Highlights
September, the month the place
anything else can occur and simply from time to time the apparently unthinkable does
occur. A working example for that is the passing of the twond
anniversary of the counties first, and the rustic’s 26th, Commonplace
Nighthawk. A extra conventional September regardless that, can nonetheless supply native birders
with days to keep in mind, in particular if the stipulations are proper. Generally,
the ones vintage birding days are had at someplace the place lively migration will also be
simply considered. For many this implies heading both to an increased level or a
coastal headland, however for Oxon this in most cases way heading to Farmoor.
The primary week of September equipped the county, and Farmoor, with
two vintage birding days, this type of days inland birders reside for and reside
lengthy within the reminiscence.
The primary of those ‘vintage’ days
got here at the 2nd September with an impressive day checklist produced after
sustained effort by means of a number of birders:
Black Tern – 17
Little Stint
Shag
Little Gull
Sandwich Tern
Arctic Tern
Commonplace Tern – 12
Gray Plover
Whimbrel
Greenshank – 7
Ringed Plover – 7
Ruff
Sanderling
Dunlin
Inexperienced Sandpiper
Commonplace Sandpiper – 8
· Somebody that has spent greater than a
few hours at Farmoor can attest to the websites widespread tendency for bleakness. However its talent to provide days like this with the occasional rarity
thrown in it’s what helps to keep pulling folks again to the concrete bowl, and nowadays
used to be a prelude of higher issues to come back. Wild climate around the nation, up
till the 5th September, coincided with some massive seabird
passage which at all times will get the inland birding gears whirring, and so it used to be that
an early morning discuss with to Farmoor produced the primary right kind rarity of
the 12 months – an Arctic Skua. The primary since 2019, with handiest every other
file within the ultimate decade, this used to be a right kind county rarity that will clearly
be a well-liked fowl. With a crowd assembled, many were given to experience observing this ‘pirate
of the ocean’. An grownup intermediate morph, it by no means appeared a lot find it irresistible used to be
going to stick lengthy from time to time having a look find it irresistible had departed the reservoir handiest
to go back a couple of moments later.
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| The Arctic Skua, above and beneath courtesy of Roger Wyatt |
With the worsening climate coming near, extra
birds had been been driven in the course of the county, with flock of prior to now unseen Commonplace
Scoter flew into view while folks had been playing the Skua, a becoming
scene given the deteriorating climate – Scoter are the one species to
my eye that appear to be they truly experience a typhoon! Every so often, a Caspian
Gull started mobbing the Arctic Skua when all of the sudden a flock of seven
Little Tern additionally traversed the web site, a lot to the pleasure of the
assembled crow, and doubtlessly a brand new file depend for the species within the
county!
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| The Skua being mobbed by means of the Caspian Gull, courtesy of Roger Wyatt |
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| Above and beneath, the Little Terns courtesy of Roger Wyatt |
The elements then were given actually biblical, with handiest the courageous sticking it
out the virtually sideway rain, by means of 4pm normality had returned and everybody
together with the Skua had departed the web site – a actually vintage day of
birding within the county!
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| Above and beneath, “biblical” rain courtesy of Justin Taylor |
Waders
September normally
delivers the majority of our wader information each in amount and high quality and this
12 months didn’t disappoint. The principle spotlight used to be the coming of a Noticed
Redshank at Otmoor at the 21st, a now not at all times annual
species within the county, this one used to be sadly already totally into wintry weather
plumage on arrival. The fowl remained on web site till the 30th.
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| The Noticed Redshank courtesy of Paul Wilkinson |
Extra Little
Stint information got here within the early a part of the month with a unmarried fowl on Farmoor
from the 1st till the threerd of the month. Ardley persisted
its excellent run of latest shape with a couple of Little Stint at the 2nd,
with each final till the threerd.
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| The Farmoor Little Stint, above courtesy of Mark Chivers, beneath Ben Sheldon |
 |
| Ben Sheldon |
A couple of Knot had been a pleasant
addition to the county 12 months checklist, every other species this is handiest close to annual
throughout the barriers of Oxfordshire, despite the fact that each handiest remained for
the only day at the 17th. Every other species that used to be a brief stayer got here
within the type of a unmarried fly thru Gray Plover, additionally at the 2nd,
despite the fact that lately this species has wintered frequently within the county so
this almost certainly gained’t be the ultimate one we can see this 12 months.
 |
| Farmoor Knot, courtesy of Ben Sheldon |
Turnstone information got here, as
ever, from Farmoor handiest with a most of 2 at the 6th.
Singles had been recorded at the 1st, 5th and eightth
it kind of feels most likely that it used to be almost certainly the similar fowl for frequenting the web site. Sanderling
had been additionally limited to the concrete bowl this month, with a unmarried fowl
provide on web site between the 1st and fourth of the month,
while a lone Whimbrel flew in the course of the web site all through the epic passage day
at the 2nd. Greenshank had been a little bit bit extra well-liked in
the county with no less than 3 websites webhosting birds. The primary of the month got here
from Pit 60 at the 1st, while Farmoor hosted the majority
of information with no less than one provide between the twond and 16th
of the month and a most of 7 right here at the 2nd. Cassington
GPs hosted the one different file this month with a unmarried right here at the 17th.
Ruff had been confined to 2 websites
in September with Farmoor webhosting a lone fowl between the twond
and threerd and a couple of birds at the 19th. Ardley additionally
hosted a lone fowl between the 4th and eightth with
probably a distinct fowl provide at the 17th of the month.
 |
| Farmoor Ruff, courtesy of CJ Kearns |
Ringed Plover had been additionally
solely confined to Farmoor this month with information from 11 days
between the twond and the 21st, with the best depend
coming from the twond with seven despite the fact that 5 had been additionally right here at the
18th. Dunlin adopted a equivalent trend with birds provide at
Farmoor on 13 days between the 1st and the 21st. A
great double digit depend used to be recorded at the 10th with 13 provide,
however aside from this maximum reviews associated with singles and small teams. Black-tailed
Godwit had a deficient appearing this month with handiest two information bookending the
month. A couple had been provide at Pit 60 at the 2nd and a trio
had been then at Otmoor at the 28th.
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| Ringed Plover at Farmoor, courtesy of Geoff Dymott |
Inexperienced Sandpiper had been
normally well-liked this month, despite the fact that numbers and websites had been down,
probably as birds start to determine wintry weather territories and subordinate birds
are kicked off essentially the most high places. The max depend for the county got here from
Bicester Wetlands Reserve, which continues to reign excellent because the
premier web site for passage Inexperienced Sandpiper. A depend of 12 used to be recorded on 3rd
and once more at the 11th. Ardley got here shut regardless that with 11 birds
at the 14th, while an extra 8 websites hosted singles and small
teams all the way through the month. Commonplace Sandpiper had been additionally in a similar fashion
well-liked with 7 websites webhosting birds. Farmoor hosted essentially the most birds, as
it regularly does, the place a most depend of 8 had been provide at the 2nd.
The remainder websites hosted both singles or pairs with birds reported up till
the 20th of the month. Redshank information, outdoor of Otmoor
this is, got here from two websites this month – two at Farmoor at the 9th
and a unmarried fowl at Port Meadow at the 23rd. There have been 3 Greenshank at Farmoor at the thirteenth.
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| Farmoor Greenshank, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
Wildfowl & Recreation and many others
Every other normally quiet duration
for this workforce, despite the fact that the indicators of the upcoming seasonal exchange are all
round with numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Pintail at the build up
throughout a number of websites throughout the county’s borders. Amplifying this seasonal
exchange used to be the coming of a flock of 8 Whooper Swan at Farmoor on
the 28th of the month, despite the fact that those had been very temporary guests and
obviously in search of higher pastures.
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| Farmoor Whoopers, courtesy of Ian Stewart |
The aforementioned 10 Commonplace Scoter got here
thru Farmoor at the 5th, having a look very just like they had been
completely playing the biblical climate, in contrast to the assembled birders on web site.
A feminine, probably a lagger on, remained on web site from the 7th
till the tenth of the month.
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| The feminine Commonplace Scoter courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
Shelduck had been provide at handiest
two websites this month, with Farmoor webhosting birds at the 4th
and 18th, while Cassington GP’s additionally had a unmarried fowl 19th.
A tantalising file of six Brent Goose got here from Henley-on-Thames on
the 29th, nevertheless it transpires that those birds had been simply over into the
Greenbacks border despite the fact that given the proximity it kind of feels not going those birds
didn’t no less than in short dip into Oxon airspace.
Pink-crested Pochard had been
provide at two websites this month – Farmoor at the 7th and Cassington GP’s on
the nineteenth, while 3 websites recorded Mandarin with as much as 5 at
Sonning Eye GP’s, one at Pit 60 and every other on the vintage web site
of Blenheim on the finish of the month. Proceeding the plastic theme, the Ross’s
Goose this is from time to time reported within the county used to be at Port Meadow on
the 24th.
Herons, egrets and many others
The former months Shag persisted
into the primary few days of the month, contributing to the cracking day checklist of
that got here from Farmoor at the 2nd. The fowl apparently
departed the web site by means of the morning of the 4th, which used to be a aid
given the state the fowl regarded within the first couple days of its keep. The
long-staying Shiny Ibis persisted at Otmoor, with the fowl
reported till no less than the 15th despite the fact that given its proclivity for
disappearing, there’s each and every likelihood that it is going to proceed its 5 month keep in
the county.
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| The long-staying Otmoor Shiny Ibis, courtesy of Mark Chivers |
Even if hardly ever discussed in those critiques, Bittern is a
very notable fowl clear of Otmoor in spite of the inhabitants apparently
booming there. Pinkhill Reserve, at Farmoor, looked to be an
sexy prospect for a short lived discuss with by means of a person at the 8th,
however used to be handiest observed for a pair hours ahead of departing. Pit 60 additionally
hosted a fowl later within the month at the 23rd, in what may well be the
identical particular person in search of a wintry weather house.
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| The Pinkhill Bittern, courtesy of Trudi Rowland |
Farm animals Egret persisted to
be well-liked and a lot of within the county, with no less than 8 websites recording birds
this month. Otmoor remained where to be for massive counts of the
species, basically returning to roost all through the night vigils. A brand new county
file fell at the 11th when at least 70 people had been
counted into roost. With numbers falling to 50 at the 13th and down
to a ‘lowly’ 30 at the 24th. The one different web site to record a double
digit depend got here from Pit 60 with 11 at the 6th of the month,
with all different websites recording smaller teams. Nice White Egret had been even
extra well-liked with at least 12 websites webhosting birds in September. A
prime depend got here once more from Otmoor the place 5 had been provide at the 17th,
with handiest Cassington GP’s coming on the subject of this with 3 provide at the
2nd. The remainder websites hosted both singles or pairs all the way through
the month.
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| Woodstock Farm animals Egret courtesy of Gareth Cashburn |
Passerines
In what must have realistically
been the spotlight of the month, and in all probability even the 12 months had it been extra
approaching, the county’s first Dipper in just about a decade and a part used to be
found in Witney at the 13th, albeit very in short. A right kind
county mega that will have proved to be a very talked-about fowl had it been in any respect
twitchable, the ultimate fowl got here again in 2011 additionally in Witney. In spite of a
thorough seek of the world, which proved to be rather mistaken for the
species, and a few spaces the ultimate fowl frequented up river no signal of the fowl
used to be discovered. This isn’t solely sudden, because the ultimate fowl within the county
used to be an excessively difficult fowl to catch up. Many birders took no less than a couple of makes an attempt
at seeing it, the place it by no means remained in a single position for extraordinarily lengthy, with one
birder reportedly taken 17 instances to meet up with it!!
The primary Pied Flycatcher of
the 12 months used to be provide at Days Lock at the 7th however used to be
normally elusive and flighty all through its keep. Every other fowl used to be
then provide the next day in Sutton over within the west of the county
in what can be every other classically elusive fowl that stayed just for an afternoon. The
first Rock Pipit of the fall arrived at Farmoor at the 26th
of the month, a vintage early spring or mid-autumn species, this one used to be a tad
previous within the season than is anticipated. This lone fowl remained till no less than
the 29th.
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| Farmoor Rock Pipit, courtesy of Ben Sheldon |
The 14th of the month noticed Woodstock play
host to a phenomenal Black Redstart on a rather far flung farm at the outskirts
of town. In contrast to the years earlier information to this point, this particular person took a
liking to its setting and remained till the top of the month and
persisted into October, permitting a variety of folks to catch up it.
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| The Woodstock Black Redstart courtesy of Gareth Cashburn |
Commoner passerines persisted to
move in the course of the county in first rate numbers, despite the fact that the height numbers had
obviously already moved thru Oxfordshire the former month and
motion this month had just about stopped by means of the center of the September. Redstart
information got here from 5 websites in September, with all information coming between 1st
and a pair ofnd at Woodstock, Gramps Hill, Port Meadow, Grimsbury Reservoir and
Ardley. Whinchat had been a little bit extra well-liked and a lot of with as much as 8
websites enjoying host to 1 extra birds this month. Oxfordshire Golfing Membership hosted
the best quantity the place 5 had been provide at the 4th, while Appleford
GP’s had at least 3 at the 7th. All different websites had 1-2
birds with the Churn having the ultimate file at the 16th. Wheatear
normally had been essentially the most well-liked and a lot of of the 3 species, with
no less than 12 websites having birds in September. Oxfordshire Golfing Membership once more
hosted the best depend with 3 right here additionally at the 4th of the
month, despite the fact that Childrey Box additionally had 3 yesterday. Nearly
all information got here by means of the 15th of the month, however Curbridge hosted
a fairly past due fowl at the 29th.
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| Lye Valley Noticed Flycatcher, courtesy of Tom Bedford |
A tough species to meet up with
outdoor of the Downs a number of Tree Pipit moved in the course of the county at
each ends of the month. As is conventional with this species the one clue to its
presence is the overhead ‘sphiz’ name as they transfer thru a web site. Otmoor
had one the 6th, Letcombe Basset one at the 14th
and Wolvercote had two at the 29th. One file I forgot to
point out within the earlier assessment duration used to be a reasonably city file of a Tree
Pipit on one birders neighbours roof on the finish of August, a truly
nice lawn tick! Huge counts of roosting Yellow Wagtail persisted to
be reported from Otmoor despite the fact that numbers had been down at the earlier
months superb numbers. The roost counts right here ranged between 140 and 200
between the twond and 11th of the month, while a smaller
however nonetheless spectacular depend of 70 got here from Oxfordshire Golfing Membership at the 4th. As much as 50 had been additionally observed at Port Meadow originally of the month.
City Tree Pipit – Gareth Casburn
With massive actions of Hirundine
transferring in the course of the county all through the sessions of inclement climate, on occasion in
the various masses, it isn’t sudden that a couple of past due Swift information
additionally were given dragged thru from time to time. Those had been all confined to Farmoor, the place
the biggest numbers of Hirundine additionally had been concentrated, with unmarried birds on
the 7th and 14th and a trio of birds provide at the 10th
and 11th of the month. After all, extra amplification of the seasonal exchange
got here with the primary, and early, file of Redwing for the county with a
unmarried fowl at Aston Eyot in Oxford at the 28th,
adopted by means of two birds at Curbridge at the identical day. A Fieldfare used to be
additionally provide within the county at the 28th at Bablockhythe and it
gained’t be lengthy now till the county and nation are inundated with each species
for the wintry weather duration, with the ever-present nocturnal ‘Tseep’ name filling
the night time sky.
Gulls and Terns
As already
discussed September has been a reasonably epic month for this workforce, with
the twond and 5th of the month enjoying host to 5 species
of Tern, 2 species of the rarer Gulls and a unmarried Skua species.
Out of doors of the aforementioned days September persisted to play host to
a number of species all the way through the early and latter portions of the month. The huge
flock of Little Tern, provide at the 5th, had dissipated by means of
the next day with ‘handiest’ 3 birds right here at the 6th, despite the fact that
by means of the top of the day those birds had departed additionally. Black Tern had been the
maximum a lot of and well-liked of the Tern species in September. After
the 17 provide on Farmoor at the 2nd birds had been provide on
and rancid till the 24th, despite the fact that probably the latter information at the
18th and 24th had been other to the flocks within the early
a part of the month between the twond and sixth. The lone Sandwich
Tern provide at Farmoor at the 2nd of the month used to be
adopted up by means of a lone fowl on Pit 60 at the 7th, while Arctic
Tern had been provide at Farmoor at the 2nd, 23rd
and 24th of the month with every other file from Grimsbury
Reservoir at the 11th. Little Gull had been additionally most commonly
confined to Farmoor this month with a fowl provide at the 1st
and a pair ofnd of September with a probably other 1st
wintry weather fowl provide within the Gull roost at the 27th. The strangest
file got here from Magdalen Faculty enjoying fields at the 28th
with a 1st wintry weather picked out of the Gulls loafing right here all through
the day and used to be probably the fowl from Farmoor relocating.
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| Farmoor Little Gull courtesy of Paul Willis |
Commonplace Tern persisted
to transport in the course of the county in smaller numbers this month, with Farmoor webhosting
12 at the 2nd and four at the 24th. Ardley additionally noticed
birds at the 2nd with two provide, while Pit 60 hosted 3
at the 22nd expanding to 9 23rd. Caspian Gull persisted
to be solely confined to Farmoor this month with two juveniles provide
at the 4th and the 21st, while a unmarried juvenile used to be provide
off and on for almost all of the month. The one Mediterranean Gull file
got here from Farmoor this month the place a lone wintry weather plumage juvenile used to be provide
at the 24th.
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| The long-staying Farmoor Caspian Gull courtesy of Ewan Urquhart |
Raptors
Two information of Osprey got here, inevitably,
from Farmoor this month with a unmarried fowl provide and noticed fishing
at the 4th and every other flythrough fowl at the 24th. Proceeding
the wintry weather really feel for the top of the month, the primary Merlin of the duration
got here by means of Yelford at the 29th, with surely extra to come back in
the approaching months.
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| Farmoor Osprey courtesy of Dave Murphy |
Every other fascinating Marsh Harrier file
got here this month, with a wing-tagged particular person provide at Pit 60. This
fowl used to be ringed within the nest previous this 12 months in Cambridgeshire at the
14th June. This being the 5th particular person provide
at Pit 60 in fresh months, a apparently essential transit web site for the
species as they transfer between websites. Readers will probably be happy to understand that at
least considered one of ‘our’ faded Marsh Harrier juveniles continues to continue to exist in
the broader nation. The fowl that grew to become up at Slimbridge early ultimate month
continues to delight the native birders there and is apparently now not but affected
adversely by means of the vulnerable feathers it has evolved. No information of the twond
fowl but, sadly, however I can do my perfect to carry you information if any is
approaching.
Patchwork problem
|
Patch |
Birder |
Issues |
Species |
Spotlight |
|
Aston eyot |
Ben Sheldon |
77 |
75 |
Redwing |
|
Ardley ERF |
Gareth Casburn |
107 |
97 |
Little Stint and Commonplace Tern |
|
Dix pit |
Simon Bradfield |
78 |
70 |
|
|
Grimsbury reservoir |
Gareth Blockley |
117 |
107 |
Nice White Egret |
|
Lye valley |
Tom Bedford |
77 |
74 |
Stonechat |
|
River Thames |
Geoff Wyatt |
|
|
|
|
Sutton Courtenay |
Conor MacKenzie |
139 |
121 |
Whinchat, Farm animals Egret, Redwing |
|
Radley GP’s |
Ian Elkins |
|
|
|
|
Freeland |
Glen Pascoe |
85 |
73 |
Kingfisher, Teal, Marsh Tit |
|
South Hinksey |
Alex Figueiredo |
|
|
|
|
Cholsey |
Alan Dawson |
111 |
104 |
Marsh Harrier |
This month’s Photograph of the Month is that this surprising Barn Owl captured by means of Colm O’Brien.
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| Courtesy of Colm O’Brien |