November Review

Highlights

November is typically a tough month for birding in the county. Although an occasional bolt from the blue can disrupt normal proceedings, typically the staple at this time of year is a scarce duck or goose and maybe if we’re lucky the odd Yellow-browed Warbler. Tantalising records from nearby counties included Long-tailed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser and Lesser Scaup on the wildfowl front, whilst a semi-influx of Hume’s Leaf Warbler on the east coast culminated in a very popular bird just over in Bedfordshire. Unfortunately, despite a stellar year already, none of these were to venture in or grace our county with their presence. We did, however, see the odd rare goose turn up, with the rarest of these in the form of a Pink-footed Goose in the far north of the county. Originally and teasingly seen just over the border in Northants on the 22^nd close to Aynho, it was eventually found in the county proper on 29^th adjacent to Grimsbury Reservoir, and by the same birder. As with all wildfowl it can be extremely difficult to know the provenance of these individuals, particularly when they associate with the many Greylags and Canada Geese that inhabit to county all year round, although in fairness what other choices do they have. For that reason, this species presence in the county seems to attract far less attention than for example, a wayward Brent Goose or family part of White-fronts, but in any case, is a cracking patch bird for Grimsbury Reservoir – a site that continually over-performs giving its size and location. 

The Grimsbuy Reservoice Pink-footed Goose courtesy of John Friendship-Taylor

With the addition of the aforementioned goose, the county list now stands at fairly average 205. A decent improvement on last year, but not by much and the general trend continues to be one of diminishing returns. That being said, it has been a stellar year for rarities, with several county mega’s at both ends of the year with lots of Oxon birders adding several new species to their county tallies. With the New Year in only a few short weeks, it seems likely 205 will remain the total for this year, although I am reminded that on 31^st December 2022 both Velvet Scoter and Dotterel were found at opposite ends of the county – meaning anything is still possible.

Waders

Partly in the interests of having something to discuss in this section, arguably the best bird of the month was omitted from the highlights section. A Spotted Redshank on Port Meadow would have been an exceedingly popular bird, for the Big Year group and locals alike, particularly since the only other records this year have been either brief or not reported in good time. Unfortunately, as with the earlier record this autumn, this bird was reported long after it was first seen by an out of county birder on an RSPB Berks trip on the 18^th. A possible heard only record came via NCVW also this day, so presumably the bird moving on from site after disturbance? Either way, on the 19^th despite a thorough search in terrible conditions it could not be relocated!

Other than that it was a fairly standard month, with very few records of unexpected species. A single Ringed Plover came from Farmoor on the 8^th, whilst Dunlin was on two sites – Otmoor and Port Meadow. At Otmoor a single bird was present on the 9^th – 30^th, whilst a maximum of three birds were on Port Meadow 15^th – 19^th. Jack Snipe were recorded at three sites, clearly a severe undercount of the species presence in the county. One bird at Pit 60 was actually present in less than typical circumstances, viewed from one of the hides across 8^th and 9^th. Much more typical though, two flushed birds came from Otmoor and Farmoor, on the 9^th and 20^th respectively. 

Farmoor Ringed Plover courtesy of Brian Walker

Green Sandpiper was the most widely reported species this month, with a minimum of six sites recording birds. Cornwell Marsh was the site with the most reports, with a single bird here from 8^th – 21^st whilst Bicester Wetland had the highest count, with three on the 13^th. All other sites had single records on single days – Otmoor, Ardley ERF, Hatford and Peep-o-Day Lane. Unexpectedly, Common Sandpiper were reported from two sites. Farmoor had its usual wintering individual, occasionally reported throughout the month, whilst a single bird was present at Otmoor on the 30^th. Woodcock, although probably fairly abundant across the county at this time of year, were reported from only four sites – Boarstall Decoy, Peep-o-Day Lane, Freeland and Otmoor.

Wildfowl, game etc

Another decent bird for the period, came in the form of Brent Goose, in fairly unusual circumstances. A lone bird associating with large gulls was present at Moulsford on the downs on the the 5^th, although it didn’t hang around for long. Interestingly this isn’t the first time that this has occurred even this year, when a bird was present at Churn also associating with large gull aggregations on the downs. A 2^nd bird followed on the 16^th, off the back of a movement across the country. This one however, was in the north of the county- just outside Clifton, in what is fast becoming the county hotspot for rare and scarce wildfowl. However, it was quickly flushed by a dog walker and not seen again.

November also saw a couple Whooper Swan records, although none of these turned out to be very forthcoming for the wider public. A pair of probable birds went over Horley on the 7^th, whilst one over Bladon on the 30^th was almost certainly the widely reported bird flying over Otmoor also on the 30^th. The remaining sightings this month were fairly standard fare for the period. Shelduck was present on one site this month, Otmoor on the 9^th. Whilst Goldeneye were present on three sites – Pit 60 and Dix Pit as expected with a high count of six at the former site. Grimsbury Reservoir was the only site out of the usual places that reported birds – a pair on the 29^th.

Goosander were recorded on a minimum of five sites, with a decent spread across the county. The highest count came from Pit 60 where there was 11 on the 30^th, although most sites recorded at least a pair. 3T Pit, Port Meadow and Blenheim had birds earlier in the month, whilst Radley GPs recorded a pair in the latter half of the month. Moving onto the less native section of the group, Red-crested Pochard returned in force with a whopping 123 counted at Dix Pit on the 23^rd. LWV had a much more modest count of 14 on the 1^st odd single was dotted around 3T Pit on the 8^th and the Abingdon stretch of the Thames on the 11^th. Mandarin was present on two sites, Blenheim had three on the 5^th and Rushy Common had two on 9^th. 

Goosander courtesy of Carl Stockwell

 

Herons, egrets etc

The five Glossy Ibis continued to find Otmoor to their liking. Occasionally reported with one or two of their number missing, although presumably still present somewhere in the vast habitat out of view at Otmoor. All five were reported on and off between the 2^nd and 24^th, in what is quickly becoming an annual occurrence, and it will be interesting to see what happens in the spring if they continue to be present.

Glossy Ibis courtesy of Paul Wyeth

It was business as usual for the other two reportable species this month. The usual roving flock of Cattle Egret continued to move between the fields by the A34 and Wytham Wood, with occasional forays out west towards Newbridge and Witney. Great White Egret dissipated this month, after record counts the previous month, with a minimum of eight sites recording birds. The maximum count for any individual site was two, reported at several sites including Otmoor, Blenheim and Peep-o-Day Lane.

Gulls and Terns

Another contender for highlight of the month, a lone 1w Kittiwake was briefly found roosting on Farmoor with a few Black-headed Gull on the 15^th. Unfortunately for anyone else, this individual did not hang around compounding a frustrating year for this species – two records by single observers. Part of a larger overland movement of seabirds and waders, this was soon followed by a couple of unseasonable Little Gull through Grimsbury Reservoir, marking for an excellent month for this local patch in November. The first flying straight through on the 16^th, followed by another an hour or later which briefly stayed before also departing. 

Farmoor Kittiwake courtesy of Conor Mackenzie

Caspian Gull were largely restricted to their usual haunts consisting of most of the same individuals. With Port Meadow hosting a 3^rd winter between the 15^th – 21^st, Farmoor hosting its usual 1^st winter and another reported at Cassington GPs without any age recorded. An interesting ringed adult was present at Pit 60 on the 9^th. A regularly returning bird, having been seen in the county on and off since 2021, it originates from a German mixed species colony. Although ringed and often reported as pure cachinnans it seems likely to be some kind of hybrid – certainly an interesting looking bird for sure. Thanks to IE for the additional info. Rounded off this month, a couple Mediterranean Gull records came from Grimsbury Reservoir on the 16^th, followed by two birds at Farmoor on the 25^th coming into the evening roost. 

3w Caspian Gull on Port Meadow courtesy of Giles Moon

  

Passerines

A fairly productive month for this group this month, with a couple decent rarities and smattering of scarcities also present. The best of these, at least by recent context, was the continuing Water Pipit at Otmoor. A situation where the early bird really did catch the worm, with the individual reliably coming into the screens at first light for a couple hours, before departing to the vast available habitat elsewhere. It was present until at least the 4^th, although it seems pretty plausible that this is a wintering individual that is here for the duration. Bearded Tit, after being a near mega in recent years, has now switched to being like buses, with a 2^nd record of 2025 this time at Rushy Common. A probable heard on the 9^th, proved to be a pair confirmed and present until at least the 17^th. Unlike the previous pair which were at Radley GPs the previous winter, this pair rarely if ever showed themselves. With abundant habitat, it’s seems possible they are still present despite a lack of records.

Otmoor Water Pipit courtesy of Sue Carruthers

A report of a Ring Ouzel in with a Redwing flock at Harwell Laboratory on the 10^th, marking a pretty remarkable record. It certainly sets the mind wandering about what else is lurking in amongst those masses of winter thrushes in the wider countryside. A single Hawfinch record came from Blewbury on the 30^th, a fly over bird moving through a band of woodland at the bottom of this lucky authors garden! On the rare Phylloscopus front, unfortunately no Hume’s Warbler nor a Yellow-browed Warbler were forthcoming. A probable Siberian Chiffchaff however, rescued the month, with a single bird likely at Peep-o-Day between 20^th and 24^th.

Black Redstart had a great showing this month with five sites hosting birds throughout November. Farmoor continued to host its single bird on the sewage treatment works from the 16^th until at least the 17^th. A brief individual was then seen at a residential street in Witney on the 7^th, whilst a similar scenario occurred in North Oxford Business Park the following day. Chinnor also then hosted it usual wintering pair from the 12^th and will likely be there for the rest of the period as in previous years. Finally, Christchurch College also saw its 2^nd record of the year, in what is also becoming a semi-reliable occurrence, present from the 21^st – 27^th. 

Christchurch College Black Redstart courtesy of Luke O'Byrne

Crossbill continued to delight a few local patches this month, with a minimum of four sites reporting flocks. Blenheim had the largest flock with a decent count of 50 on the 27^th and regularly saw 30+ through the early part of the month. An interesting bird was picked up amongst the regular flock at Buckland Warren – a bird sporting a fine white wing-bar. Despite causing some serious debate, it was fairly clear this bird was either a wing-barred Common Crossbill or a possible hybrid.

Blenheim Crossbills courtesy of Gareth Cashburn

The "wing-barred" Crossbill at Buckland Warren courtesy of Jeremy Dexter

Brambling were present at a handful of sites this month, with a maximum count of five at Blenheim on the 27^th. A honourable mention goes to a Firecrest at Pinkhill on the 13^th, a very decent bird for the wider Farmoor site with very few records from here. 

Blenheim Brambling courtesy of Gareth Cashburn

 

Raptors

A Hen Harrier on the Oxon Downs from the 8^th was the first of the season, although presumably not the first to actually occur in the openness of the North Wessex Landscape. A Short-eared Owl was seen over Otmoor on the 30^th and probably the most accessible of the birds reported this month, with others around the Oxon Downs not pinned down to accurate locations.

Courtesy of Malcolm Bowley

A wing-tagged Marsh Harrier was seen on the Otmoor rspb reserve & Cassington GPs last month.
It was ringed on the 31st May 2025 at 19:00 as a nestling at Hardley Flood in Norfolk.

Merlin were reported from three sites this month, all in the south or the west of the county from the 5^th – 19^th. Most interesting however, was a fourth individual which was GPS tagged which passed through the county on the 3^rd until the 8^th, passing through Aynho, Heyford Park and Harwell Laboratory. This individual seems to winter in northern France and breeds in Iceland and has passed through Oxon for the last two autumns. Fascinatingly it also took a major wrong turn on its spring migration this year, ending up in western Norway, before finally getting to Iceland in late May.

Patchwork challenge

Patch	Birder	Points	Species	Highlight
Aston eyot	Ben Sheldon
Ardley ERF	Gareth Casburn	118	107
Dix pit	Simon Bradfield
Grimsbury reservoir	Gareth Blockley	120	109	Little Gull
Lye valley	Tom Bedford	78	76
River Thames	Geoff Wyatt	146	126
Sutton Courtenay	Conor MacKenzie	134	117	Firecrest, Woodcock
Radley GP’s	Ian Elkins	110	103
Freeland	Glen Pascoe
South Hinksey	Alex Figueiredo	82	77

 

Oxon Big Year 2025

Name	Total
Ben Sheldon	192
Thomas Miller	186
Neil Hayward	161
Conor MacKenzie	190
Simon Myers	183
Peerawat Chiaranunt	177

 

Reed Bunting
Bicester Wetland Reserve
Courtesy of Pat Galka

The Otmoor Starling Winter Roost.

During starling murmuration season, increased visitor numbers put a strain on our carparking facilities, access roads and neighbouring villages. Please drive slowly through Beckley and along Otmoor Lane and consider car-sharing if possible. Please use the designated carpark and do not block gateways or entrances. If you can, come early in the week, avoiding weekends and Fridays. We suggest getting to a viewing point an hour before sunset. There is a 45-minute walk from the carpark. 

Thank you

The RSPB Otmoor Team