Oxon Birding Weblog: March Evaluate

Highlights

The obvious spotlight this month is the welcome go back
of our summer time migrants. I’m certain like everybody else; one can’t lend a hand however smile
while you clap eyes on that first intrepid migratory chook – whether or not that be the golden
eye ring of a Little Ringed Plover in your native gravel pit or the flash
of white as a Wheatear flies throughout a random arable box on your
village. Even if meteorological Spring begins at the 1^st March and
astronomical Spring began at the 20^th March, for many people Spring
will likely be once we see our first right kind sub-Saharan migrant. With the
inflow of those migrants this month the county record stands at a good 149,
with 15 species added in March.

Little Ringed Plover, Biscester Wetland Reserve, courtesy of Nick Truby

It kind of feels that numerous our migratory birds flip up previous
each and every 12 months and that’s slightly borne out through the crude desk underneath with birds
arriving previous within the final decade than within the final close to quarter of a century.
The belief regardless that can also be from time to time deceptive, with our first Sand
Martin of the 12 months coming at the 23^rd February, necessarily
nonetheless iciness, however then the following information no longer following for an additional two weeks
and all coming at the median arrival date because the flip of the century – the
15^th March. However its indubitably true that species like Oystercatcher
are transferring considerably with birds arriving just about 2 weeks previous than in
earlier years. The place they have been much more likely to reach simply earlier than meteorological
Spring, they’re now returning to territories nearer to mid-Iciness. My
assumption is that for many species this may handiest imply unhealthy information within the lengthy
time period for his or her populations however that could be a slightly bleak observe to finish on, so right here
is one thing brighter. Inside of days of studying this we must optimistically have the
subsequent tranche of spring migrants arriving within the county and striking extra smiles
at the faces of those that clock eyes on them!

The primary Wheatear of the 12 months on patch is all the time welcome, courtesy of Alan Dawson

 

Migrant
arrival dates

Species	Median (since 2000)	Earliest	2024
Garganey	01-Apr	06-Mar (excludes over wintering birds)	17-Mar
Black-tailed Godwit	15-Mar	01-Jan	26-Feb
Oystercatcher	17-Feb	12-Jan	27-Jan
Sand Martin	15-Mar	02-Mar	23-Feb
Little-ringed Plover	14-Mar	02-Mar	09-Mar
Wheatear	17-Mar	19-Feb	15-Mar
White Wagtail	24-Mar	04-Mar	26-Mar
Willow Warbler	25-Mar	07-Mar	20-Mar
Osprey	01-Apr	18-Mar	22-Mar
Swallow	23-Mar	17-Feb	22-Mar
Sedge Warbler	04-Apr	05-Apr	23-Feb
Redstart	09-Apr	05-Apr	19-Mar
Ring Ouzel	31-Mar	01-Apr	15-Mar
Space Martin	29-Mar	08-Mar	21-Mar
Gray Plover	05-Apr	10-Jan	14-Jan
Knot	27-Mar	07-Jan	08-Jan

 

Waders

The primary of the scarcer waders handed throughout the county in
the early a part of the month when a trio of Avocet landed on Port
Meadow at the 7^th. A vintage rarity for the early a part of March,
the birds most often didn’t stay lengthy and have been long gone through the afternoon. A 2nd
probability for native birders did rise up regardless that when a unmarried became up once more on Port
Meadow at the 20^th, despite the fact that as soon as once more this was once just a temporary
refuelling seek advice from earlier than it was once long gone. 

Courtesy of Russell O Allen.

At the final day of the month Otmoor were given in at the motion with a couple of Avocets spending the day at the Flood Box. The wintering Gray Plover remained
during March turning up at each Port Meadow and Otmoor ceaselessly
appearing the well-used and vital commuting hall between those two
premier birding websites of Oxfordshire. Incessantly within the corporate of a number of
hundred Golden Plover it was once final observed on Port Meadow at the 23^rd. 

One of the crucial two Otmoor Avocet, courtesy of Pete Roby

2024’s first Little Ringed Plover got here at the 9^th
with a chook again on territory at Peep-o-Day Lane and was once just a little forward
of the median arrival date of the 14^th. The following birds arrived a bit of
nearer to this date with a chook on Rushy Not unusual at the 15^th and
Otmoor at the 17^th. Extra birds piled in thereafter with
some other six websites website hosting birds within the latter a part of the month, with the perfect
rely of 5 birds coming from Chinnor at the 29^th however with
maximum websites website hosting pairs. The Port Meadow/Otmoor commuter
hall additionally hosted a big flock of Black-tailed Godwit which
possibly have been the usage of the website as staging grounds earlier than fending off to
breeding grounds. The primary 3 birds arrived at Otmoor at the 2^nd
earlier than a flock of 55 have been on Port Meadow at the 7^th which
higher to a whopping 69 at the 8^th, with 51 observed at Otmoor the
similar and possibly a part of the similar flock. Those birds persisted to be observed at
each websites during the month with the flock peaking at 80 birds at the 19^th.
Days Lock hosted as much as 10 birds between the 9^th and 10^th
while Pit 60 and Rushy Not unusual hosted 2-3 birds between the on
the 9^th and 24^th respectively. 

Black-tailed Godwits on Port Meadow courtesy of Ben Sheldon

Jack Snipe information got here from 3 websites this month, with the only
lingering chook at Bicester Wetlands nonetheless provide at the 16^th.
New information got here from Peep-o-Day Lane at the 13^th and Iffley
Meadows at the 27^th. The Ruff persisted additionally at Otmoor
this month with 3 nonetheless right here at the 2^nd however just a unmarried
chook last through the 18^th. The primary Ringed Plover of the
spring season got here from Otmoor at the 10^th without a different
information coming this month. Dunlin persisted to be found in massive
numbers with maximum birds conserving to Otmoor in March with the
occasional foray to Port Meadow. The perfect rely got here at the 9^th
when 227 have been provide, despite the fact that triple digit counts have been made on two different
events at the 2^nd (120) and 13^th (c.100). Port
Meadow’s perfect rely was once of 64 birds at the 2^nd, possibly a
splinter workforce from the principle flock at Otmoor. Smaller flocks have been
recorded at Port Meadow throughout the month, while Days Lock and Waterstock
hosted 3 and one birds respectively and each at the 9^th.

Inexperienced Sandpiper have been at a equivalent selection of places within the earlier month
with 5 websites website hosting birds. 3 of those websites hosted two birds – Peep
-o-Day Lane (9^th), Ardley (4^th) and Curbridge
(10^th). While Bicester Wetlands and Chipping Norton hosted
unmarried birds. The Not unusual Sandpiper persisted its iciness vacation at Farmoor
and was once recorded sporadically during the month between the two^nd
and 23^rd. Redshank, apart from Otmoor, have been at 3
websites – Port Meadow (9^th), Rushy Not unusual (10^th)
and Peep-o-Day Lane (13^th). 
Oystercatchers have been on no less than 9 websites this month with many
websites website hosting breeding pairs, the perfect counts got here from Pit 60 the place
5 have been provide at the 9^th while Peep-o-Day Lane hosted
4 birds at the 13^th.

Wildfowl and many others

The most well liked rarity of the month got here within the type of
summer time plumaged Black-necked Grebe provide at Thrupp Lake at the
14^th. A pleasant native in finding on one in all our Patchwork Problem patches,
the chook caught round till no less than the 15^th and was once additionally reported
there at the 16^th. A Nice Northern Diver reported from Farmoor
at the 26^th was once little bit of a wonder after the lengthy staying chook
had departed final month, however without a affirmation of the file imminent the
chook was once in all probability a brief stayer.

 

The Black-necked Grebe courtesy of Ewan Urquhart Courtesy of Bryan Manston.

…and a few video courtesy of Badger

The primary Garganey of the spring arrived on Otmoor on
the 16^th which is precisely the similar date as final 12 months. A couple have been
additionally on Peep-o-Day Lane at the 26^th however in contrast to final 12 months this
pair didn’t hang out lengthy and have been long gone through the afternoon. The gang of White-fronted
Goose have been nonetheless on Otmoor throughout the month, being reported
sporadically. While the long-staying pair of feminine Scaup have been nonetheless on
Farmoor till no less than the 15^th, while a imaginable feminine was once then
provide on Cassington GP’s at the 22^nd. Goosander have been
provide on 4 websites this month with many of the information coming from Port
Meadow, despite the fact that the perfect rely got here from Pit 60 the place seven
birds have been recorded at the 9^th. The opposite two websites handiest recorded
unmarried birds – Radley GP’s and Days Lock at the 14^th
and 25^th respectively. Port Meadow additionally produced essentially the most
information for Shelduck this month and likewise the perfect rely with 11 birds
right here at the 17^th. An additional 8 websites reported birds with maximum
websites website hosting more than one birds. 

Two Goosander at the Thames at Port Meadow courtesy of Russell O Allen

 

Goldeneye persisted no less than 5 websites, all within the west of the county.
The perfect rely most often got here from Dix Pit the place 11 birds have been
provide at the 16^th. While Farmoor, Rushy Not unusual, Pit 60 and
Cassington GP’s all hosted between 1-3 birds. A top rely of 128 Pochard
from Otmoor om the two^nd was once an ideal rely for the species,
while Pit 60 persisted to host an unusual selection of Pintail with
646 birds right here at the 9^th with Otmoor website hosting 250 birds additionally
at the 9^th. Crimson-crested Pochard have been at a number of new websites
this month, possibly with the wintering flocks of Dix Pit at the transfer.
Radley (8^th), Rushy Not unusual (10^th), Appleford
(10^th) and Otmoor (17^th) all hosted 1-2 birds.
The one Mandarin information got here from Sonning Eye Not unusual om the nineteen^th
the place a couple have been provide. 

One of the crucial two Farmoor Scaup courtesy of John Workman

 

Herons, egrets and many others

Issues remained a lot as they’ve been for a number of months
with each Livestock Egret and Nice White Egret common. The foremost
distinction been the recording of 2 White Stork flying over Henley-on-Thames
at the 27^th. Possibly those have been the 2 Knepp Property birds
(colour-ringed reintroduction venture) that spent a few days in Buckinghamshire
and surrounding counties and have been additionally observed over Studying two days
later. Possibly those birds are actually heading again to Knepp in Sussex
to reproduce once more.

Livestock Egret information remained moderately static with the similar birds been
recorded many times at websites that experience hosted birds over the iciness. 8
websites hosted birds together with Peep-o-Day Lane and Radley GP’s the place
birds from the previous gave the impression to be roosting on the latter and most likely additionally
commuting between right here and Day’s Lock. Bicester Wetlands, Aynho, Witney Lake
additionally hosted unmarried birds this month. Wytham hosted the massive flock
at the start of the month the place 23 birds have been provide at the 2^nd
earlier than possibly dispersing to websites discussed above. Otmoor recorded
as much as 10 birds this month, while a pleasant promising signal of items to return got here
within the shape 12 birds returning to the breeding website at Blenheim albeit
in brief. It kind of feels that the Gray Heron and Little Egret have moved
temporarily to reproduce at the island at Blenheim and the contest for house
could be sturdy on the website this 12 months so arms crossed for some other a hit
breeding 12 months. 

 

BWR NT

Nice White Egret persisted to be recorded from many websites, despite the fact that down from
the former month with water ranges receding, with no less than 12 websites reported birds.
The perfect rely got here from Pit 60 the place 5 birds have been recorded,
while a summer time plumaged chook was once simply to the north at Blenheim and
possibly it’s just a subject of time earlier than now we have our first breeding file
within the county?

Gulls and Terns

With our first Not unusual Tern due
any day now (median arrival 3^rd April) and Sandwich and Arctic
Tern because of observe in a pair weeks now we have make do with the standard
suspects this month. Caspian Gull have been recorded at handiest two websites this
month – Port Meadow and Appleford. Two 1^st iciness
birds have been observed ceaselessly on the Port Meadow roost at each ends of the
month while 1+ have been reported at Appleford at the 7^th.

Mediterranean Gull have been recorded from 3 websites and
most likely similar to 2 birds. A unmarried summer time plumaged chook was once on Radley
GP’s at the 1^st while in all probability the similar chook was once ceaselessly
recorded at Port Meadow from the two^nd till the 27^th.
A lone 1^st iciness chook was once additionally recorded at Dix Pit at the 11^th. 

Radley Mediterranean Gull courtesy of Ian Elkins

 

Passerines

Rather overshadowed through the start of the spring
migration, the Waxwing invasion persisted to simmer around the county
with 3 websites reporting birds in March. Sonning Not unusual had 20
birds feeding in a personal lawn at the 4^th however weren’t observed
due to this fact. While the birds that frequented the gardens of north Abingdon
returned once more at the 6^th and strangely once more at the 22^nd
after lengthy classes of absence, possibly feeding up around the the town earlier than
their lengthy adventure again to northern Europe. A unmarried chook was once additionally reported
from Lengthy Hanborough at the 6^th however no longer observed due to this fact. The
standout for the month got here within the type of Ring Ouzel proper on the loss of life
with a shocking male observed at Aston Upthorpe at the 30^th, a
vintage website for the species proper on que. Sadly in spite of other folks
provide on website the chook went to floor and remained elusive, despite the fact that a file
did filter out via from the afternoon however whether or not this was once from the morning or
later within the day wasn’t transparent. 

Almost certainly my maximum eagerly expected returning spring
migrant, the primary Wheatear made landfall within the county at the 15^th
and was once most often at the downs at Frightening Hill. Next sightings additionally
got here from the downs at Lollingdon Hill and Sparsholt Firs each on
the 16^th. Thereafter regardless that birds started to be reported at a much broader
vary of websites with an additional seven websites reporting birds – Sutton
Courtenay, Days Lock, White Horse Hill, Ardley, Sarsgrove, Cholsey, Blewbury and
Shennington. The 24^th of the month noticed a large fall of birds
with the perfect rely coming from White Horse Hill the place 10 birds have been
recorded, adopted carefully through Sarsgrove and Shennington which noticed
8 birds each and every! The primary Redstart additionally made an look on the very
finish of the month, once more in vintage shape at the downs. This chook was once just a little
early regardless that with the vintage arrival no longer been for some other week or so. While
some other feminine chook was once provide on Otmoor at the 31^st

Wheatear Sparsholt Firs courtesy of Geoff Dymott

 After an overly early file at the 23^rd the following
information of Sand Martin have been a lot more consistent with the everyday arrival
time with two information at the 15^th at Balscote Quarry and Farmoor.
Seven websites then recorded small flocks of birds from the nineteen^th to
the 24^th peaking at 30 birds over Peep-o-Day Lane at the 23^rd.
The primary Swallow was once additionally bang on time with the primary chook approaching
the 22^nd (median 23^rd) and got here from Wytham, this
was once adopted through singles and pairs at 5 extra websites between the 23^rd
and 26^th. The primary Space Martin, alternatively, was once just a little early
coming virtually every week earlier than the everyday arrival time with a unmarried chook over South
Leigh at the 21^st. The following file got here a couple of days later from Blenheim
at the 25^th, additionally a unmarried chook and within the corporate of a small
flock of Sand Martin.

Space Martin courtesy of Gareth Casburn.

Any other species which turns out to reach previous each and every 12 months, the
first making a song Willow Warbler was once heard at Warneford Meadow and Farmoor
at the 20^th, with extra birds at extra websites following in a while
in the back of – Radley (22^nd), Otmoor (23^rd), Marston
Meadows (23^rd), Grimsbury (24^th), Port
Meadow (27^th) and Peep-o-Day Lane (29^th). Now not
most often at the radar till early April the season’s first Sedge
Warbler got here at the 26^th from Farmoor and possibly
was once from Pinkhill Reserve or elsewhere alongside the Thames stretch.
Grimsbury Reservoir additionally were given its justifiable share of the migrant motion hosted
the 12 months’s first Rock Pipit at the 13^th in addition to the primary White
Wagtail of the spring at the 26^th. An additional 3 of those continental wagtails have been observed at Rushy Not unusual at the thirty first. A feminine Black Redstart was once
in an Eynsham lawn at the 15^th, a file made much more
attention-grabbing because the similar lawn additionally hosted a male within the autumn of 2021,
while a 2^nd chook was once in Bodicote in brief at the 30^th.
Any other intriguing file got here from Lye Valley at the 16^th
with the file of a Mealy Redpoll, despite the fact that the guidelines got here from
the birding services and products and affirmation of the file was once no longer imminent. 

Eynsham, Nick Tasker

The wintering pair of Siberian Chiffchaff persisted to
be every now and then reported from Port Meadow via March with the
ringed person maximum reported however each have been observed at the 8^th. The
final file got here at the 10^th, possibly the birds now having moved
on from the website. Brambling additionally persisted to linger on within the county with
most commonly singles and pairs noticed throughout 4 websites, together with some cracking
men entering summer time plumage. While the lone file of Crossbill got here
from Cowleaze Picket at the 3^rd with 4 birds right here.

A Brambling at Balscote Quarry courtesy of Wally Warburton

 

Raptors

The
latter a part of the month additionally noticed the primary Osprey information of 2024, with
birds most often been temporary fly via information. The primary got here from Otmoor with
a chook circling there at the 22^nd while a 2^nd chook was once
additionally noticed circling Farmoor at the 24^th. The wintering Chicken
Harrier persisted at Otmoor via the entire month, despite the fact that the hoop
tailed chook was once handiest reported sporadically. 

Searching Otmoor Marsh Harrier courtesy of Malcolm Bowey

 

Quick-eared
Owl additionally persisted to be reported from
more than a few websites with essentially the most birds most often coming from the downs, with 4
birds observed at the 17^th. Unmarried birds have been
reported at Otmoor from the 1^st – 24^th, Kidlington
and Heart Barton each at the 9^th and Banbury on
the 24^th. A stupendous male Merlin was once reported two times on Otmoor
this month with information coming at the 2^nd and once more on 20^th.

Patchwork
problem

Patch	Birder	Issues	Species	Spotlight
Aston eyot	Ben Sheldon	59	59	Reed Bunting (Patch tick)
Ardley ERF	Gareth Casburn	64	66
Dix pit	Simon Bradfield	58	53
Grimsbury reservoir	Gareth Blockley	70	73
Lye valley	Tom Bedford	58	57
River Thames	Geoff Wyatt	125	105
Sutton Courtenay	Conor MacKenzie	106	96	Crimson-crested Pochard (2nd Patch file), Nice Egret, Jack Snipe (Patch tick)
Radley GP’s	Ian Elkins	96	86	Livestock Egret, Marsh Harrier and Black-necked Grebe
Freeland	Glen Pascoe	64	63
South Hinksey	Alex Figueiredo	50	49
Cholsey	Alan Dawson	93	87