Oxon Birding Weblog: June/July assessment

 Highlights

Someone else having a look ahead to
Autumn but? The summer season lull may also be in particular brutal in those portions and extra
regularly than now not ends up in, for myself a minimum of, chasing a few of our different taxa
– Orchids, Odonata and Lepidoptera. Even then, there may be at all times one eye on what
is going on at the birding entrance, in the neighborhood or differently – however let’s now not communicate
concerning the Black-winged Kite. Lots of the summer season in the neighborhood used to be generally
very quiet with a lot of the focal point on our native breeding birds whether or not that’s species
in stark decline akin to Curlew or contemporary additions at the up akin to Blenheim’s
Livestock Egret colony. On the finish of June I used to be beginning to surprise
whether or not I might have the rest to jot down about come the tip of July. Fortunately
a county mega used to be unearthed within the 2^nd week of July, giving
just about everybody within the county a 2d probability at a species that had
not too long ago brought about heartache with a failed county extensive twitch at Otmoor in Would possibly.

An accounting error on my phase
supposed that I had double counted a couple of species over the process the 12 months,
this means that the county 12 months record stands at 198 even after including 4 species
to the 12 months record over the summer season length. An extra 11 subspecies or non-BOU
species have additionally been recorded to this point in 2023.

Black-crowned Night time Heron

After the hen discovered flying over Otmoor
at nightfall on the finish of April didn’t materialise the next
night time, regardless of a vigil via lots of the counties birders, who would have
anticipated the sort of fast flip round for the following file? An grownup in complete summer season
regalia used to be discovered down Peep-o-day Lane at the morning of the 9^th
and used to be a actually genuinely-earned in finding via Tom Wickens for the entire effort he
places in down the patch and the broader house. Given we percentage this patch and been
out of the county incessantly I’ve realized to dread telephone calls from Tom, having
up to now ignored out on a couple of just right birds in the neighborhood together with Yellow-browed
Warbler. As a way to get a decision from him in early July may just simplest imply
one thing nice used to be at the patch and simply my success I used to be on my means in different places. I
needn’t have anxious although, because the hen did the proper factor and glued round
till nightfall a minimum of, affording everybody who wanted/sought after to look it to get
nice perspectives from the cycle trail while it roosted for a lot of the day.

The Night time Heron courtesy of Ian Lewington

 

 

…and a few video courtesy of Badger

Courtesy of Andy Closing

Given the new file again in
April/Would possibly the query arises whether or not that is hen and that hen are if truth be told
one in the similar? In a typical 12 months this would possibly appear a logical rationalization even
with the sort of massive hole in sightings, given their nocturnal behavior and abundance
of appropriate roosting habitat. However with such a lot of data this 12 months around the
nation it could appear that is more likely to be a 2^nd particular person and simplest
the 4^th file this century, which incorporates the hen assessed as a
possible escapee again in 2002. This particular person determined to bunk or on the very
least picked a miles much less observable roost spot via tomorrow, with out a
signal till the hen reappeared just about week later at the similar pool. This early
morning sighting used to be adopted up via an extra disappearing act with out a signal
till reappearing over 10 days later when it used to be flushed from a ditch reverse
its up to now favoured pool. It apparently has been provide all this time,
the place is someone’s wager however a next seek with a thermal imager produced
no additional sightings.

Nature of file	Website online	Yr
A unmarried hen – shot	Burford	Would possibly 1891
Unmarried hen	Deddington	September 1934
Unmarried hen	Benson Weir	22nd Would possibly 1972
Unmarried hen	Cassington GPs	6th – 29th July 1976
Unmarried hen – flushed from Shifford Lock	Shifford Lock	16th April 2000
Grownup – Provide on Otmoor however seen to have color ring and broken beak. Assumed to be an escapee	Otmoor	19th – 27th Would possibly 2000
Grownup – Photographed flying over Otmoor’s 2nd display at nightfall	Otmoor	31st April 2023 (most likely provide ahead of with nocturnal calls probably heard)
Grownup – discovered roosting and seen feeding later within the night time	Peep-o-day Lane	9th – 15th July 2023

Honourable mentions

A pair bits of attention-grabbing information
filtered throughout the grapevine over the summer season months with regards to some uncommon
breeding species. The primary of those got here from Otmoor with an improbable
file of 4 Noticed Crake heard making a song over the summer season and
probably keeping territory. Unmarried men can flip up and sing sporadically virtually
any place (pending appropriate habitat), however for 4 men to arrange territories on
one web site definitely issues to possible breeding makes an attempt and the most probably presence of
feminine birds? Let’s hope the fall brings some showy juveniles – perhaps on one
of the swimming pools alongside Greenaway’s? It’ll even be attention-grabbing to look what different
websites around the county document first ever breeding of the species or imaginable
file numbers breeding at well known colonies like Wheldrake Ings up in
Yorkshire and perhaps Otmoor, like the previous will turn into a well-established
colony in years to come?

In any case, a making a song male Black
Redstart making a song in central Oxford used to be a pleasing marvel for one
fortunate observer. The unique music used to be heard over the hustle and bustle of Gloucester
Inexperienced and used to be apparently keeping territory from a TV antenna on best of an
unoccupied construction – vintage! Just one confirmed breeding file has been
documented within the county with the OOS vp been proven a nest via the
earlier county recorder round 40 years in the past! Our present county recorder used to be
additionally proven a couple on territory again in 1985 at Didcot Energy Station however
this pairing used to be by no means proved to have bred. Sadly the making a song male used to be
now not relocated over the process a number of quick visits, however with an abundance of
appropriate habitat its slightly simple to believe birds disappearing among the noise
and job of town. 

Farmoor Kingfisher, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Waders

The standout for the length got here
overdue within the day with a gorgeous summer season plumaged Knot at Farmoor on
the 25^th July A cracking ‘Pink’ particular person and the primary since 2021
with a clean 12 months in 2022 it caught round till a minimum of the 26^th
accompanied via any other staple of the early autumn Farmoor birding
assemblage – a Turnstone which were provide since the day past
feeding alongside the causeway.

The Farmoor Knot, courtesy of Steve Liptrot

Sanderling both had been
nonetheless transferring via on firstly of the length with a flock of seven at Farmoor
at the 1^st June. Most probably overdue arrivals to breeding grounds in Greenland
it’s most probably we will be able to see the primary returning birds throughout the subsequent week or
so! 5 of this flock remained at Farmoor till the two^nd
ahead of departing for pastures new. And similar to that the primary returning hen used to be
at Grimsbury at the 28^th, a trifling 57 days after the ultimate of
the northern sure migrants had been within the county.  Whimbrel flying into roost at Balscote
Quarry with Curlew for a number of evenings between the 15^th
and 27^th June used to be one of the most extraordinary of the classes
observations. 

Farmoor Sanderling, courtesy of David Hastings

 

Probably the ultimate Greenshank
heading north used to be clocked at Appleford at the 1^st. While
presumed returning birds trickled via at the 9^th with a unmarried at
Pit 60 while two birds had been logged at the 10^th with a unmarried
at Otmoor and a flyover birds at Farmoor additionally. Black-tailed
Godwit additionally made their go back adventure throughout the county at the 10^th
when a unmarried used to be additionally at Otmoor with numbers expanding to 5 right here on
the 13^th. Northward sure Ringed Plover persevered throughout the
county with a pleasing flock of 8 at Appleford at the 1^st. Venn
Mill had a unmarried tomorrow while Otmoor had 3 at the 2^nd
additionally. This higher to ten+ at the 5^th with 3 closing till at
least the 8^th. The primary presumed returning hen got here from Peep-o-day
Lane at the 17^th July.

Far away Greenshank at Pit 60, courtesy of Mick Cunningham

 

Black-tailed Godwits at Otmoor, courtesy of Malcolm Bowey

The ultimate of the Dunlin heading
north throughout the county got here at the 2^nd from Venn Mill which
apparently sufficient apparently hosted the primary southward sure migrant at the
17^th July. Grimsbury additionally hosted a hen at the 17^th
with birds at Farmoor from the 24^th, with a most rely of four
right here at the 26^th. Bicester additionally controlled to host a unmarried hen
at the 28^th among the numerous Inexperienced Sandpiper the web site is
web hosting recently. Inexperienced Sandpiper had been logged at 7 websites around the county
via June and July. As in recent times Bicester Wetlands produced
essentially the most data with numbers slowly expanding attaining a height of 16 at the 21^st
with double digit counts nonetheless been gained on the finish of the month.

Inexperienced Sandpipers at Biscester Wetlands, courtesy of Alan Peters

Not unusual Sandpiper got here from
8 websites during the summer season length. The perfect rely got here from Kings Lock
at the 13^th when 7 had been logged, however different prime counts come with 5
at Pit 60 at the 12^th with a number of websites logging 2-3 birds
during June and July. Out of doors of Otmoor Redshank had been recorded
at Bicester at the 20^th June and Peep-o-day Lane on
the 17^th July. Little Ringed Plover had been seen breeding
at more than a few websites around the county with many getting to younger chicks. A pleasing
marvel got here within the type of a number of Woodcock data with one at Little
Baldon at the 12^th June and an extra 4 birds
at Stoke Row at the 16^th, giving hope that this species clings
on as a breeding species throughout the county.

Wildfowl, sport and crakes

Quail had a just right unfold of
data around the county with a minimal 5 birds recorded from the very north
of the county to essentially the most southerly phase. The Devils Punchbowl, a
vintage web site, had data from the three^rd via to the 9^th
June. Otmoor, a web site that surprisingly doesn’t appear get many data,
had a hen making a song at the 16^th and sporadically up till the 23^rd
June ahead of two birds the place then heard making a song at the 21^st July.
Further birds got here from Balscote Quarry at the 28^th, Rushey
Lock at the 30^th June with the newest file at Taynton
at the 20^th July.

We simplest gained two data over
the summer season of Garganey with a feminine hen at Peep-o-day Lane at the
15^th June, while a couple had been provide on Otmoor at the
24^th of the month. No affirmation of breeding used to be imminent from
both web site although pairs or singles had been provide virtually incessantly
for the reason that finish of April. Shelduck data all got here from the northern
part of the county with birds proceeding to be recorded at Port Meadow with
as much as 3 birds till a minimum of the 4^th June. Bicester hosted
2 birds at the 4^th additionally with most likely the similar pair at Otmoor on
the 8^th June.

After any other a hit breeding
12 months for Goosander, with a minimum of two circle of relatives teams seen round Waterstock and outer
Oxford data had been somewhat skinny at the flooring with birds possibly
dispersing. Waterstock nonetheless hosted one birds at the 18^th June
while juvenile birds had been provide at Port Meadow and Farmoor on
the 16^th and 25^th July respectively. A pleasing breeding
file of Shoveler got here from Pit 60 with a feminine and 5 ducklings
recorded at the 17^th June.

Ruddy Shelduck had been nonetheless
provide within the first part of June with a couple of birds at Kirtlington
at the 5^th June with possibly the similar birds provide on
Otmoor virtually a month later at the 9^th July. A unmarried
feminine at Peep-o-day Lane at the 25^th July coincided
with a countrywide inflow of continental birds and one has to surprise when those
birds will transfer into Cat C with a apparently robust naturalised inhabitants in
the Netherlands. Mandarin had been found in the standard puts over the
summer season month with as much as 3 at Sonning Eye GP’s and a unmarried birds provide
during at Sutton Courtenay. The dodgy Pink-breasted Goose persevered
at Otmoor within the early a part of June from the three^rd to
the 4^th, possibly one of the most similar birds that used to be provide ultimate 12 months
even if the place it’s been in the intervening time is any one’s wager.

The Pink-breasted Goose at Otmoor, courtesy of Maurici Burnet

Herons,
egrets and many others

With the exception of the beautiful grownup Night time
Heron down Peep-o-day Lane the joy from this staff got here in
the type of a hit breeding from the now established Livestock Egret breeding
colony at Blenheim. 3 juveniles had been seen at the 10^th
July and the birds are of their 3^rd consecutive 12 months breeding
effectively on the web site. Optimistically the continuing good fortune will push new colonies
to arrange in different places within the county with Otmoor and Pit 60 apparently
favoured websites in this day and age. Lots of the data got here from those 3 websites with
a height rely of 10+ at Otmoor at the 9^th July, while a height
rely of 8 and six had been logged at Blenheim and Pit 60 respectively.
Further websites to data birds incorporated a unmarried hen at Enslow on
the 23^rd June and four in flight over the A34 close to Hampton
Poyle at the 18^th July.

Livestock Egret at Otmoor, courtesy of Debbie Cowee

Nice White Egret persevered
to be ever provide within the county over the summer season months, albeit extra dependable to a
handful of web sites. Probably maximum are younger non-breeders even if the
occasional one seems to be in breeding plumage and may well be failed breeders
from the Somerset Ranges? Pit 60 had essentially the most data with birds
provide frequently over each months, with a max rely of four coming at the 9^th
June. Otmoor additionally hosted birds frequently, albeit from the tip of June
via into July. The utmost rely of five at the 25^th July
used to be the perfect within the county over the length and the joint maximum noticed in combination
this 12 months. It kind of feels although from notes over at Pit 60 there may be common
turnover of birds and simply what number of are within the county at anybody time is tricky
to grasp, however its imaginable double figures have already been reached this 12 months. Further
data got here from Farmoor and Peep-o-day Lane all on the latter
finish of July.

Otmoor Nice White Egret, courtesy of Malcolm Bowey

 

Nice White Egret Otmoor courtesy of Peter Miligan.

Cranes persevered to be
recorded throughout the summer season even if data changed into scarcer in opposition to the tip of
the length. Unfortunately after the dying of the pioneering Maple Glory it sort of feels any
breeding try via the more recent pair of birds hasn’t led to good fortune, an actual
disgrace after ultimate years superb information.

Otmoor Cranes, courtesy of Derek Lane

Gulls
and Terns

A generally very quiet length for Gulls & Terns
over the summer season, with the principle passage season but to get underneath means. Handiest
two data worthy of point out made it via over the length with a unmarried Yellow-legged
Gull over at Grimsbury at the 18^th June, even if I
am positive there is also extra data available in the market, while unmarried Mediterranean Gull
over at Pit 60 at the 23^rd July rounded off the
simplest highlights.

Passerines

Once more, any other generally quiet length of Passerines with
many of the not unusual birds that transfer throughout the county nonetheless on breeding grounds.
The primary southward sure Redstart did make their means throughout the county
from Mid-July although. Most often all juvenile birds the primary gave the impression at
Grimsbury at the 12^th and persevered till the 17^th
a minimum of. The downs hosted birds at Lollingdon at the 20^th
and at Chilton at the 21^st. The primary of the Autumn seasons Wheatear additionally arrived within the county within the latter a part of July, with two provide within the conventional location of the Oxon Downs at Aston Upthorpe

Juvenile Redstart at Grimsbury Reservoir, courtesy of Mike Pollard

Noticed Flycatcher courtesy of Alan Dawson

Raptors

A generally temporary Honey Buzzard over Otmoor at the 3^rd
June used to be the one notable species seen throughout the summer season.

Patchwork problem

Patch	Birder	Issues	Species	Spotlight	Goal	Proportion of goal
Aston eyot	Ben Sheldon	58	56		90	64.44
Blenheim	Gareth Casburn	110	106	Shelduck	100	110.00
Dix pit	Simon Bradfield	114	91	Black Tern	75	152.00
Grimsbury reservoir	Gareth Blockley	112	103	Sandwich Tern and Greenshank	130	86.15
Lye valley	Tom Bedford	80	74	Firecrest	80	100.00
River Thames	Geoff Wyatt	148	127	Wooden  Sand #Patchtick. Gray Plover #Patchtick. Osprey.	122	121.31
Sutton courtenay	Conor MacKenzie	144	123	Black-crowned Night time Heron, Nice White egret, Ruddy Shelduck	140	102.86
East challow	Mark Merritt	84	80		83	101.20

Terry Godfrey took some gorgeous photos of Pink Kites and their nest as regards to Cassington and used to be sort sufficient to percentage a montage in their job and an perception to those surprising birds of prey. Please be aware that a majority of these clips had been taken from a frequently used public footpath some 125 metres from the nest, with the birds unconcerned or at any level disturbed via Terrys presence.