Oxon Birding Weblog: August Assessment

What a distinction a month makes! It’s secure to mention that patch and native birding is again in complete swing with quite a lot of waders making their manner throughout the county’s waterbodies, floods, and muddy swimming pools. Passerines are also trickling via with the autumns first Wheatear beginning to transfer via Oxfordshire’s borders too. August has observed 4 species added to the county yr listing which now stands at 181 with an additional 17 subspecies, non-BOU species and ferals additionally seen inside the county in 2024. One extraordinarily miserable notable absence from the yr listing in 2024 is the loss of any Turtle Dove data, a species that has been striking on by way of thread within the county for a number of years now and one that we can have misplaced altogether as a breeding species.

The spotlight of the month, sadly, used to be a chook now not observed by way of the broader birding group this month. A feminine Montagu’s Harrier used to be provide for a duration initially of the month within the south of the county. Given the breeding standing of the species within the UK, with out a showed breeding within the closing two years, and given it used to be in appropriate breeding habitat on the proper time of yr it used to be regarded as essential to withhold the file from the broader public. This coupled with it being on non-public land intended there used to be just one smart possibility. The second calendar yr feminine used to be curiously color ringed with a German ring and used to be ringed in 2023, probably on the nest, even supposing main points have now not been approaching from the scheme as of but. Montagu’s Harrier has a unique position in Oxon birding lore with the species having bred effectively between 1999 and 2013, sooner than, been misplaced as breeding species altogether from around the nation over the next decade. A super write up of the fortunes and breeding behaviour of Montagu’s Harrier in Oxfordshire may also be discovered within the 2018 Birds of Oxfordshire Annual record. With the closing two years generating data of the species all through the breeding season, one can most effective hope that we have got now not observed the closing of Montagu’s Harrier as a breeding species within the county simply but.

Montagu’s Harrier

Montagu’s Harrier

Montagu’s Harrier

The Montagu’s Harrier

Waders

The spotlight of the month got here within the type of certainly one of our maximum wanted autumn waders – a Little Stint. A unmarried chook used to be provide on Farmoor causeway at the morning of the nineteenth. Sadly, with information gradual to get out and the chook leaving by way of the afternoon this chook wasn’t loved by way of many birders who common the web site presently of yr. 

The Farmoor Little Stint courtesy of Dave Murphy

One species that used to be loved by way of the numerous this month used to be Picket Sandpiper. With 4 websites recording birds and with a good unfold around the county, lots loved this enigmatic little Tringa. Ardley ERF used to be the primary web site to host the species this month with one provide at the 10th. This used to be all of a sudden adopted by way of 2 at Days Lock at the 12th and unmarried chook at Pit 60 at the 15th, the latter having already hosted a chook closing month. Peep-o-Day Lane, on the other hand, proved essentially the most horny web site with it website hosting a chook from the 17th till no less than the 26th – plentiful alternative to be loved by way of a variety of people.

 

Picket Sandpiper Days Lock courtesy of Geoff Wyatt

Pit 60 Picket Sandpiper courtesy of Mick Cunningham

 

The month produced 3 data of Turnstone, all from Farmoor, at the 1st, 14th and 19th even supposing it wasn’t transparent if those had been all other birds or the similar chook striking across the concrete bowl for a number of weeks. Sanderling, on the other hand, had been a lot more straightforward to trace the turnover of birds shifting via with birds normally in all levels of moult and plumage. Seven data had been produced, normally all from Farmoor, with a max rely of 10 birds at the 25th. Henley Highway GPs supplied the one file of Whimbrel in August on 24th, with unquestionably lots extra to apply in September. Greenshank had been recorded from 5 websites. Farmoor produced essentially the most data with 4 data and a max rely of two on 18th. Chipping Norton (10th), Bicester (14th), Pit 60 (17th) and North Pass Valley (26th) had been the opposite websites to supply data. Black-tailed Godwit used to be provide at just one web site with a unmarried moulting chook at Peep-o-Day Lane at the 23rd till the 26th, likewise Ruff used to be reported from a unmarried web site with Chipping Norton website hosting a chook at the 14th. Ringed Plover data got here from two websites – Ardley ERF at the 9th and the 24th while Farmoor hosted birds from 14th via to twenty-fiveth.

 

Farmoor Turnstone courtesy of Bryan Manston

Dunlin had been, normally, recorded often from Farmoor all over the month. A most rely of five got here at the 25th with birds reported throughout 8 days within the August. Ardley ERF & Peep-o-Day Lane had been the one different websites which produced data this month with singles right here at the 9th and 27th respectively. Six websites hosted Inexperienced Sandpiper this month with a top rely of 15 coming from Peep-o-Day Lane at the 25th, while six websites additionally hosted Not unusual Sandpiper with Farmoor & Peep-o-Day Lane the one websites website hosting a couple of chook.

 

Wildfowl & Recreation and so forth

An anticipated quiet duration for this staff with essentially the most notable chook been a lone Ruddy Shelduck provide at Peep-o-Day Lane 5th till no less than the 14th, associating with the native Egyptian Goose flock in that point. Garganey data had been few and some distance between with the lengthy staying moulting male nonetheless provide at Pit 60 this month, albeit sporadically between the threerd and 18th. A fascinating file of three flying into roost at Chipping Norton at the 18th. Mandarin had been the one different notable species this month with 3 websites recording unmarried birds – Chipping Norton (2nd), Waterstock (4th) and Sonning Eye GPs (15th).

 

Herons, egrets and so forth

The tip of the month produced the primary correct twitchable rarity of the Autumn. and would had been the spotlight of the month, had it now not been for a definite Monty’s in other places within the county. A Shag provide on Farmoor at the 30th after the fog had cleared used to be the primary to grace the county since 2021. August and early September are the vintage time to log this species within the county with lots of the closing twenty years of data coming on this duration. While maximum birds clear of Farmoor have a tendency to be quick stayers, birds at Farmoor tend to hang out for a couple of days if now not weeks, probably the presence of Cormorant, a variety of meals and classically brutal climate makes them really feel extra at house! This chook used to be nonetheless provide by way of 31st and appears to set to have a longer keep inside the county.

Farmoor Shag, courtesy of Steve Liptrot

Talking of prolonged remains, the Shiny Ibis at Otmoor endured its summer season vacation at the web site. Most commonly reported getting into roost with the more than a few Egrets and different Wildfowl all through night time vigils the chook used to be nonetheless provide on the finish of the month. 

The Otmoor Shiny Ibis courtesy of Steve Lavington

Shiny Ibis  Courtesy of Trish’s Nature Pix.

Farm animals Egret numbers had been an enormous spotlight this month with the put up breeding flock taking to Otmoor this yr as an alternative of the fields of Farmoor village round Wytham Picket. Counts of feeding flocks remained round 30-40 birds for lots of the month, which in of itself would had been unheard only some years in the past. A large rely, on the other hand, of 62 getting into roost at the 24th used to be one thing else! Obviously a just right breeding yr has been had by way of the species, even supposing now not all will probably be birds from our native breeders, and probably one of the most best counts of birds outdoor of Somerset? Every other 5 websites reported birds, all within the west of the county with the exception of for Port Meadow at the 29th. Birds had been reportedly nonetheless on nests at the 11th at Blenheim with Farmoor, Wytham and Woodstock all hosted birds sporadically.

Otmoor Farm animals Egret courtesy of Steve Lavington

A grand overall of 9 websites hosted Nice White Egret this month. Maximum data got here from Otmoor, a web site this is increasingly more sounding like a wetland within the Med. A county file of 10 birds had been provide on 24th, even supposing 2 -5 birds had been extra usually recorded. 

ADC Otmoor rspb courtesy of Malcolm Bowey

A color ringed chook (ADC) has been provide on Otmoor for a while and used to be ringed down in Somerset the former yr, it has frolicked in Northants, Herts and Dollars in addition to Slimbridge early this yr see beneath. 

-Summer time Leys LNR, Northants eighth September 2023
-Wilstone Reservoir Tring, Herts seventeenth September 2023
-Willen Lake North, Milton Keynes, Dollars ninth March 2024
-Tack Lake, Slimbridge twenty fourth Would possibly 2024

ADC is a feminine and used to be ringed at the nest on eighth June 2023 at the rspb Ham Wall Reserve

ADC as a chick.

Every other color ringed person (AFT) used to be additionally provide on Cassington GPs at the 4th. This chook used to be ringed as a chick at the twenty ninth of April 2024, a feminine and in addition from the rspb Ham Wall reserve in Somerset. This used to be its first sighting since leaving the county and used to be within the corporate of 4 different folks on web site. 

ATF Cassington GPs courtesy of Terry Godfrey

ATF as a chick at the Ham Wall rspb Reserve

For more info referring to those stunning birds and their standing see Alison Morgan Birds of the Somerset Ranges and Moors

Pit 60 additionally hosted 5 GWE sporadically all over August with Radley GPs the one different web site to host a couple of chook this month.

Passerines

In what would of had been a very talked-about chook had it been provide all through waking hours, a flyover Nightjar at the night time of the 18th at Eynsham used to be the primary file of this species for a variety of years. Even supposing the nocturnal and cryptic nature of the species most likely belies its true standing all through migration, Nightjar remains to be a significant county rarity. The illustrate the purpose, there are lots of folks that experience Not unusual Nighthawk in Oxfordshire however haven’t begun to look Nightjar! The wait continues!

Kingfisher courtesy of Jason Hornblow

Whinchat began shifting throughout the county in larger quantity this month with 9 websites reporting birds. Wytham had the best rely of five at the 18th, even supposing a number of websites hosted a couple of birds. Chipping Norton had as much as 2 birds between 4th and 24th, while Waterstock and Otmoor hosted 2 and three birds at the 4th and 16th respectively. Lollingdon Hill had a unmarried chook provide on the very finish of the month. Unbelievably the primary Wheatear of the fall got here from Oxford at the 18th, with a chook feeding at the roof of the Churchill Medical institution of all puts! This used to be adopted by way of data at an additional 5 websites with these kinds of been confined to the Oxon Downs, with the biggest rely of three coming from Lollingdon Hill at the 31st.

Whinchat courtesy of Dave Murphy

  

Redstart had been the most typical and fashionable of the migrant passerines this month with no less than 11 websites reporting birds. As with the former two species nearly all of the data got here from websites at the Oxon Downs, with Aston Upthorpe recorded essentially the most with 4 folks at the 23rd. Farmoor used to be the one web site that reported a couple of birds outdoor of the Downs with two provide right here off and on between the 4th and 26th. The common roost vigil at Otmoor for the more than a few Egrets & Herons counts additionally produced a cracking file of no less than 276(!) Yellow Wagtail getting into roost at the 27th, one can most effective consider the sound!

 

Stonesfield Not unusual Redstart courtesy of Paul Wren

 

Gulls and Terns

The tip of the month produced by way of some distance the biggest number of species and data with the sooner a part of August been deathly quiet. A unmarried juvenile Little Gull used to be a pleasant technique to the tip of the month with a chook at Farmoor at the 31st. Black Tern had been provide at each ends of the month with a juvenile on Farmoor at the 1st, 5 at Cassington GPs at the 12th and any other juvenile at Sonning Eye GPs at the 31st.

The Farmoor juvenile Little Gull courtesy of Steve Willis

Farmoor used to be persistently the web site to be for the rarer and Gulls and Terns, because it incessantly is, with 3 Sandwich Tern provide at the 25th at the side of a lone Arctic Tern. All had departed by way of the next day to come, even supposing a unmarried Sandwich Tern used to be as provide on Farmoor at the 30th.

 

Sandwich Terns and Arctic Tern at Farmoor courtesy of Steve Sansom

Caspian Gull endured to hold on within the county, with the inevitable inflow because of come over the following couple of weeks and months. Unmarried birds had been provide at Farmoor and Appleford within the 28th.

A juvenile Caspian Gull courtesy of Ian Lewington

A Baltic Gull used to be transient customer to Didcot Landfill at the 23rd and sadly didn’t reappear in what’s changing into, or already used to be, a standard customer to the county. A unmarried Mediterranean Gull at Pit 60 used to be the one file of the species in August at the 25th.

A likely Baltic Gull at Didcot landfill in brief courtesy of Ian Lewington

 

Raptors

Osprey data got here from 3 websites this month with Otmoor this primary to get in at the motion at the 3rd. An unconfirmed record got here from Abingdon the next day to come, in what may have been the former days chook following the Thames south. Farmoor additionally were given in at the motion with chook provide at the 27th. Honey Buzzard are normally and frustratingly both transient, unconfirmed or probables, and this month proved no other with a likely over Dix Pit at the 10th.

The very talked-about faded Marsh Harrier younger endured to delight admirers from close to and afar at Otmoor till no less than the 17th. Given the plumage it used to be all the time going to be relatively easy in monitoring those distinctive birds. One in every of them used to be observed north of Otmoor at Lillbourne Meadows in Northants the next day to come sooner than apparently bombing it all through to Willow Tree Fen in Lincolnshire later at the 18th. It has apparently remained within the space of the character reserve ever since. 

The twond chook moved rather less some distance with it delighting the primary birders and photographers at Slimbridge from the 18th onwards. After this apparently to have headed somewhat additional south to Catcott at the Somerset Ranges by way of the 26th August. Let’s hope the birds proceed to continue to exist throughout the autumn into the iciness and pleasure many extra observers but!

 

Above and beneath taken at Slimbridge and are courtesy of Blair Jones

Courtesy of Blair Jones

Patchwork problem

Patch	Birder	Issues	Species	Spotlight
Aston eyot	Ben Sheldon	75	73	Snow Goose, Pastime
Ardley ERF	Gareth Casburn	102	93	Picket Sandpiper
Dix pit	Simon Bradfield	76	68
Grimsbury reservoir	Gareth Blockley
Lye valley	Tom Bedford	75	72	Wheatear and Pochard
River Thames	Geoff Wyatt
Sutton Courtenay	Conor MacKenzie	136	118	Bullfinch, Picket Sandpiper, Ruddy Shelduck
Radley GP’s	Ian Elkins	113	102
Freeland	Glen Pascoe	82	70	Pastime, Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk
South Hinksey	Alex Figueiredo
Cholsey	Alan Dawson	110	104	Whinchat & Redstart

 

The Picture Of The Month

This nice picture by way of Steve Lavington of a couple of Otmoor Egrets getting into roost used to be unanimously voted PotM by way of the weblog committee.