoter courtesy of Conor Mackenzie

On the more mundane side of things it seems at least a few pairs of Shelduck stuck around long enough to attempt breeding, albeit no evidence so far has been forthcoming. Three sites had birds over the summer period with individuals at Hatford and Otmoor during the early – middle part of June. A single bird at Ardley seems likely to have been a bird passing through, coming on the 3^rd July. Another successful breeding year for Goosander was confirmed by the presence of an adult female on the Thames by Port Meadow accompanied by three juveniles. Kings Lock or there abouts seems to be the likely site of breeding and with pairs on the Thame in at least two locations, it seems possibly even more successful breeding is likely to have occurred for this species once limited to the north. 

The first returnee Red-crested Pochard from wherever it is they breed was on Farmoor on the 15^th July, followed by four here on the 27^th. An unusual record of Mandarin also came from Otmoor on the 30^th.

Herons, egrets etc

As mentioned a White Stork over Bladon on the 11^th July would have been a pretty exciting event only just a few years ago but are now confined to a mixture of feelings depending on how you feel about their recent introduction to the UK. With so many projects now involved in White Stork releases it seems likely that this was not a continental bird but probably from one of these many releases, although no confirmation was had either way with no further sightings throughout the month. The semi-resident Glossy Ibis continued its summer holiday at Otmoor been reported almost every day from the 1^st June until the 31^st July. Having gone through its whole moult whilst there, looking extremely tatty during the Savi’s Warbler twitch it now looks positively resplendent in the summer sunshine. It seems quite possible it is the same bird that summered here last year and one has to wonder if and when it may be joined by another bird next year, with breeding having occurred in the nearby county of Cambridgeshire in similar habitat. 

The resident Glossy Ibis courtesy of Carol Payne

Cattle Egret continued in their usual pattern, albeit a hard one to decipher for the most part. Single wanderers and probable non-breeders made up the majority of sightings away from Blenheim with Farmoor, Pit 60 and Radley all hosting birds over the summer. Blenheim continued to host several breeding pairs although it seems somewhat fewer than the number of breeding Little Egret. That being said, up to 20 birds were here on the 30^th June with plenty of breeding activity under way. So far, so normal. The confusing matter to my mind, is the wandering and roving flock of up to 50 birds that seems to go between Chimney and Otmoor with apparently no sign of another breeding colony at either site? What these birds are up to seems a bit of a mystery to me but a welcome addition to any visit to Otmoor either way! 

Cattle Egret courtesy of Russell Allen

Great White Egret also continued to be present throughout the summer, as they are in every other month of the year albeit in lower numbers and across fewer sites. Otmoor had the most records and the highest count with up to three birds present at any one time this summer. At least another five sites hosted birds between mid-June and late-July with all other sites hosting single birds. It seems Crane have likely had another tough year in the county this year, with seemingly no sign of successful breeding at Otmoor or anywhere else for that matter. A pair of birds continued to frequent both Otmoor and Chimney Meadows throughout the summer, seemingly commuting between the two sites on occasion. Although on the 24^th June four birds were reported from Otmoor so it is possible that records from both sites relate to different birds.

Gulls and Terns

A month that is often expected to be quiet for this group with most birds still on breeding grounds or the coast for this season, it does occasionally throw up the occasional oddity such as the Little Tern that spent one summer commuting up and down the Thames between Port Meadow and Farmoor. A Black Tern was a much more expected bird this time of year, with a lone bird present on Farmoor on the 20^th July. Several early-ish records of Sandwich Tern came through the middle part of July and into late July. With reports of Sandwich Tern colonies abandoning early this year, records from Farmoor on the 15^th and again on the 28^th July were not really unsurprising. The former were not reported at the time but the latter hung around long enough for at least a few people to connect with them. 

Farmoor Juvenile Common Tern courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Caspian Gull now reported in every month, were present at three sites through June and July. NCVW had a lone 1^st summer through the early part of June. Whilst Farmoor had at least two different birds throughout the summer period and a 1^st summer also spent some time at Ardley ERF in the early -mid part of July. Two records of Mediterranean Gull came from the summer period, a more typical record of a 2nd calendar bird at Shepherds Pit on the 22^nd June followed by a pretty remarkable garden tick over Headington on the 14^th July for one lucky birder there! 

Ardley Caspian Gull courtesy of John-Friendship Taylor

Passerines

A juv Hawfinch at Warburg on the 18^th July potentially points towards some local successful breeding efforts and was definitely one of the more surprising records over the summer period. Otherwise the big news for this group was the ongoing irruption of Crossbill which has been seen up and down the country. At least 19 sites have seen records this month with a roving flock of 20+ seen at several sites across the west of the county. With several large flocks bordering the county, some in the 50+ number, the autumn and winter should see plenty more records yet! 

The Juvenile Hawfinch courtesy of CJ Kearns

The first of our returning Redstart was a little earlier than expected with one at Pit 60 on the 5^th July. It took a further 11 days before our next induvial at Cholsey on the 16^th, a slightly more expected arrival. This was followed by more and more records at Woodstock and Otmoor with several individuals at the latter site throughout the end of the month. Even more surprising was though this month was the first returning Wheatear with a juv/fem present at Shepherds Pit on the 23^rd July, a fantastically early record and possibly the earliest returning record for the county? 

Crossbills courtesy of Paul Wren

 

Raptors

A possible White-tailed Eagle remained frustratingly unconfirmed and elusive, with two possible records over the Oxon Downs/Wantage area between the 7^th and 9^th July, this was followed by another possible record on the 27^th just north of here. With the first English bred individual from Sussex then rocking up in Northants on the 31^st, it seems plausible that this bird may have been responsible for these sightings the previous few weeks.

Osprey records continued to come and go, frustrating to anyone but the finders. One fishing over F1 on the 3^rd came and went as quickly as it was seen before another also briefly over the site on the 9^th. Whether these records, including those the previous month, relate to multiple birds or the same bird remains to be seen but it has certainly been the most records during the spring period for at least the last few years.

Patchwork challenge

Patch	Birder	Points	Species	Highlight
Aston eyot	Ben Sheldon
Ardley ERF	Gareth Casburn	109	99
Dix pit	Simon Bradfield
Grimsbury reservoir	Gareth Blockley	102	95
Lye valley	Tom Bedford	68	68
River Thames	Geoff Wyatt	137	120
Sutton Courtenay	Conor MacKenzie	127	112
Radley GP’s	Ian Elkins	106	100
Freeland	Glen Pascoe
South Hinksey	Alex Figueiredo	77	73

Skulking Cuckoo courtesy of Nick Truby

Oxon Big Year 2025

Name	Total
Ben Sheldon	175
Thomas Miller	175
Neil Hayward	156
Conor MacKenzie	179
Simon Myers	171
Peerawat Chiaranunt	171