Oxon Birding Weblog: September Evaluation

Highlights

September, the month the place
something can occur and simply sometimes the seemingly unthinkable does
occur. A working example for that is the passing of the two^nd
anniversary of the counties first, and the nation’s 26^th, Widespread
Nighthawk. A extra typical September although, can nonetheless present native birders
with days to recollect, significantly if the situations are proper. Usually,
these basic birding days are had at someplace the place energetic migration will be
simply seen. For many this implies heading both to an elevated level or a
coastal headland, however for Oxon this often means heading to Farmoor.
The primary week of September offered the county, and Farmoor, with
two basic birding days, the kind of days inland birders dwell for and dwell
lengthy within the reminiscence.

The primary of those ‘basic’ days
got here on the two^nd September with an impressive day record produced after
sustained effort by a number of birders:

Black Tern – 17
Little Stint
Shag
Little Gull
Sandwich Tern
Arctic Tern
Widespread Tern – 12
Gray Plover
Whimbrel
Greenshank – 7
Ringed Plover – 7
Ruff
Sanderling
Dunlin
Inexperienced Sandpiper
Widespread Sandpiper – 8

 ·    Anybody that has spent greater than a
few hours at Farmoor can attest to the websites frequent tendency for bleakness. However its skill to supply days like this with the occasional rarity
thrown in it’s what retains pulling people again to the concrete bowl, and at the present time
was a prelude of higher issues to return. Wild climate throughout the nation, up
till the 5^th September, coincided with some giant seabird
passage which at all times will get the inland birding gears whirring, and so it was that
an early morning go to to Farmoor produced the primary correct rarity of
the yr – an Arctic Skua. The primary since 2019, with solely one other
report within the final decade, this was a correct county rarity that might clearly
be a well-liked hen. With a crowd assembled, many acquired to get pleasure from watching this ‘pirate
of the ocean’. An grownup intermediate morph, it by no means appeared very similar to it was
going to remain lengthy sometimes wanting prefer it had departed the reservoir solely
to return just a few moments later. 

The Arctic Skua, above and under courtesy of Roger Wyatt

With the worsening climate approaching, extra
birds had been been pushed by the county, with flock of beforehand unseen Widespread
Scoter flew into view while people had been having fun with the Skua, a becoming
scene given the deteriorating climate – Scoter are the one species to
my eye that appear to be they actually get pleasure from a storm! Often, a Caspian
Gull started mobbing the Arctic Skua when out of the blue a flock of seven
Little Tern additionally traversed the location, a lot to the delight of the
assembled crow, and doubtlessly a brand new report rely for the species within the
county! 

The Skua being mobbed by the Caspian Gull, courtesy of Roger Wyatt

Above and under, the Little Terns courtesy of Roger Wyatt

The climate then acquired really biblical, with solely the courageous sticking it
out the virtually sideway rain, by 4pm normality had returned and everybody
together with the Skua had departed the location – a very basic day of
birding within the county! 

Above and under, “biblical” rain courtesy of Justin Taylor

Waders

September sometimes
delivers the majority of our wader data each in amount and high quality and this
yr didn’t disappoint. The principle spotlight was the arrival of a Noticed
Redshank at Otmoor on the 21^st, a not at all times annual
species within the county, this one was sadly already totally into winter
plumage on arrival. The hen remained on web site till the 30^th. 

The Noticed Redshank courtesy of Paul Wilkinson

Extra Little
Stint data got here within the early a part of the month with a single hen on Farmoor
from the 1^st till the three^rd of the month. Ardley continued
its good run of current type with a pair of Little Stint on the two^nd,
with each remaining till the three^rd. 

The Farmoor Little Stint, above courtesy of Mark Chivers, under Ben Sheldon

Ben Sheldon

A pair of Knot had been a pleasant
addition to the county yr record, one other species that’s solely close to annual
throughout the boundaries of Oxfordshire, though each solely remained for
the only day on the 17^th. One other species that was a brief stayer got here
within the type of a single fly by Gray Plover, additionally on the two^nd,
though lately this species has wintered frequently within the county so
this most likely gained’t be the final one we’ll see this yr. 

Farmoor Knot, courtesy of Ben Sheldon

Turnstone data got here, as
ever, from Farmoor solely with a most of two on the 6^th.
Singles had been recorded on the 1^st, 5^th and eight^th
it appears doubtless that it was most likely the identical hen for frequenting the location. Sanderling
had been additionally restricted to the concrete bowl this month, with a single hen
current on web site between the 1^st and 4^th of the month,
while a lone Whimbrel flew by the location throughout the epic passage day
on the two^nd. Greenshank had been somewhat bit extra widespread in
the county with no less than 3 websites internet hosting birds. The primary of the month got here
from Pit 60 on the 1^st, while Farmoor hosted the majority
of data with no less than one current between the two^nd and 16^th
of the month and a most of seven right here on the two^nd. Cassington
GPs hosted the one different report this month with a single right here on the 17^th.
 Ruff had been confined to 2 websites
in September with Farmoor internet hosting a lone hen between the two^nd
and three^rd and a pair of birds on the 19^th. Ardley additionally
hosted a lone hen between the 4^th and eight^th with
presumably a special hen current on the 17^th of the month. 

Farmoor Ruff, courtesy of CJ Kearns

Ringed Plover had been additionally
totally confined to Farmoor this month with data from 11 days
between the two^nd and the 21^st, with the best rely
coming from the two^nd with seven though 5 had been additionally right here on the
18^th. Dunlin adopted the same sample with birds current at
Farmoor on 13 days between the 1^st and the 21^st. A
good double digit rely was recorded on the ten^th with 13 current,
however other than this most studies associated to singles and small teams. Black-tailed
Godwit had a poor displaying this month with solely two data bookending the
month. A pair had been current at Pit 60 on the two^nd and a trio
had been then at Otmoor on the 28^th. 

Ringed Plover at Farmoor, courtesy of Geoff Dymott

Inexperienced Sandpiper had been
sometimes widespread this month, though numbers and websites had been down,
presumably as birds start to ascertain winter territories and subordinate birds
are kicked off essentially the most prime areas. The max rely for the county got here from
Bicester Wetlands Reserve, which continues to reign supreme because the
premier web site for passage Inexperienced Sandpiper. A rely of 12 was recorded on 3^rd
and once more on the 11^th. Ardley got here shut although with 11 birds
on the 14^th, while an extra 8 websites hosted singles and small
teams all through the month. Widespread Sandpiper had been additionally equally
widespread with 7 websites internet hosting birds. Farmoor hosted essentially the most birds, as
it usually does, the place a most rely of eight had been current on the two^nd.
The remaining websites hosted both singles or pairs with birds reported up till
the 20^th of the month. Redshank data, outdoors of Otmoor
that’s, got here from two websites this month – two at Farmoor on the 9^th
and a single hen at Port Meadow on the 23^rd.  There have been three Greenshank at Farmoor on the thirteenth.

Farmoor Greenshank, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Wildfowl & Recreation and many others

One other sometimes quiet interval
for this group, though the indicators of the approaching seasonal change are all
round with numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Pintail on the rise
throughout a number of websites throughout the county’s borders. Amplifying this seasonal
change was the arrival of a flock of eight Whooper Swan at Farmoor on
the 28^th of the month, though these had been very transient guests and
clearly on the lookout for higher pastures. 

Farmoor Whoopers, courtesy of Ian Stewart

The aforementioned 10 Widespread Scoter got here
by Farmoor on the 5^th, wanting very very similar to they had been
totally having fun with the biblical climate, in contrast to the assembled birders on web site.
A feminine, presumably a lagger on, remained on web site from the 7^th
till the ten^th of the month. 

The feminine Widespread Scoter courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Shelduck had been current at solely
two websites this month, with Farmoor internet hosting birds on the 4^th
and 18^th, while Cassington GP’s additionally had a single hen 19^th.
A tantalising report of six Brent Goose got here from Henley-on-Thames on
the 29^th, however it transpires that these birds had been simply over into the
Bucks border though given the proximity it appears unlikely these birds
didn’t no less than briefly dip into Oxon airspace.

Purple-crested Pochard had been
current at two websites this month – Farmoor on the 7^th and Cassington GP’s on
the 19^th, while 3 websites recorded Mandarin with as much as 5 at
Sonning Eye GP’s, one at Pit 60 and one other on the basic web site
of Blenheim on the finish of the month. Persevering with the plastic theme, the Ross’s
Goose that’s sometimes reported within the county was at Port Meadow on
the 24^th.

Herons, egrets and many others

The earlier months Shag continued
into the primary few days of the month, contributing to the cracking day record of
that got here from Farmoor on the two^nd. The hen seemingly
departed the location by the morning of the 4^th, which was a aid
given the state the hen appeared within the first couple days of its keep. The
long-staying Shiny Ibis continued at Otmoor, with the hen
reported till no less than the 15^th though given its proclivity for
disappearing, there’s each likelihood that it’s going to proceed its 5 month keep in
the county.

The long-staying Otmoor Shiny Ibis, courtesy of Mark Chivers

Though hardly ever talked about in these evaluations, Bittern is a
very notable hen away from Otmoor regardless of the inhabitants seemingly
booming there. Pinkhill Reserve, at Farmoor, appeared to be an
engaging prospect for a short go to by a person on the 8^th,
however was solely seen for a pair hours earlier than departing. Pit 60 additionally
hosted a hen later within the month on the 23^rd, in what may very well be the
similar particular person on the lookout for a winter house. 

The Pinkhill Bittern, courtesy of Trudi Rowland

Cattle Egret continued to
be widespread and quite a few within the county, with no less than 8 websites recording birds
this month. Otmoor remained the place to be for big counts of the
species, primarily returning to roost throughout the night vigils. A brand new county
report fell on the 11^th when a minimal of 70 people had been
counted into roost. With numbers falling to 50 on the 13^th and down
to a ‘lowly’ 30 on the 24^th. The one different web site to report a double
digit rely got here from Pit 60 with 11 on the 6^th of the month,
with all different websites recording smaller teams. Nice White Egret had been even
extra widespread with a minimal of 12 websites internet hosting birds in September. A
excessive rely got here once more from Otmoor the place 5 had been current on the 17^th,
with solely Cassington GP’s coming near this with three current on the
2^nd. The remaining websites hosted both singles or pairs all through
the month. 

Woodstock Cattle Egret courtesy of Gareth Cashburn

Passerines

In what ought to have realistically
been the spotlight of the month, and probably even the yr had it been extra
forthcoming, the county’s first Dipper in almost a decade and a half was
current in Witney on the 13^th, albeit very briefly. A correct
county mega that might have proved to be a very fashionable hen had it been in any respect
twitchable, the final hen got here again in 2011 additionally in Witney. Regardless of a
thorough search of the world, which proved to be pretty unsuitable for the
species, and a few areas the final hen frequented up river no signal of the hen
was discovered. This isn’t totally shocking, because the final hen within the county
was a really tough hen to catch up. Many birders took no less than just a few makes an attempt
at seeing it, the place it by no means remained in a single place for very lengthy, with one
birder reportedly taken 17 occasions to meet up with it!!

The primary Pied Flycatcher of
the yr was current at Days Lock on the 7^th however was
sometimes elusive and flighty in the course of its keep. One other hen was
then current the next day in Sutton over within the west of the county
in what can be one other classically elusive hen that stayed just for a day. The
first Rock Pipit of the autumn arrived at Farmoor on the 26^th
of the month, a basic early spring or mid-autumn species, this one was a tad
earlier within the season than is anticipated. This lone hen remained till no less than
the 29^th.

Farmoor Rock Pipit, courtesy of Ben Sheldon

The 14^th of the month noticed Woodstock play
host to a stunning Black Redstart on a reasonably distant farm on the outskirts
of the city. In contrast to the years earlier data to date, this particular person took a
liking to its environment and remained till the tip of the month and
continued into October, permitting loads of people to catch up it. 

The Woodstock Black Redstart courtesy of Gareth Cashburn

Commoner passerines continued to
move by the county in respectable numbers, though the height numbers had
clearly already moved by Oxfordshire the earlier month and
motion this month had just about stopped by the center of the September. Redstart
data got here from 5 websites in September, with all data coming between 1^st
and a pair of^nd at Woodstock, Gramps Hill, Port Meadow, Grimsbury Reservoir and
Ardley. Whinchat had been somewhat extra widespread and quite a few with as much as 8
websites taking part in host to 1 extra birds this month. Oxfordshire Golf Membership hosted
the best quantity the place 5 had been current on the 4^th, while Appleford
GP’s had a minimal of three on the 7^th. All different websites had 1-2
birds with the Churn having the final report on the 16^th. Wheatear
sometimes had been essentially the most widespread and quite a few of the three species, with
no less than 12 websites having birds in September. Oxfordshire Golf Membership once more
hosted the best rely with three right here additionally on the 4^th of the
month, though Childrey Area additionally had three the day before today. Virtually
all data got here by the 15^th of the month, however Curbridge hosted
a fairly late hen on the 29^th. 

Lye Valley Noticed Flycatcher, courtesy of Tom Bedford

A difficult species to meet up with
outdoors of the Downs a number of Tree Pipit moved by the county at
each ends of the month. As is typical with this species the one clue to its
presence is the overhead ‘sphiz’ name as they transfer by a web site. Otmoor
had one the 6^th, Letcombe Basset one on the 14^th
and Wolvercote had two on the 29^th. One report I forgot to
point out within the earlier evaluate interval was a considerably city report of a Tree
Pipit on one birders neighbours roof on the finish of August, a very
nice backyard tick! Massive counts of roosting Yellow Wagtail continued to
be reported from Otmoor though numbers had been down on the earlier
months superb numbers. The roost counts right here ranged between 140 and 200
between the two^nd and 11^th of the month, while a smaller
however nonetheless spectacular rely of 70 got here from Oxfordshire Golf Membership on the 4^th.  As much as 50 had been additionally seen at Port Meadow initially of the month.

City Tree Pipit – Gareth Casburn

With giant actions of Hirundine
transferring by the county throughout the intervals of inclement climate, typically in
the numerous lots of, it isn’t shocking that just a few late Swift data
additionally acquired dragged by sometimes. These had been all confined to Farmoor, the place
the biggest numbers of Hirundine additionally had been concentrated, with single birds on
the 7^th and 14^th and a trio of birds current on the ten^th
and 11^th of the month. Lastly, extra amplification of the seasonal change
got here with the primary, and early, report of Redwing for the county with a
single hen at Aston Eyot in Oxford on the 28^th,
adopted by two birds at Curbridge on the identical day. A Fieldfare was
additionally current within the county on the 28^th at Bablockhythe and it
gained’t be lengthy now till the county and nation are inundated with each species
for the winter interval, with the ever current nocturnal ‘Tseep’ name filling
the night time sky.

Gulls and Terns

As already
talked about September has been a considerably epic month for this group, with
the two^nd and 5^th of the month taking part in host to 5 species
of Tern, 2 species of the rarer Gulls and a single Skua species.
Outdoors of the aforementioned days September continued to play host to
a number of species all through the early and latter components of the month. The massive
flock of Little Tern, current on the 5^th, had dissipated by
the next day with ‘solely’ three birds right here on the 6^th, though
by the tip of the day these birds had departed additionally. Black Tern had been the
most quite a few and widespread of the Tern species in September. After
the 17 current on Farmoor on the two^nd birds had been current on
and off till the 24^th, though presumably the latter data on the
18^th and 24^th had been completely different to the flocks within the early
a part of the month between the two^nd and 6^th. The lone Sandwich
Tern current at Farmoor on the two^nd of the month was
adopted up by a lone hen on Pit 60 on the 7^th, while Arctic
Tern had been current at Farmoor on the two^nd, 23^rd
and 24^th of the month with one other report from Grimsbury
Reservoir on the 11^th. Little Gull had been additionally principally
confined to Farmoor this month with a hen current on the 1^st
and a pair of^nd of September with a presumably completely different 1^st
winter hen current within the Gull roost on the 27^th. The strangest
report got here from Magdalen Faculty taking part in fields on the 28^th
with a 1^st winter picked out of the Gulls loafing right here throughout
the day and was presumably the hen from Farmoor relocating. 

Farmoor Little Gull courtesy of Paul Willis

Widespread Tern continued
to maneuver by the county in smaller numbers this month, with Farmoor internet hosting
12 on the two^nd and 4 on the 24^th. Ardley additionally noticed
birds on the two^nd with two current, while Pit 60 hosted three
on the 22^nd growing to 9 23^rd. Caspian Gull continued
to be totally confined to Farmoor this month with two juveniles current
on the 4^th and the 21^st, while a single juvenile was current
on and off for almost all of the month. The one Mediterranean Gull report
got here from Farmoor this month the place a lone winter plumage juvenile was current
on the 24^th. 

The long-staying Farmoor Caspian Gull courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

 Raptors

Two data of Osprey got here, inevitably,
from Farmoor this month with a single hen current and noticed fishing
on the 4^th and one other flythrough hen on the 24^th. Persevering with
the winter really feel for the tip of the month, the primary Merlin of the interval
got here by way of Yelford on the 29^th, with actually extra to return in
the approaching months. 

Farmoor Osprey courtesy of Dave Murphy

One other fascinating Marsh Harrier report
got here this month, with a wing-tagged particular person current at Pit 60. This
hen was ringed within the nest earlier this yr in Cambridgeshire on the
14^th June. This being the 5^th particular person current
at Pit 60 in current months, a seemingly vital transit web site for the
species as they transfer between websites. Readers will probably be happy to know that at
least one in every of ‘our’ pale Marsh Harrier juveniles continues to outlive in
the broader nation. The hen that turned up at Slimbridge early final month
continues to please the native birders there and is seemingly not but affected
adversely by the weak feathers it has developed. No information of the two^nd
hen but, sadly, however I’ll do my finest to carry you information if any is
forthcoming. 

Patchwork problem

This month’s Picture of the Month is that this gorgeous Barn Owl captured by Colm O’Brien.

Courtesy of Colm O’Brien