Highlights
And identical to that the summer season
lull has dissipated and the joy of autumn is rolling in, in all probability extra
with a whimper than a bang however a minimum of issues are starting to kick off! That
time of yr the place an early morning or past due night time consult with to the patch can
produce a bit of of patch gold, with waders the staple of maximum patch birders
ambitions and the obvious goal. It’s early doorways but however the selection and
unfold of migrant wader data began to select up across the center of the
month albeit in a trickle relatively than a flood, with a bit of luck with lots extra birds
and species to return over the following couple weeks. August failed to offer any
additions to the yr listing, so the entire nonetheless stands at 198 with the
further 11 non-BOU species and the bizarre subspecies additionally. September may be very
more likely to tip us over the 200 mark and with a bit of luck best the lowly 204 completed
remaining yr, the joint 2nd lowest species recorded this century. Little
Stint must be a given, having simplest been lacking from two out of the remaining
20 September’s while any other Curlew Sandpiper or a summer season plumaged Noticed
Redshank could be maximum welcome additions.
Sadly, there used to be no actual
standout rarity this month that warranted a spotlight, so underneath is a pair
data of observe that appeared deserving of highlighting as a substitute.
Norwegian ringed Commonplace
Sandpiper
A cracking symbol from Pinkhill
of a flagged and color ringed Commonplace Sandpiper supplied a perfect
alternative to get some context for those relatively commonplace and standard migrants
inside the county. A handy guide a rough seek urged that ‘LTN’ used to be ringed in Norway
relatively than from our personal breeding inhabitants within the north of England or
even Scotland. Southern England is crucial fuelling flooring
for each our ‘personal’ breeders and the ones from additional north, in particular the Fenno-Scandinavian
birds which quantity part one million pairs, en path to the wintering grounds
in West Africa. Sadly essentially the most particular main points lets achieve
for ‘LTN’ used to be that it used to be most likely ringed as a tender fowl this summer season in Rogaland
county, SW Norway probably on its means roughly 900km
southwest to Farmoor.
 |
| The ringed Commonplace Sandpiper at Pinkhill, courtesy of Paul Mallarini |
Breeding Quail
In what has been a perfect yr for
uncommon breeding species within the county (see Livestock Egret, Goosander, Noticed
Crake and Black Redstart). An unbelievable report of a Quail circle of relatives
birthday celebration at Otmoor at the 22nd offers some uncommon affirmation of a success
breeding for a species this is more likely to breed yearly inside the county however
extremely tough to substantiate. In any given yr it may be tough to pin
down precisely what number of birds had been recorded because of their elusiveness and their
virtually ventriloquist like skill to sound in more than one puts without delay. In truth
the remaining solidly showed breeding report (i.e bodily proof of good fortune)
got here again in 2011 when our personal Roger Wyatt staked out a box due for harvest
which resulted within the survival of the brood and a few incredible footage (see
underneath). This yr, even if now not rather at ‘Quail’ yr standing, has noticed a
just right unfold of data around the county with Otmoor seeing more than one
making a song men found in summer season, a web page that strangely data few Quail yr
to yr. With Noticed Crake apparently added to breeding fowl assemblage there
this yr, Otmoor has had cracking 2023.
 |
| Breeding Oxon Quail again in 2011, courtesy of Roger Wyatt |
Waders
The primary returning Picket
Sandpiper of the fall used to be almost certainly the standout rarity for this team in August.
A lone fowl at Peep-o-Day Lane used to be provide from the 21st
till a minimum of the 27th, sadly who prefer the furthest section
of the flood and simplest affording folks most commonly far away perspectives.
Picket Sandpiper at Peep-O-Day Lane, courtesy of Badger
A couple of Turnstone
at the Farmoor causeway at the 13th as anticipated afforded
observers significantly better perspectives. A juv and a phenomenal summer season plumaged grownup have been
provide for a unmarried day with the grownup placing on till the 15th. A
2nd fowl gave the impression at the 15th with two nonetheless provide up
till a minimum of the 23rd.
 |
| Farmoor Turnstone, courtesy of John Workman |
A
lone Sanderling at the 16th additionally got here from Farmoor in
the corporate of a number of different wader species. Possibly a 2nd fowl
used to be provide at the 23rd. Additionally provide at the 16th used to be a cracking
juvenile Ruff and used to be usually confiding up till its departure at the 17th. Pit 60 additionally hosted a unmarried juvenile at the 26th with two
birds then right here at the 28th till a minimum of the 29th.
 |
| Farmoor Ruff, courtesy of Steve Liptrot |
A
nice vis-mig report of 4 Whimbrel over Fyfield Wick at the 24th
have been the primary of the fall and simply is going to end up what we may well be lacking
flying immediately over our heads all through this busy length.
Greenshank have been seen
at 3 places this month. With the primary coming from John Allen Pit in Dorchester-on-Thames
at the 9th. A fowl calling over Farmoor probably used to be
in search of someplace to relaxation up however didn’t stick round at the 23rd
while two birds have been on Hatford Pit at the 27th. Ringed
Plover data simplest got here from Farmoor in August with two
birds calling over the reservoir at the 14th, a lone fowl at the 19th
and a trio of birds there at the 23rd. A unmarried Black-tailed
Godwit used to be on Pit 60 at the 3rd with in all probability any other
right here at the 15th, while a gaggle of 4 have been clocked heading over Fyfield
Wick at the 24th. Dunlin data have been nonetheless most commonly
confided to Farmoor thru August with simplest Bicester Wetlands
and Hatford website hosting some other birds this month. A most of 5
have been on Farmoor at the 4th with 3 final till the 6th,
with a brand new pair of birds additionally right here at the 23rd. Bicester hosted
a unmarried fowl at the 7th and it persisted to be recorded up till at
least the 13th, while a juvenile used to be at Hatford at the 28th.
As anticipated, Inexperienced Sandpiper and
Commonplace Sandpiper made up the majority of wader data this month with a
huge unfold all over the county. Inexperienced Sandpiper have been reported shape 8
websites this month with a number of websites recorded more than one birds. The perfect rely
got here from Bicester Wetlands which keeps its standing as the most productive web page in
the county for Inexperienced Sandpiper all through each migration sessions, a most
of 15 have been right here at the 9th. Peep-o-Day Lane recorded the following
perfect rely with 3 birds at the 23rd. Commonplace Sandpiper on
the opposite hand have been seen from a minimum of 12 websites. Maximum data relate to
unmarried birds with the perfect rely of 3 coming from Grimsbury on
the 1st and Chinnor at the 29th. Non Otmoor
Redshank data got here from Farmoor at the 10th &
28th, Pit 60 at the 15th and Rushy Commonplace on
the 28th.
 |
| Farmoor Dunlin, courtesy of Mark Chivers |
Wildfowl, recreation and crakes
Except for the superb report
of the circle of relatives birthday celebration at Otmoor, with two birds due to this fact noticed in
flight at the 27th, the one different report this month used to be of a tragic
report of a useless fowl up at the ridgeway within the early a part of August. Even if
it’s been a perfect month for Garganey data with a number of websites have
more than one birds provide all through the past due spring, there was no showed
breeding data drawing close. A number of studies of a feminine down Peep-o-Day
Lane confirmed no indicators of younger in attendance in spite of apparently being provide
since April. A juvenile on Church Farm Scrape might with a bit of luck level
to native breeding someplace however may just simply have simply come from any place in
fact.
The Ruddy Shelduck persisted
on Peep-o-Day Lane spending a lot of its time with huge and apparently
rising flock of Egyptian Goose. The fowl used to be reported off and on
all over the month with a 2nd fowl becoming a member of at the 28th.
A Shelduck seen on Venn Mill at the 28th used to be the
simplest report of this species this month, while the one Mandarin report
got here from Pit 60 at the 5th.
Herons,
egrets and many others
After any other a success breeding yr Livestock Egret noticed
extra standard data inside the county this month, as juveniles and grownup
feeding events started to wander clear of their natal grounds at Blenheim. Breeding
this yr seems to had been staggered with a number of nests at other phases
nonetheless provide all over August. The utmost rely got here from Otmoor on
the nineteenth with a minimum of 12 birds which incorporated a minimum of 3
juveniles, while at the 18th there used to be a minimum of six juveniles
throughout two nests with a distinct nest containing one juvenile at the 23rd.
All of this issues to very productive yr for the now neatly established colony.
Clear of Otmoor and Blenheim 5 further websites recorded at
least one Livestock Egret this month. A number of have been flyover data i.e Frilford
at the 7th or 11 over Farmoor at the 24th. Singles
have been provide at Church Farm Scrape and Ardley ERF at the 6th
and 11th respectively, while 4 have been at Woodstock at the
28th.
 |
| Juvenile Livestock Egret, at Otmoor, courtesy of Peter Barker |
Nice White Egret persisted their ever presence in
the county thru August. 5 websites recorded birds this month with a
most rely of 3 birds provide on Pit 60 at the 26th,
while two birds have been provide all over the month at Blenheim and Otmoor.
A color ringed fowl at Church Farm Scrape at the 29th used to be a
1st summer season fowl ringed this yr down at Ham Wall in Somerset,
the most likely supply for everything of our data all through the summer season months.
With a apparently report yr down on Shapwick Heath with 88 chicks
fledged this yr, one has to wish we can ultimately see the primary breeding in
Oxon someday quickly.
Gulls
and Terns
Sadly maximum just right data this month relate to birds
flying thru Farmoor on now not lingering very lengthy. The spotlight for the
length got here within the type of a shocking grownup Little Gull at the 16th
from Farmoor while a pleasing flock of eleven Sandwich Tern bombed
thru Farmoor at the 14th with a unmarried fowl placing round
a short time longer. A unmarried Black Tern used to be provide on Farmoor on
the afternoon of the 18th which ultimately grew into 13 birds later
that night time. As anticipated, those birds have been long past via the next morning. Nearly
too past due for the evaluate got here any other report of unmarried Black Tern on Farmoor
at the night time of the 31st and perhaps this one will hang out into
September.
 |
| Farmoor Yellow-legged Gull courtesy of Nick Truby |
A one legged grownup Caspian Gull at the 20th
used to be the one report of this species albeit an intriguing one at that, with the
fowl provide at Gill Mill Quarry. A unmarried juvenile Mediterranean
Gull used to be provide on Farmoor at the 25th with conceivable the
similar one provide the next day to come at Pit 60.
 |
| One legged Caspian Gull at Gill Mill Quarry, courtesy of Paul Hicks |
Passerines
After a couple of early migrants within the latter part of remaining month Passerine
migration were given into complete swing this month with just right numbers of the entire
commonplace and anticipated species. Whinchat have been recorded from a minimum of 11
places. By means of a ways the most important rely got here from Otmoor have been no less than 18
have been noticed at the 23rd, a whopping rely and a particularly painful
quantity for the ones us who would take only a unmarried fowl on their patch. Generally,
an obtrusive bias used to be in opposition to the downs with the following perfect rely coming from Cholsey
with 6 at the 15th. Trio’s have been famous on Kings Lock and the
Chilton Downs at the 26th and 16th respectively.
Singles have been famous from Cholsey, Farmoor, Woodstock, Childrey Box, Lark Hill,
Caterton and Gramps Hill.
 |
| Whinchat alongside the Bunk Line, Cholsey, courtesy of Alan Dawson |
Wheatear adopted a identical trajectory throughout the
county even if apparently in much less numbers. The most important team got here from Lark
Hill the place 4 have been provide at the 15th. Trios have been provide at
the Devils Punchbowl, Childrey Box and Letcombe Regis at the 6th,
24th and 26th respectively. Different places incorporated Farmoor,
Hatford, Gramps Hill and Caterton. Redstart have been indisputably essentially the most
standard migrant this month with data from a minimum of 16 websites. Otmoor recorded
birds essentially the most incessantly, because it frequently does, with birds recorded off and on all over
August. Most effective two websites recorded greater than two birds with 3 people
at Gramps Hill and Letcombe Regis at the 23rd and 26th
respectively.
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| Redstart, Burgess Box, Port Meadow, courtesy of Matthew Lloyd |
Notable counts of Yellow Wagtail got here from two websites
this month. Moreton Golfing Path recorded 40 birds at the 25th
while Childrey Box recorded 39 birds at the 23rd.
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| Yellow Wagtail on the Bunk Line, Cholsey, courtesy of Paul Chandler |
Tree Pipit have been recorded from 4 websites with the
maximum notable of those coming from the town of Oxford with two birds over
Warneford Meadow at the 19th. Some other notable report and indisputably
the rarest of all of them inside of its personal distinctive context used to be the report of a Corn
Bunting additionally from Warneford Meadow in Oxford at the 17th.
Extremely the primary Oxford report in 43 years! A in reality cracking
city report and proves what can discovered with sustained effort even in essentially the most
constrained of greenspaces.
Raptors
Sadly it used to be a quiet month for Raptor data with
essentially the most notable report coming very early within the month when a White-tailed
Eagle used to be noticed alongside the Berks/Oxon border at the 1st. Nearly
indisputably a fowl from the IoW reintroduction mission and used to be rather
in all probability G452 a 3cy feminine that has travelled broadly all over the
nation since her unencumber. She used to be noticed at Rutland later that month and
probably travelled thru Oxfordshire en path. No matter its starting place
and identification with the good fortune of the mission, having had their a success
breeding and fledging this yr we’re more likely to get increasingly more data from
now on!
An early Merlin used to be additionally lovely notable when a unmarried fowl
used to be noticed at Childrey Box at the 27th and probably the
similar fowl caught across the downs when a Merlin used to be additionally noticed round Churn
Farm the next day.
Patchwork problem
|
Patch |
Birder |
Issues |
Species |
Spotlight |
Goal |
Proportion of goal |
|
Aston eyot |
Ben Sheldon |
58 |
56 |
|
90 |
64.44 |
|
Blenheim |
Gareth |
122 |
109 |
Shelduck |
100 |
122.00 |
|
Dix pit |
Simon |
114 |
91 |
Black Tern |
75 |
152.00 |
|
Grimsbury reservoir |
Gareth |
113 |
104 |
Sandwich Tern |
130 |
86.92 |
|
Lye valley |
Tom Bedford |
86 |
80 |
Corn Bunting – |
80 |
107.50 |
|
River Thames |
Geoff Wyatt |
148 |
127 |
Picket Sand #Patchtick. Gray Plover #Patchtick. |
122 |
121.31 |
|
Sutton Courtenay |
Conor |
151 |
126 |
Picket Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier |
140 |
107.86 |
|
Freeland |
Glen Pascoe |
81 |
74 |
|
80 |
101.25 |
|
East Challow |
Mark Merritt |
84 |
80 |
|
83 |
101.20 |