Highlights
Rely Yr Checklist Totals
In the beginning, Merry Christmas everybody I’m hoping you all had a perfect festive smash and
that you just perhaps even stuck up with a rarity or two. I feel everybody can agree
that this yr has confirmed to be a excellent yr rarity sensible, albeit with a trend
of high quality over amount. December simplest added a unmarried species to the
yr tally taking the Oxon Yr Checklist to a decent 211 for 2023, simply above
the common of 210 because the flip of the century. The fad, alternatively, continues
to be one in every of much less species recorded every yr albeit with peaks and troughs (see
underneath).
|
Species |
Location |
Date |
Standing |
|
American |
Port Meadow |
12th |
First file |
|
Lesser Scaup |
Farmoor (with |
2nd |
First file |
|
Pink Heron |
Pit 60 |
25th |
Recorded in |
|
Black-crowned |
Otmoor & |
30th |
First file |
|
Black-winged Stilt |
Otmoor |
6th |
3rd |
|
Montagu’s |
Otmoor |
23rd |
Extinct |
|
Pallid |
Otmoor |
9th |
2nd |
For people that are eager about this kind of factor, and I
depend myself in that class, along the usual county checklist, Oxon has
additionally recorded an extra 14 non-BOU species or subspecies in 2023. Those
vary from Siberian Chiffchaff, which with the way in which issues cross might finally end up
promoted to species standing one in every of this present day, to reintroduced folks from
now not but sustainable populations such because the IoW White-tailed Eagle venture
and all of the strategy to the dodgier finish of the size with such beauties as Crimson-breasted
Goose.
With all of the Waxwing motion up and down the rustic
or even around the border in Northants and Dollars I had was hoping in
this segment to be writing about improbable flocks of this intrepid and
enigmatic hen loved by means of the loads of the county birding scene. Sadly
for everybody, particularly so for those who haven’t begun to look one in Oxon, sightings
proved fleeting and even if a number of had been reported in the course of the month none
had been observed by means of any individual rather then the observers. As an alternative the standout rarity of
the month got here as soon as once more from Cote. Given the volume of pastime within the
web page because the earlier month and the decision of 1 native birder to
degree a close to consistent vigil of the flooded fields, it gave the impression most probably that the
web page had the capability produce one thing additional. A Dotterel, alternatively,
would possibly not had been at the checklist of most probably applicants. An excessively out of season hen
mingling among the hordes of Golden Plover used to be expertly picked out on
the 7th, simplest to vanish after being flushed. It proved very exhausting
then to pin down thereafter with the birds apparently feeding or roosting
somewhere else for massive sessions of time, it reappeared in brief once more at the 8th
simplest to bunk by means of the afternoon permitting just a make a selection few to glue earlier than
being misplaced for excellent. This can be a exceptional accident that the final Oxon Dotterel
used to be discovered nearly to the day two years in the past on Port Meadow (8th
Dec 2021) earlier than relocating to Otmoor on New Yr’s Eve. There’s some
hypothesis that they might also be the similar hen given the timings and
instances, even if how most probably that is I will be able to go away to higher minds than my
personal. After all, a cracking hen to look out the yr.
 |
| Spot the Dotterel, courtesy of Mick Cunningham |
Waders
With the exception of the aforementioned Dotterel
the primary wader pastime once more got here from Cote in the course of the month of December.
The 2 Gray Plover from November remained on web page all the way through
the month, while a conceivable flock of birds flew thru within the early a part of
the month added weight to the suspicion that there used to be greater than two birds
provide all the way through December. A lone Ruff additionally persevered to be
provide at the floods sporadically with sightings at the 8th, 9th
and 15th and steadily within the presence of 2 Redshank which have been
provide from the threerd till the 16th. Redshank had been
additionally provide on Farmoor in the course of the center of the month with two birds
at the causeway between the 12th and 17th.
 |
| Farmoor Redshank courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
The mega Dunlin flock
persevered to feed at the floodwaters at Cote along side the hordes of Golden
Plover, even if numbers wholly depended at the fall and upward push of water
ranges on web page with birds possibly feeding within the abundance of habitat provide
within the wider panorama. The height depend reached 280 at the 8th
falling to a meagre 12 at the 14th earlier than emerging once more to 256 the
following day. A flock of 14 used to be additionally provide on Port Meadow at the 3rd
expanding to 16 at the 9th earlier than decreasing to unmarried digits at the
13th. A lone Black-tailed Godwit used to be additionally provide on Port
Meadow at the 3rd however used to be now not observed once more thru the remainder of the
month.
Jack Snipe had been slightly
extra approaching this month with 4 information. The primary of which got here from a shocking
supply within the type of a path digicam in city Didcot at the 1st
of the month, with some improbable photos of this most often very shy species. A
couple of birds had been provide at the flood meadows with reference to Days Lock on
the twond affording very good perspectives while Bicester Wetlands produced
a unmarried hen noticed at the 12th after which two birds at the 29th.
Warneford Meadow in Oxford additionally were given in at the motion with simplest its 2nd
file when a hen used to be flushed a few occasions at the 27th, a in all probability
extra vintage commentary than the former 3 information. Just one file of Woodcock
got here this month nevertheless it used to be of a whopping depend of eleven birds from Boarstall
Decoy possibly all flushed all through a scientific stroll of the woods right here.
Jack Snipe Didcot courtesy of Keith McDonald.
 |
| Jack Snipe courtesy of Nick Truby |
Each Commonplace and Inexperienced
Sandpiper information simplest got here from one location this month Farmoor and
Bicester Wetlands respectively. A lone Commonplace Sandpiper frequented
Farmoor for a lot of the December duration having taken up wintry weather
place of abode right here for some other wintry weather, while a Inexperienced Sandpiper used to be left on Bicester
Wetlands at the 7th with a 2nd hen noticed the next
day.
Wildfowl and many others
The go back of the pair of Bewick’s
Swan from the former month used to be a relatively surprising however great marvel
for the native Otmoor birders this month. On a minimum of 3 events (3rd,
15th & 17th) the pair returned to the primary display screen to
shower and wash up earlier than departing, possibly the sign up for the Mute Swan herds
within the surrounding panorama. Given the infrequency of the sightings it’s extra
than conceivable the birds are nonetheless available in the market throughout the greater Swan herds
having taken up their wintry weather residency.
 |
| Otmoor Bewick’s Swans, courtesy of Malcolm Bowey |
With this kind of transient sighting in November
it used to be with a lot reduction when some other Nice Northern Diver became up
on Farmoor at the 11th. Fortunately this hen had the nice grace
to hang out lengthy sufficient to be loved by means of others and as of writing used to be nonetheless provide
on F2 on the finish of the month, and with a bit of luck will stick round for the wintry weather
now it sort of feels to have settled in at the large concrete bowl. Additionally at Farmoor the
long-staying feminine Scaup remained in position apparently more than pleased in
among the flocks of Tufted Duck, the place I believe it’ll stay for
the remainder of the wintry weather as in earlier years.
 |
| Farmoor Nice Northern Diver, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
With the exception of the above it’s been
an excessively quiet and uneventful duration for our scarcer wildfowl. Shelduck had been
provide at two places with 2-3 at Cote between the twond and
9th while Port Meadow hosted 1-3 birds between the 13th
and 20th of the month. Goosander had been somewhat extra popular
with 8 places webhosting birds this month. The very best depend by means of some margin
got here from Standlake the place as much as 8 had been observed at the 23rd. Singles
and pairs had been most commonly noticed from the rest seven websites. On the dodgier
finish of the size a unmarried Ross’s Goose used to be provide in brief on Grimsbury
Reservoir at the 2nd, its corporate of Canada Ducks simplest
including extra weight to its credentials. Blenheim persevered to additionally host
as much as 20 Mandarin Duck without any reported anyplace else within the county.
 |
| The Farmoor Scaup, courtesy of John Workman |
Herons,
egrets and many others
Curiously the Livestock Egret put up breeding flock
has determined to not leave the county over the wintry weather and has remained in excellent
numbers visiting a number of websites in the course of the process December. Otmoor hosted
as much as 11 birds at the 8th with 20+ birds then favouring pasture fields
between Farmoor village and Wytham Wooden, a web page that has steadily
been utilized by feeding flocks over the past couple of years.
Extra about our wintering Livestock Egrets on Black Audi Birding
 |
| One of the most Livestock Egret flock courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
Unmarried birds had been
provide on Days Lock (20th), Bicester Wetlands (21st
– 27th) after which Sutton Courtenay at the 28th. 3 birds had been additionally famous within the horse paddock adjoining to Peep-o-Day Lane Abingdon om the thirtieth.
 |
| Livestock Egret, courtesy of Steve Curnock |
Nice White Egret had been most often popular this
month with a minimum of 10 websites webhosting a minimum of one hen. Blenheim hosted
the most people with 4 birds right here at the 18th with 3 last
till the 26th. Each Radley GP’s and Standlake hosted
two birds at the 25th and a couple ofnd respectively. The remainder
websites hosted unmarried birds with maximum being unmarried day observations. Our resident
Crane additionally determined to stay it out within the county over the wintry weather duration
with the enigmatic trumpeting name heard within the fog at the 6th. A
pair the place then noticed in flight over Port Meadow at the 26th
possibly heading to or from Otmoor for feeding alternatives somewhere else.
 |
| Nice White Egret, courtesy of Steve Curnock |
In what’s slowly turning into an ordinary prevalence a Nice
Bustard from the reintroduction venture down on Salisbury Simple used to be
discovered wintering at the Oxon Downs simply outdoor of Wantage at the
18th. Weirdly the hen used to be observed to be maintaining corporate with a herd of
Roe Deer, possibly because of a loss of the rest of an identical dimension provide
inside a a number of mile radius. Given the frequency of the prevalence of this species
inside our border, may we sooner or later be including this our checklist of county breeders?
Gulls
and Terns
Little or no motion used to be recorded this month with the one
notable species reported being Caspian Gull. Port Meadow had probably the most
motion with as much as two birds observed within the night time roost between the threerd
and the 20th. Most effective Farmoor recorded some other person with one
observed right here at the 8th.
 |
| Grownup Caspian Gull on Port Meadow, courtesy of Thomas Miller |
Passerines
As I mentioned prior to now, I had was hoping to raving about all of the Waxwing
motion the county had observed this month. Sadly that became out to be
a slightly deficient prediction of what used to be to return. Headington had the primary
hen reported with a most probably hen in flight at the 10th. Cholsey had
a a lot more forged sighting with two birds found in a non-public lawn at the 14th,
sadly this sighting used to be slightly transient. Every other Oxford Town sighting
got here within the type of a feeding hen alongside St Giles at the 17th
however regardless of a lot looking the hen had apparently disappeared. A few sightings
of a unmarried hen adopted over the following week alongside Woodstock Highway, however
once more proving inconceivable to pin down. Every other sighting got here from Iffley on
the 22nd with a small celebration of 3-4 flying over the Rusty Bicycle pub. At the 30th some hope used to be for the reason that some birds might in truth be pinned down when a flock of 12 birds had been observed in East Challow. Sadly, an hour spent looking the world proved fruitless. Corresponding to a county vast recreation of whack-a-mole the birds apparently reappeared in Oxford day after today. Once more as all different sightings this is able to develop into some other fruitless afternoon for the assembled birders, with the flock having bunked to somewhere else. In the end, a overdue document of five birds at the Glos/Oxon border filtered thru on the final minute at the thirty first with the birds simply 500m into the county border, once more this sighting used to be transient unmarried commentary. Given such a lot of sightings proceed to return thru from counties bordering Oxon
and but extra birds to clear out inland and to the south, we will simplest hope that
a flock is pinned down one day.
 |
| Waxwing East Challow courtesy of Mark Merritt |
The prior to now ringed Siberian Chiffchaff used to be observed
once more at Burgess Box on Port Meadow at the 14th and once more
at the 19th, while a 2nd hen heard calling used to be noticed
at the 16th. A couple of Black Redstart had been provide at Chinnor
Cement Works at the 12th, a web page that has hosted a couple in earlier
years with birds frequenting the housing property that borders the web page.
 |
| Considered one of two Black Redstarts Chinnor courtesy of David Stracey |
A unmarried
Firecrest used to be recorded at Abingdon STW at the 4th
while a height depend of 15 Brambling had been recorded once more from Blenheim
at the 6th. A county file depend of Ring-necked Parakeet used to be
recorded from Oxford at the 12th with a whopping 56 observed
coming to roost there after detective paintings to find this wintry weather’s roost. Extra at the Cowley Parakeets on Out of the Blue Sky
 |
| A fantastic staff of Parakeets courtesy of Tom Bedford |
 |
| Blenheim Brambling courtesy of Gareth Cashburn |
Raptors
Two Chicken Harrier information had been reported this month coming
from reverse ends of the county. A ringtail used to be observed steadily at nightfall on Otmoor
in the course of the month, possibly taking advantage of the Otmoor starling
roost. A 2nd hen, once more a feminine/ringtail sort hen used to be observed looking
over Churn at the 17th of the month. Merlin had been reported
thinly at the flooring this month with simplest 3 reviews filtering thru.
Singles got here from Churn at the 3rd, Otmoor the 17th
and Bablockhythe at the 18th.
Patchwork problem
& Inexperienced Birding
I feel its secure to mention that this years Patchwork Problem has
been a perfect good fortune tale now not simplest around the nation but additionally for the county
of Oxon. There were some cracking efforts made by means of native birders
discovering some superb birds now not just for their very own native patches however for the
county itself. Despite the fact that I’m really not sure of the collective overall of the patches,
I’m lovely positive between us we now have had a big percentage of the whole county yr
checklist for 2023. Highlights from PWC 2023 come with Lesser Scaup, Black-crowned
Night time Heron, Water Pipit, a number of Kittiwake and in all probability the rarest
of all of them within the type of the primary Oxford Town Corn Bunting in 43
years among many different delights and Patch Gold.
I and a few others have already mentioned participating in PWC 2024
and I’m hoping those who did this yr might proceed into the following yr and perhaps
even some extra people too? Given the state of Twitter/X this present day I’ve in large part
come off the web page for probably the most phase which makes it tough with a lot of the
PWC neighborhood native or another way connecting on there. It used to be recommended that
perhaps a PWC Oxon WhatsApp staff perhaps to hand for sharing sightings/highlights/issues
totals and many others. After all, please get in contact both by way of my quantity at the Oxon
WhatsApp staff or my e-mail deal with [email protected]
if you wish to be integrated within the PWC Oxon Mini League for 2024.
Its additionally price bringing up some other huge native effort that has
taken position this yr – a by means of motorbike Oxon Large Yr by means of Ben Sheldon. Having already taken
phase in a Large Day by means of motorbike, with Thomas Miller, and recorded the joint very best 2nd
overall for any special occasion finished within the county motorised or another way, he has
additionally controlled to file 177 species non-motorised for the yr. A complete, I
suspect, that can take some beating sooner or later!
|
Patch |
Birder |
Issues |
Species |
Spotlight |
Goal |
Proportion of goal |
|
Aston eyot |
Ben Sheldon |
58 |
56 |
|
90 |
64.44 |
|
Blenheim |
Gareth |
135 |
118 |
|
100 |
135.00 |
|
Dix pit |
Simon |
114 |
91 |
|
75 |
152.00 |
|
Grimsbury reservoir |
Gareth |
132 |
117 |
|
130 |
101.54 |
|
Lye valley |
Tom Bedford |
100 |
88 |
|
80 |
125 |
|
River Thames |
Geoff Wyatt |
163 |
138 |
|
122 |
133.61 |
|
Sutton courtenay |
Conor |
160 |
132 |
|
140 |
111.43 |
|
East challow |
Mark Merritt |
84 |
80 |
|
83 |
101.20 |
|
Freeland |
Glen Pascoe |
90 |
80 |
|
80 |
112.50 |