Chinnor: Cement Works: 10th October

Chinnor: Cement Works
4 Chiffchaff: SU751996. 17:00.
3 Little Grebe: Lake 2B. SU751996. 17:00.
200 Canada Goose: Lake 2B. SU751996. 17:00.
2 Pochard: SU751996. 17:00.
12 Long-tailed Tit: chasing flies over the surface of lake 2B. SU751996. 17:00.
4 Mute Swan: SU751996. 17:00.
20 Tufted Duck: SU751996. 17:00.

Jez March

Oxford 10th October

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER heard and seen in garden on Hill Top Road c13:30 but no further sign by 18:30.
Apparently individuals have been trying to tape lure the Warbler, please don't.

Chiffchaff 2

Blackcap

(per Phil Barnett)

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Tuesday 9th Oct Otmoor

Great White Egret
Coming in, in front of first screen at dusk
Short Eared Owl also at first screen.

Blenhiem Estate 10th October

Great white Egret

Little Egret 2

Great-black backed Gull

Water Rail 

Pintail

Kingfisher 

Redpoll 4

(per Dave Doherty) 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Burwell Farm estate, 10th October

Chiffchaff   calling and feeding in my small back garden

Clackers

Grimsbury Reservoir: 9th October

1 Cetti's Warbler showing well and calling regularly along the river early morning - a patch tick and a site 1st!
1 Wigeon
3 adult YLGs in this evening's roost

Watlington Hill: 9th October

Watlington Hill
Raven: Over heading NE. SU706941. 16:30.

Richard Haydon

Standlake Pit 60: 9th October

Standlake Pit 60
Jack Snipe: Feeding and resting on southern shore. Viewable from north shore hide. Bouncing away. See twitter @MickgCuningham for shaky phonescope video.

Mick Cunningham

Stratfield Brake 9th October

Little-ringed Plover 

Kingfisher 

Cetti's Warbler 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Standlake Pit 60: 9th October

Standlake Pit 60
Mediterranean Gull: ad. In moult. Surprisingly scarce here. Resting with other gulls including 7 adult yellow legged gull and 2 common gulls Duff phonescope shots at @MickgCunningham Twitter.

Mick Cunningham

Dix Pit, 9th October

Black Necked Grebe 12.15 against roadside bank

Clackers & Mrs Clackers

: 9th October

Milton Down
Merlin: 1cy. Feeding on prey on ground. SP283159.

Mick Cunningham

: 8th October

Milton Down shipton UW
64 Golden Plover: Minimum count. Feeding in field. Apologies for late posting. SP287157.

Mick Cunningham

Grimsbury Reservoir: 8th October

1 Rock Pipit dropped in this evening and settled around SE corner and pontoon
2 YLGs (adult & sub-adult)
c6 Common Gull through

Farmoor Reservoir: 8th October

Farmoor Reservoir
Peregrine: juv.
2 Dunlin
Wheatear

Derek Evans

Dix Pit: 8th Oct

Black-necked Grebe

Otmoor rspb 27th September

Belated report of Jack Snipe: got up out of ditch by main track near junction for 'Wetlands watch' hide, flipped over hedge and vanished. 11:00.

Standlake Pit 60: 8th October

Standlake Pit 60
97 Redwing: Best in a poor vismig watch All went west.
19 Fieldfare: West.
7 Chaffinch: South.

Mick Cunningham

Dix Pit: 8th October

Dix Pit
Black-necked Grebe

Mick Cunningham

Blenhiem Estate 8th October

Green Sandpiper

Pintail 4

Little Egret 2

Stonechat (m) 

Siskin

Redwing c20 over

Upper Campsfield Farm:

Several Crossbills flew over. 

(per Dave Doherty)

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Early Brambling Curbridge courtesy of Simon Bradfield.

More Redwings

5 Redwings over oxford university park (at the 12 mile mark of the oxford half marathon)

plus more groups over calling this evening in Abingdon.

Little Coxwell: 7th October

Little Coxwell
Redwing

Mark Merritt

Oxford Rail Station: 7th October

120+ Pied Wagtails gathering to roost behind the Said Business School, visible from the front of Oxford station.

Sent from my iPhone

Churn: Ridgeway: 7th October

Churn: Ridgeway
Stonechat: male. 16:00.

Gerry Quinn

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 7th October

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
12 Redwing: Flying over. 09:00.

Bob Pomfret

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 7th October

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
Water Rail: On the mud close to the old Fisheries cottage. The Queen Pool is currently being drained and is low.
100 Teal
80 Shoveler
13 Wigeon
35 Moorhen: High count, active on mud as Queen Pool is drained.
22 Little Grebe
2 Little Egret

Bob Pomfret

Lark Hill 7th October

2 Wheatear (1stw)
Stonechat (m)
Siskin (over)
30+ Meadow Pipit
c15 Corn Bunting

Rushy Common lake, 7th October

Chiffchaff 2
Red Crested Pochards 13m 15 f  at least
Black Swan
Lapwings  60+ landed in field in front of hide
Little Egrets 2

Clackers & Mrs Clackers

Farmoor Reservoir 7th October

Sandwich Tern 2  flew through NNW @ 1110

Common Raven 1

Appleford New Workings 7th October

Appleford: New Workings
Black-tailed Godwit: SU521939.

Appleford: New Workings
4 Green Sandpiper: SU521939.

Michael Violette

Dix Pit: 7th October

Black-necked Grebe 1

Ardington 7th October

Hawfinch just S of Ardington at 09:50 (approx SU429877) in tree top for 5mins before dropping down into yews

Raven 2+
Treecreeper 4
Kingfisher
Grey Wagtail

Farmoor Reservoir 6th October

Skua sp (not Great) flew over the Res c16:00 (per Pete Allen). 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Farmoor Reservoir: 6th October

Farmoor Reservoir
2 Ringed Plover: on causeway.
5 Common Tern: juvs.
Arctic Tern: juv. in flock with Common Terns.
Great Black-backed Gull: ad.

Ian Elkins

Standlake Pit 60: 6th October

Standlake Pit 60
7 Pintail: Weren't here yesterday. Assume brought in by rain/ rising water levels.

Mick Cunningham

Sonning Eye GPs: 6th October

Sonning Eye GPs
Redshank: Sat on the string of orange buoys in the middle of the lake! 09:50.

Marek Walford

Grimsbury Reservoir: 5th October

1 of the 2 Rock Pipits present this afternoon

Otmoor: Central: 5th October

Otmoor: Central
Hobby
Whinchat: On Greenaways. 11:40.

Pete Roby

Short-eared Owl again early evening (L.O)

Wantage: Lark Hill: 5th October

Wantage: Lark Hill
3 Stonechat: Pair plus another fem. 13:00.

Leo Bateman

Grimsbury Reservoir: 5th October

2 Rock Pipits, along western shore

Found by John at 12:43 and confirmed still present by Mark 13:25

Farmoor: 4th October (Evening)

3 Rock Pipits
5 Ringed Plover
1 Dunlin

Watlington 4th October

Reeves's pheasant, female, present today 09.30 and 15.30, woodland alongside Knightsbridge Lane, north of Watlington SU683968

per Sam Thomas

: 4th October

RAF Brize Norton
2 Raven: Soaring over airfield. SP294072. 13:24.

GRAHAM SUMNER

Swyncombe Church

Firecrest

Blenheim 2nd October

9 Whooper Swans on the main (Queen's) lake at Blenheim 08:50 a.m.

per Dave Doherty

Standlake:1st October

Coal Tit

Farmoor Reservoir: Causeway: 1st October

Farmoor Reservoir: Causeway
Dunlin: 0900-1100.
5 Ringed Plover

Derek Evans

Farmoor 1st October

3 Stonechat near Pinkhill Lock.

Dai.

 

September Review

Arctic Tern (juv), courtesy of Steve Burch

Much of September was unusually quiet for a peak passage month. While not too distant inland  counties enjoyed confiding Spotted Crake, settled Pallid Harrier and twitchable Pectoral Sandpiper, the birdscape in Oxfordshire remained much as it had through August until the fourth week. Then a threesome of more notable if now annual species chose to enliven the autumnal scene a little more.



Grey Phalarope at Grimsbury Reservoir, courtesy of John Taylor

Grey Phalarope at Sonning Eye, courtesy of Roger Wyatt

Following an Atlantic storm on 20th, a widespread national influx of Grey Phalarope at inshore and inland waters deposited lost waifs at two Oxon locations. The first was in the north of the county at Grimsbury Reservoir on 21st. Then a day later a second bird arrived at Sonning Eye GPs in the far south-east, and this one remained until 24th. Wader passage was otherwise steady but unremarkable.

Great White Egret, courtesy of Jim Hutchins

Next, on 25th a Great White Egret returned to the Lower Windrush Valley, being found at pit 38 then later pit 60 near Standlake. These majestic herons over-wintered there in recent years, so it is hoped this newly arrived bird will remain with us too.

Black-necked Grebe, courtesy of Dai John

At month's end Farmoor Reservoir hosted it's fourth Black-necked Grebe of 2018, a smart individual being discovered on the morning of 29th. The concrete bowl had also produced some earlier records of note, with a Shag reported there on 1st, a Jack Snipe seen on the causeway on 6th, and an Osprey over on 8th. None of those lingered.

Caspian Gull at Farmoor (1w) courtesy of Roger Wyatt

Through the month 's first to third weeks it was Gulls and Terns that had rather stood out. Up to six separate Caspian Gull were observed on a number of occasions. One moulting into third winter was filmed at Appleford on 8th, while a first winter was photographed at Farmoor Reservoir on 8th and again on 21st, and a third winter was logged at Appleford on 23rd. Three more juvenile / first winters frequented Didcot landfill on and off from 5th to month's end. A late Little Gull was noted briefly at LWV pit 10 on 16th.


 

Caspian Gull nearing completion of its moult into 3rd winter courtesy of Badger



Black Tern (juv) at Farmoor, courtesy of Terry Sherlock

Black Tern (juv) at Farmoor, courtesy of Nick Truby

Black Tern passage at Farmoor continued until 8th, while a much later individual visited Dix Pit on 22nd. Arctic Tern continued to pass through Farmoor to month's end, with a succession of juveniles recorded there from 11th, as well as at Sonning Eye between 22nd and 24th. Two Sandwich Tern were also seen circling Sonning Eye briefly on 23rd.

Arctic Tern (juv) at Farmoor, courtesy of Terry Sherlock

The Best of the Rest

In general, with prevailing westerly winds and largely benign conditions between occasional squalls, the word "quiet" kept occurring on county patch blogs time and again. This was especially true of Otmoor where even the regular Marsh Harriers had absented themselves. But a Short-eared Owl was seen there on 15th and 17th.

Amongst the seasonal passerines, a passage Wood Warbler was found at the woodland reserve by Grimsbury Reservoir on 3rd. On the same day Whincat, Wheatear, Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher were all logged at a single site, that being Lollingdon Hill near Cholsey.

Wheatear, courtesy of Nick Truby

Whinchat continued to be noted in good numbers around our meticulously worked county patches until 23rd, while the latest Wheatear records also occurred on that date. The last recorded Redstart of autumn was at Lark Hill, Wantage on 11th; with three Wheatear also there that day, and a respectable six Whinchat on 20th.

Spotted Flycatcher at Otmoor, courtesy of Ewan Jones

A Pied Flycatcher moved through Lollingdon Hill on 11th, and another was reported at Thrupp on 15th. Meanwhile Spotted Flycatcher produced both records and picture opportunities through to 26th.

A first Merlin of the autumn was spotted on the Downs on 9th, while an urban Peregrine flew low over Oxford High Street on 20th. This month also produced some Ring-necked Parakeet sightings in urban locations. The colourful screechers announced themselves around Oxford between 18th and 23rd, and over Didcot on 22nd; suggesting they may be expanding from their traditional toe-hold just inside the county at Henley-on-Thames.

Siskin, courtesy of Jeremy Dexter

Lastly, as a presage of approaching winter, a 30 strong Siskin flock was located at Buckland Warren in west Oxon on 27th. So the month just passed produced a selection of good county records for our roving birders and much more of interest to our patch watchers. Call me a ticker if you wish but I for one will be hoping for something a little more stand-out and rather more that is twitchable in October.

Peter Law

---

Blog Matters

Our experiment with the mobile version of the Blog seems to have been met with approval so with no complaints about it and some positive comments as well, we've decided to keep it like this for now. It's certainly much easier and faster to load out in the field and you can always switch over to the full web-version if you want.

Jason & Adam

Standlake Pit 60: 30th September

Standlake Pit 60
Pintail: f/imm (prob latter but a bit distant). A recent arrival.

Mick Cunningham

Wether Down: 30th Sep.

2 Stonechat
Grasshopper Warbler
2 Raven
4 Meadow Pipit

Lower Radley: 30th September

Lower Radley
22 Red-legged Partridge
Kingfisher

Ian Elkins

Worton: 30th September

Worton
Shelduck: SP460110.
3 Pintail: Eclipse. SP460110.
40 Cormorant: SP460110.
110 Lapwing: SP460110.

Derek Evans

Otmoor Sunday 30th September Correction

Oops! The bird seen this morning has been re-identified as a transitional plumaged Male Marsh Harrier in its second calendar year. (picture to follow)
apologies.
Bark

Henley Road GPs: 30th September

Henley Road GPs
5 Mandarin Duck: 3m+2f. 12:20.

Marek Walford

Farmoor 30th September

09:00-12:00

Ringed Plover 5
Dunlin 2
Red-crested Pochard fem
Warblers incl Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Com Whitethroat 
Stonechat (Pinkhill)

No sign of BN Grebe

Old Caley's Diary

Otmoor 30th September

Juv Montagu's Harrier flew south over the reedbed mid morning

Per Peter Barker

Sent from my iPhone

Farmoor ringed gull (September 16th)

This juvenile Great Black Backed Gull was seen on F1 on Sept 16th (eating a coot...). It was ringed as a pullus on the Ferkingstad Islands off the west coast of southern Norway on July 14th, see  map. A distance of just under 1000km as the larid flys.

Farmoor Reservoir 29th September.

Black-necked Grebe

Farmoor 29th September

Black-necked Grebe on Farmoor 1 near boat moorings 9:25 am per Dai


Sent from my iPhone

Water Eaton: 27th September

Water Eaton
Yellow Wagtail: SP515121. 12:00.

Steve Goddard

Farmoor 27th September

juv Arctic Tern - still present on causeway around 13:10 until flushed by walkers

1 Ringed Plover

Arctic Tern (juv) (c) Stephen Burch

www.stephenburch.com

Buckland Warren: 27th September

30+ Siskins

Farmoor: 26th September

Juv Arctic Tern
4 Ringed Plover
1 Common Sandpiper

Buckland Warren: 26th September

Buckland Warren
2 Spotted Flycatcher: juv. 13:00.
3 Raven 13:00.

Jeremy Dexter

Standlake Pit 60: am 26th September

Great White Egret

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 25th September

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
2 Stonechat: m. 14:30.
Peregrine: Mobbing a Buzzard. 14:30.

Mark Ribbons

Standlake Pit 60: 25th September

Standlake Pit 60
Great White Egret: Moved to here from pit 38 Hope it winters.
2 Water Rail: 1 heard near north hide. Another running around mud on South shore.

Mick Cunningham

Standlake: 25th September

Standlake
Great White Egret: On pit immediately west of pit 60. Viewable from southern end of Shifford Lane ie just beyond where path turns left to pit 60 north hide.

Mick Cunningham

Sarsgrove: 24th September

Sarsgrove
2 Stonechat: ad pair. On close cropped hedge on field margin - feeding constantly. 16:30.

Steve Akers

Sonning Eye GPs: 24th September

1 Grey Phalarope Juv,
1 adult & 1 juv, Arctic Tern,
4 Ringed-neck Parakeet.

Balscote: Balscote Quarry: 24th September

Balscote: Balscote Quarry
Stonechat: male. In front of screen. Work will be carried out this week to re-profile the quarry floor, creating islands and deeper areas to benefit breeding waders and roosting curlew. Project supported by Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment and BOS. 17:30.

Steve Holliday

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake: 24th September

Blenheim: Blenheim Lake
Pintail: ecl drk.
9 Wigeon
14 Little Grebe
Yellow-legged Gull: ad w/p.

Derek Evans

Farmoor 24th

2 Arctic Tern juvs
1 Yellow Wagtail
2 Ringed Plover
2 Dunlin
1 Common tern
1 Sparrowhawk

Per A.L & Dai


Sent from my iPhone

Sonning Eye GPs: 24th September

Sonning Eye GPs
2 Arctic Tern: ad+juv. Per Adam Bassett. 11:45.

Marek Walford

Sonning Eye GPs: 24th September

Sonning Eye GPs
Grey Phalarope: Per Adam Bassett. 11:15.

Marek Walford

Sonning Eye GPs: 23rd September

Sonning Eye GPs
Grey Phalarope 17:40.
Arctic Tern: imm. 17:40.

Marek Walford

Lark Hill 23rd September

Marsh Harrier (juv) through low to S
Whinchat
Stonechat (f)
3 Wheatear
5 Chiffchaff

Otmoor 23rd Sept

2 Whinchat at Noke
3 Snipe at first screen

Sent from my iPhone

Appleford New Workings 23rd September

Caspian Gull (1stw)

Green Sandpiper 

Common Sandpiper 2 

Snipe
Peregrine
Stock Dove 3 

Stonechat
Whinchat 2
Wheatear 3
Meadow Pipit 40+
Yellowhammer 5

(Badger, Jerry Quin)

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Oxford Cowley Marsh 23rd September

2 Ring-necked Parakeet 

2 Swallow 

(per Tommaso Pizzari) 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Farmoor: 23 September

Arctic Tern 1 juv
Ringed Plover 2

Sonning Eye GPs: 23rd September

Sonning Eye GPs
2 Sandwich Tern: Circling the lake for c5 minutes calling, but never came down, then flew off S. No sign of Grey Phal. 11:25.

Marek Walford

Stratfield Brake: 22nd September

Stratfield Brake
2 Wigeon 08:40.
24 Teal 08:40.
Little Egret 08:40.
Spotted Flycatcher: With tit flock along canal. 08:40.

Derek Evans

Farmoor 22nd September

Arctic Tern courtesy of John Workman.

Arctic Tern juv
Dunlin
Ringed Plover juv
100's house martins with just the odd Sand Martin and swallow amongst them
Wheatear

(per Andy Last, John Workman)

Dunlin & Ringed Plover courtesy of John Workman.

Dix Pit: 22 Sept

Black Tern 2

Arctic Tern juv (per Dave Doherty)
Red-crested Pochard
Snipe

Sonning Eye GPs: 22nd September

Sonning Eye GPs
Grey Phalarope: With. M.W. H.N. And R.S. 10:00.

Ralph Watts

Didcot 22nd September

Freeman Road
Ring-necked Parakeet: SU512905. 11:10.

Michael Violette

Sonning Eye 22nd September

GREY PHALAROPE 09:10 (per Mark Walford) 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Sonning Eye GPs: 22nd September

Sonning Eye GPs
Arctic Tern: imm. 09:35.

Marek Walford

Grimsbury Reservoir 22nd September

Arctic Tern c09:55 (JFT)

No sign of the Grey Phalarope by 08:30 (per John Friendship-Taylor et al).

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Grimsbury Reservoir 21st September

Juv / 1st-winter Grey Phalarope until dusk along W side
1 Hobby S
6 Golden Plover S
1 Little Egret
c4 Yellow-Legged Gulls

Bicester Wetland Reserve 21st September

1 of the 4 Green Sandpipers at the reserve this morning

Key Holder Reserve
Alan Peters

Grimsbury Reservoir 21st September

GREY PHALAROPE in S/E corner of the reservoir 17:48 (per John Friendship-Taylor)

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Farmoor 21st September

 Caspian Gull

Rock Pipit

Standlake Pit 60: 21st September

Standlake Pit 60
Spotted Flycatcher: With tit flock at N end of Langley lane No waders!

Mick Cunningham

Oxford 20th September

Peregrine low over High Street 17:30 

(per Tommaso Pizzari). 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Rushey Common lake, 20th September

Little Egret 1ad 2 juv
Hobby 2 feeding close to hide
Common Sandpiper
Dunlin 2 flew behind island near owl box
1 unknown wader disturbed by grass cutter not seen again.

Clackers & Mrs Clackers

Lark Hill 20th September

6 Whinchat
c10 Meadow Pipit
40+ Skylark