Oxon Birding Blog

Saturday, 9 September 2017

Churn 9th September

wheatear 2
whinchat 2
yellow wagtail c12
corn bunting 5+
merlin
hobby

Old Caley's Diary

Otmoor: RSPB reserve: 9th September

Ringtail Harrier sp
Hen Harrier (1st sum male)
Grey Plover
Whinchat 8
Stonechat 2
Wheatear 2 (nr Lower Farm)

(per Bark, Steve & Pete Roby)

.3 Hobby: Hunting rough field in front of large hide. 09:00.
3 Yellow Wagtail: Flew over calling. 09:00.
2 Marsh Harrier 09:00.

(per Jim Rose)

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 9th September

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Wheatear: SP3942.

Roger Evans

Banbury 8th September

Belated report of Manx Shearwater at Banbury railway station picked up and taken in to care.

Kingston Bagpuize: 9th September

9th September

Kingston Bagpuize
Tree Pipit: Flew South calling. 08:10.
Spotted Flycatcher: Briefly sitting on Silver Birch behind Hinds Head Pub, then flew South towards gardens over the road. 08:47.

Jed Cleeter

Friday, 8 September 2017

Kingston Bagpuize: 8th September

Kingston Bagpuize
Osprey: Flying steady South at medium height just east of the village. Possibly passed through Farmoor reservoir judging by the flight path ?. 19:03.

Jed Cleeter

Pale Common Buzzard Lollingdon Hill courtesy of Paul Chandler

Henley Road GPs: 8th September

Henley Road GPs
4 Mandarin Duck

Marek Walford

Sonning Eye GPs: 8th September

Sonning Eye GPs
Hobby

Marek Walford

Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park: 8th September

Port Meadow: Burgess Field Nature Park
Hobby: Unsuccessfully chasing flocks of finches and a few hirundines. SP500078. 15:30.

Graham Wickenden

Bicester Wetland, 8th September pm

2 very heavy fronts with torrential rain and thunder dropped a Redshank for 30mins and then a Black Tailed Godwit which was last seen at the far end of the reserve.
Also
Green Sandpiper 6
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Snipe 3
Grey Wagtails 2

Clackers & Mrs Clackers

Radley GPs 8th September

No sign of the Osprey by 11:00 at Thrupp Lake.

Raven
Kingfisher

Bicester Wetland Reserve 8th September

5 Green Sandpiper
2 Snipe
27 Teal
23 Gadwall
1 Shoveler
2 Heron
75+ House Martins feeding in the rain
1 Grey Wagtail

Key Holder reserve
Alan Peters

Farmoor 8th September

2 Shag (unfortunately a second bird had now died)
2 Turnstone
1 Spotted Flycatcher
4 Egyptian Geese

Thursday, 7 September 2017

Otmoor Thursday 7 September

2 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
1 Turtle Dove
10 Snipe
Small number of assorted hirundines

Rushey Common lake, 7th September pm

Dunlin
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
A brief weather front brought in at least 40 Swallows,6 House Martins and 10 Sand Martins low over the lake.
There were many more much higher up, too high to ID

Clackers & Mrs Clackers

Lark Hill 7th September

2 Marsh Harrier (male and juv) hunting this lunchtime, drifting WSW towards Court Hill
Swift
10+ Yellow Wagtail
Hundreds of hirundines, including 2+ Sand Martin

Radley GP 7th September, Osprey.

Osprey

A couple of heavily cropped record shots.The bird flew in from river area towards Thrupp lake at 10.28am, done a circuit of the lake then flew back towards river and Abingdon.
Also:-
1 Cetti's warbler
1 Kingfisher
4 Little grebe

Standlake Pit 60

Notice to Pit 60 (Standlake Common) key holders

Please note that the padlock on the field gate at Langley’s Lane has now been replaced.

The parking area outside the Langley’s Lane hide is for Blue Badge holders only, or those accessing the site for management purposes with prior agreement from LWVP. If you are a Blue Badge holder and need the access code for the gate, please contact lwvp@oxfordshire.gov.uk or 07557 082575.

Access to the hides for key holders without a Blue Badge should be via public footpaths. A map showing public footpaths and bridleways can be found here: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/countrysidemap/

Lucy Kennery

Lower Windrush Valley Project Manager

Tel: 07557 082575

Visit the project website: http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/lowerwindrushvalleyproject

Standlake Pit 60: am 7th September

Little Ringed Plover

Radley GPs 7th September

Osprey again over Thrupp Lake 10:28 (per Wayne Bull)

Harwell Laboratory: Rutherford Laboratory: 7th September

Harwell Laboratory: Rutherford Laboratory
Tree Pipit

Mark Merritt

Wednesday, 6 September 2017

Roke: 6th September

Roke
Marsh Harrier: fem. hunting over Oat field - found by Alan Brampton.

Thomas Stevenson

Lollingdon Hill 6th September

c100 Swallows at Lollingdon Hill courtesy of Paul Chandler

Redstart
Swallow 100+

(per Paul Chandler) Cholsey Wildlife

Radley GP's 6th September

Osprey fishing on Thrupp Lake this afternoon then later flying along the Thames (per Mark Chivers)

Otmoor am 6th September

Redstart

1 Sparrowhawk

2 Marsh Harrier
3 Hobby

1 Turtle Dove

1 Water Rail (per Eddie McLaughlin)

Barnacle Goose (feral) seen at the first screen. 08:40 (per Gary Day)

1 Kingfisher

C. 100 Linnet

10+ Redstart
3 Spotted Flycatcher

(per Paul Greenaway, Jim Hutchins)

Spotted Flycatcher

Water Rail courtesy of Eddie McLaughlin

Harwell Laboratory: Rutherford Laboratory: 6th September

Harwell Laboratory: Rutherford Laboratory
Tree Pipit

Mark Merritt

Milcombe 4th September

Belated report of a probable Osprey on Monday between Milcombe & Hook Norton
heading east (per Mary Clifton).

Farmoor Reservoir 6th September

Great Black-backed Gulls courtesy of Dai including a bird which was ringed in southern Norway (IDS)

Short-eared Owl (Shrike Meadow)
Shag 3+
Redshank
Spotted Flycatcher
Large numbers of both Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs

(per Ian Smith, Dai)

Short-eared Owl courtesy of Dai

Wheatear

Tuesday, 5 September 2017

Otmoor 5th Sept evening

6 Whinchat on Greenaway's
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Black tailed godwit
Yellow wagtails.
Water Rail

Port Meadow: 5th September

Port Meadow
15 Yellow Wagtail: in amongst the cattle.
Little Egret: along the river.
8 Lapwing
Hobby

Adam Hartley

Standlake pit 60: am 5th September

Peregrine

Farmoor Reservoir 5th September

SHAG 3 (the sick bird was unfortunately found dead this morning).
Redshank (John Workman)
Belated report of Corn Bunting on Sunday.

(per Dai)

Redshank courtesy of John Workman

Monday, 4 September 2017

Chinnor: Cement Works: 4th September

Chinnor: Cement Works
Common Sandpiper: On Lake 2B.

David Stracey

Otmoor RSPB 4th September

Black-tailed Godwit c3 at the 1st screen (per Luke O'Byrne)

Farmoor Reservoir 4th September

SHAG 4 (with one bird due to be taken in to care tomorrow)
Black Tern 2
Common Tern 1
Redshank
Dunlin 2

(per Dai)

August Hightlights

For a third consecutive summer month stand-out passage or vagrant sightings in Oxfordshire were few and far between, with regular passage birds and more notable breeding species making much of the news. August's headliners were both from Farmoor reservoir. The earlier was an adult White-winged Black Tern that spent the afternoon there on 11th. Having been seen further north (feasibly) at Rutland Water on the two previous days this visitor remained in our space until dusk, allowing good numbers of Oxon birders to connect before going on its way overnight.

White-winged Black Tern courtesy of Tezzer

On the same day a new Great White Egret was found by the patch worker at Ewelme Cress Beds, but not surprisingly for a small, easily disturbed site this heron didn't linger. One hot tip for the next county mega, Night Heron came tantalisingly close just across the border in Bucks towards the end of the month but with Oxon birders poised on red alert it chose to stay put. Surely more scarcer herons will be seen in the county soon. Keep hoping everyone!

Great White Egret courtesy of Thomas Stevenson

The second headliners were a group of juvenile Shag that arrived at Farmoor just after midday on 27th, part of a nationally recorded movement for the species. By mid-afternoon 11 birds were counted, most of which roosted overnight. These took a liking to the pontoons at the southern end of F2 and remained until the end of the month, being much photographed. This represents the first Oxon occurrence since 2012.

Shag courtesy of Ewan

Steady passage of waders and passerines progressed throughout the month. The most frequently logged waders were Green and Common Sandpiper, and Greenshank. Water level management of the lagoon at RSPB Otmoor encouraged a steady flow of sightings from the first screen there, with records also coming from Rushy and Standlake (Pit 60) Commons, Bicester Wetlands Reserve, Chinnor, Farmoor and elsewhere. The highest tallies were 9 Greenshank at Otmoor (14th) and 7 Green Sandpiper at BWR on three occasions.

Common Sandpiper courtesy of Steve Burch

Black-tailed Godwit, Turnstone and Ringed Plover all featured from different sites, with 2 Sanderling also passing through Farmoor on 5th and another on 24th, but the month produced little of greater note. Whimbrel were at Farmoor (1st) and Rushy Common (2nd), and a Grey Plover at Farmoor on 8th. Despite August's continuous Atlantic weather pattern Port Meadow remained largely dry which must contribute to this unremarkable picture. But a late bonus came with a Wood Sandpiper at Otmoor for August's final two days.

Sanderling courtesy of Jeremy Dexter

Turnstone courtesy of Richard Tyler

Wood Sandpiper courtesy of Andy Last

Regular Otmoor watchers made consistent sightings through the month of seasonal Common Redstart, Whinchat and Northern Wheatear and these passerines were logged as frequently across the county. Redstart featured at Harwell (3rd), Standlake (6th & 22nd), Farmoor (6th), Wantage (14, 20th & 21st), Lollingdon Hill (14th & 21st), Letcombe Basset (15 & 29th), Padsdown Bottom (27th) and Stonesfield Common (28th).

Redstart courtesy of Paul Wyeth

Whinchat sightings came from Farmoor (6th), Barford St Michael (9th), Wantage (14 & 20th) and Lollingdon Hill (21st). Juvenile Stonechat, a county bird more usually associated with winter, were observed again at Otmoor and sites on the South Oxon Downs, suggesting breeding in those places.

Whinchats on Otmoor courtesy of Badger

Wheatear records came from Wantage (12th & 21st), Letcombe Basset (15th), Farmoor (18-20th & 24th), Balscote Quarry (28-29th) and Rushy Common (31st). Hirundine passage was at times spectacular, an example being upwards of 600 Sand Martin through Farmoor on 2nd.

Wheatear courtesy of Ewan

With the appearance of family parties in different locations, breeding Spotted Flycatcher sightings built up nicely through the month. These were well distributed from Otmoor (6 & 26-27th), Ardington (13th), Stanton St John (14-16th), Farmoor (20th & 31st), Chinnor (21st), Letcombe Regis (21st), Lollingdon Hill (21st), Harwell (23rd), Aston Rowant NNR (26th), Middle Barton (27th), Kingston Bagpuize (28th) and Stonesfield Common (28th).

Spotted Flycatcher courtesy of Ewan Jones

Tern passage was generally light until late in the month, a Little Tern at Farmoor on 16th being the second most notable record. Then on the evening of 23rd roost watchers at the reservoir witnessed 15 Black and a single Arctic Tern. Two more Black Tern passed through there and Dix Pit on 28th. Yellow-legged Gull numbers remained respectable throughout, 44 at Farmoor on 15th being the highest individual count. Juvenile Mediterranean Gull were sighted at Farmoor on 6th then from 21st-24th, with another at Carswell Marsh on 23rd. A juvenile Caspian Gull was at Farmoor on 23rd and another on 31st.

Juvenile Caspian Gull courtesy of Gnome

August's best wildfowl record was 3 adult and a juvenile Common Scoter, briefly at Grimsbury Reservoir on the morning of 22nd. Mandarin were noted at Sonning Eye (13th) and Chinnor Quarry (19th). A pair of Egyptian Goose with 6 young was an unusual record for Blenhein Lake on 13th. The smart Ruddy Shelduck of unknown origin remained at Farmoor throughout, while the home counties feral Snow Goose flock paid a visit on 1st.

The Four Scoter courtesy John Friendship-Taylor

Ruddy Shelduck courtesy of Richard Tyler

Where raptors are concerned, Marsh Harrier were observed in the south of the county near Wantage on 11th and at Rowstock (16th). Southward bound Osprey passed over Dix Pit and Oddington, both on 13th with another through Radley GPs on 30th. Hobby continued to be recorded from Standlake Pit 60, Rushey Common, Otmoor, Kingston Bagpuize, Wantage and Farmoor.

Hobby courtesy of Derek Latham

Much attention remained focused on the scarcer breeding and other key species now resident at RSPB Otmoor. We, perhaps I especially, should not overlook that some of these birds would have been headline makers themselves in the not too distant past. That they are now a constant feature of Oxon birding owes much to the hard work and dedication of the reserve's professional staff and volunteers in creating and maintaining habitat then ensuring the birds' welfare.

Cranes courtesy of Norman Smith

Following a second year's breeding success, Otmoor's Bittern have continued to be admired and photographed when they show themselves, though were less visible than in July. The release scheme Common Crane pair, who left on 15th August last year, this time extended their stay until 25th. On that morning they were seen to circle over the reserve, bugling loudly and climbing ever higher before making their departure to the south-west.

Departing Cranes courtesy of Norman Smith

A few juvenile Cuckoo were seen around the place through the early part of August, including one that settled most obligingly on a perch in front of the first screen. But no newly fledged Turtle Dove have been positively identified this season.

Juvenile Cuckoo courtesy of Tezzer

On this month's first weekend (5th) two juvenile Marsh Harrier were observed heading south-west through and presumably out of the county. Another flew over Farmoor at dusk on 25th and was reported further south-west the following morning. Other young birds were seen on site in between, though their own origins remain unclear.

Hen Harrier courtesy of Tezzer

One significant bird yet to move on is Otmoor's first year Hen Harrier, that continued to reveal its male colours through this review period. Given more recently cited instances of ongoing and illegal persecution by shooting interests of all three British Harriers, it will be the fervent wish of all Oxon birders that when this star performer eventually leaves us he can enjoy a comparable degree of security to that whilst in our stewardship. But perhaps this is too much to hope for. Please no.

Leucistic Magpie courtesy of Nick Truby

Finally, for those interested in oddities a leucistic juvenile Magpie was observed frequenting a Bicester housing estate through the month. And so to the sharp end of the passage season into September and hopefully a few true county rares.

Peter Law

Peter Law

Happy Birthday Otmoor RSPB.

Last Thursday 31st of August marked the twentieth anniversary of the RSPB reserve on Otmoor.
The reserve holds a very special place in many peoples hearts who have watched over those
twenty years, as the reserve has matured and grown to what it has become today, a true haven
for Oxfordshires wildlife and flora both new and returning.
So congratulations, birthday wishes and thank you to the RSPB and here's to the next twenty years!

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Sunday, 3 September 2017

Standlake Pit 60: 3rd September

Standlake Pit 60
6 Egyptian Goose

Antony Collieu

Stonesfield: 3rd September

Stonesfield
Yellow-legged Gull: ad. one in newly ploughed field with c20 LBBS and 300 small gulls.

Mick Cunningham

Farmoor Reservoir 3rd September

Knot courtesy of Richard Tyler

Knot 2 along causeway until late morning then flew south
Ruff (per Richard Tyler)
Common Sandpiper
Redshank 2
Greenshank (per Dai)

Ruff courtesy of Richard Tyler

Shag courtesy of David Hastings birdimages.net

Black Tern c17
Hobby 4
Wheatear 2
Common Swift 2
House Martin 1750+
Swallow 250+
Sand Martin 10+
Little Egret 1
Egyptian Goose 2
Little Grebe 15
Grey Wagtail 1

08:30-15:00 (per Dave Lowe, Andy Last, Badger, Ewan Urquhart)

Otmoor RSPB 3rd September

Marsh Harrier (f)
Hobby
Sparrowhawk
Green Sandpiper
Snipe c15
Water Rail
Cetti's Warbler
Swift 3
Kingfisher (m)

Saturday, 2 September 2017

Farmoor am 2nd September

Black-tailed Godwit courtesy of Dai

Tree pipit 1 heard only over high
Shag 4+
Black tailed godwit 1
Redstart 1 per dai
Wheatear 4
Ringed plover 4 per dai and tony
Teal 2

Mike, dai, Jerry, peter, Steve r, Tom, tony

Imm Shag (c) Stephen Burch. For a much larger image go to my website

The Tall Birder

Stonesfield: Stonesfield Common: 2nd September

2nd September

Stonesfield: Stonesfield Common
2 Redstart
Spotted Flycatcher
5 Blackcap 08:00.
Marsh Tit 08:00.
Lesser Whitethroat 08:00.
4 Whitethroat 08:00.
Kingfisher 08:00.

Paul Wren

Spotted Flycatcher Shotover Park Oxford courtesy of John Workman

Farmoor Reservoir: 2nd September

Farmoor Reservoir
2 Shag: imms on causeway.
Little Egret
2 Ringed Plover: in SE corner of F2.
Yellow-legged Gull: ad. on F1.
Kingfisher: in SE corner of F2.
Yellow Wagtail: male. on causeway.
Wheatear: juv. on causeway.

Ian Elkins

Otmoor: 2nd September

Otmoor
2 Greenshank: at the first screen.
13 Snipe: at the first screen.
Water Rail: at the first screen.
Kingfisher: at the first screen.
Wigeon: at the first screen.

Ian Elkins

Middle Barton: 2nd September

Middle Barton
Greenish Warbler: Calling frequently and Viewed in the garden of 68 North Street while I was viewing the house next door. Flew over the other side of the road !!!. 13:45.

Jed Cleeter

No further sign of Greenish Warbler by 18:00
(per AH, DL,TW, JT, BB, IDS, NT, PC).