Oxon Birding Weblog: November Assessment

 Highlights

Properly nicely nicely! Which of us had
Booted Eagle on our radars for the Oxon listing?! And in November no much less?!
Oxfordshire has typically punched above its weight when it comes to large rarities, see
Nighthawk 2022, Oriental Turtle Dove 2011, or Baltimore Oriole 2009 and so on, however in
phrases of unexpectedness this has acquired to be near, if not at, the very prime of
that listing!

Information was initially sluggish to get
out, with it first showing on the thirty first October at Warburg, however with the
finder wanting stable proof earlier than releasing to the broader public (see – https://www.birdguides.com/articles/britain-ireland/rarity-finders-booted-eagle-in-the-chilterns).
With a 2nd birder now on the case it was seen once more the next day however this
time simply over the border at Remenham Hill, Berks. The 2nd confirmed sighting
was sufficient to mobilise folks and the beginnings of sizeable twitch was fashioned.
Day 3 noticed teams of birders stationed at numerous vantage factors across the
Chilterns centred on the final confirmed sighting at Remenham Hill. With so many
boots on the bottom and eyes to the sky, it took just a few hours for the primary
sighting to come back via, this time from Aston – a number of hundred metres into
Berkshire. And so started a sport of chase the eagle throughout the Chiltern
panorama. Over the next two hours the chook ranged between Oxon, Berks
and even Bucks briefly. By lunchtime, nevertheless, it had finished a disappearing act
once more with the final confirmed sighting coming from Henley-on-Thames firmly on
the Oxon facet of the border. Subsequent sightings remained unconfirmed with no
stable stories the next day, though a couple of possible sightings had been
reported from Oxon, Berks and Bucks! 

The Booted Eagle, photographed in Berkshire courtesy of Richard Bonser

Given its relative
inconspicuousness, the abundance of habitat and minimal vantage factors this was
all the time going to be, within the phrases of 1 native birder, “actually onerous to twitch”.
Fortune favoured the primary responders although, with no less than 3 of the native
birders managing to attach and put it tentatively on their Oxon listing. I don’t
want to inform most that Booted Eagle has a sophisticated place within the British
birding lore. A well-documented chook in 1999, having toured Eire and Britain
from the far south to far north via to 2000. This chook stays
controversial because it was by no means accepted onto the British listing regardless of many folks
believing it deserves to be there. Since then an additional 35 claims have come
since then, together with no less than a dozen very stable claims. 2024 has really
seen a spate of data with a darkish morph current in Nanquindo, Cornwall in
spring adopted by a pale morph current in virtually the very same spot in early
October. While a darkish morph current in early September of this yr could very
nicely be “our” chook relocating and even the chook from spring?! Given this spate
of data, it appears probably the BBRC will look to reassess data and eventually
settle for Booted Eagle onto the British listing. Within the meantime, let’s hope our chook
reappears throughout the lean winter interval to offer us all one other crack of the
whip.

Waders

A surprisingly busy month in November
with a number of out of season species gracing the county’s border. Crimson Knot
had been current at three websites this month, though its not sure what number of
of those associated to the identical chook/s. The primary got here from Farmoor on the
2^nd with one other file on the 15^th, probably the identical chook
reappearing. A pair had been then additionally current at Days Lock on the ten^th,
with the brand new scrape proving a magnetic draw right here. Port Meadow then acquired
in on the motion on the very finish of the month with a single chook on the floods
on the 30^th, with it hanging on on the website till early December.
 

Farmoor Knot courtesy of Steve Liptrot

One other considerably unseasonal file got here from Lollingdon, the place a Sanderling
was current on the 6^th – a implausible file for any native patch
away from the concrete bowl of Farmoor Reservoir. 

Lollingdon Sanderling courtesy of Alan Dawson

One other pretty uncommon file was
a single Greenshank at Sonning Eye GPs on the ten^th,
most likely chook for that patch at any time of yr. Gray Plover had
an honest displaying with no less than three websites internet hosting birds, most likely regarding
no less than two totally different people. South Moreton continued to host a chook
associating with a bigger Golden Plover flock from the early a part of the
month till no less than the 19^th. Pit 60 had a single chook fly
via on the 15^th, not removed from the positioning that hosted two birds in
the winter final yr. Otmoor additionally hosted a single chook on the 16^th,
though you wouldn’t be stunned if there isn’t no less than one chook right here all
winter given the extent of the habitat and birds current. 

Gray Plover at Otmoor courtesy of Steve Sansom

Black-tailed Godwit had a
higher displaying this month with 4 websites internet hosting birds. Port Meadow had
a single chook on the 1^st, with the South Moreton floods
proving enticing as soon as extra when ten birds had been right here on the 19^th. Days
Lock had a pair of birds on the 22^nd for a short keep while Waterstock
additionally had a single chook on the 29^th. Dunlin had been additionally
current on 4 websites this month with Port Meadow proving essentially the most
enticing of the websites with a most of six current on the 7^th and
internet hosting birds from 4^th till the 18^th. Otmoor had
two birds current on the two^nd while South Moreton proving its
pull once more with two birds right here on the 14^th and 15^th. Days
Lock was the final website to host birds with two current on the 22^nd.
Jack Snipe season hasn’t fairly acquired underway but, with solely two websites internet hosting
birds this month. Bicester Wetlands had a single chook on the two^nd
while Waterstock acquired a uncommon pair of birds on the 17^th. 

Dunlin at Grimsbury Reservoir, courtesy of Adam Hartley

Inexperienced Sandpiper have
firmly established their winter territories in November with most websites
solely internet hosting single birds. At the very least seven websites had birds this month, with solely
Chipping Norton internet hosting multiple chook with three right here on the 13^th.
Frequent Sandpiper had been solely at one website this month and the place else however Farmoor.
It could be fascinating to know if this is identical wintering chook that has
been current on the website for the previous couple of years or whether or not there’s a flip over
of birds at this website throughout the winter months. 

Frequent Sandpiper at Farmoor courtesy of Steve Liptrot

Woodcock had been current on
six websites this month, with most birds noticed leaving roost websites within the early
night. A single Curlew was current on Port Meadow on the 5^th
and 6^th, while Redshank had been additionally current at Port Meadow on
the 6^th and seven^th with one other file coming from Days
Lock on the ten^th.

Wildfowl

The great thing about patch birding is
the hope that in case you put the hours in, something can flip up wherever even when it’s
simply transiting the positioning. With most of us having visiting Grimsbury Reservoir
this month for a sure county rarity, I can actually attest to a brand new
discovered admiration for the patch birders on the website. A pair of Velvet Scoter had been
current on the positioning from the two^nd of the month. A outstanding species for
such a small website and simply goes to point out the worth of placing within the onerous yards
on a website. A real inland mega, this was solely the fourth file of the species in
the county since 2009 with the final coming from the lengthy staying chook at Henley
Highway GPs from late 2021 to early 2022. As with earlier data these two 1^st
winter birds had a chronic keep from the two^nd till the 19^th,
permitting them to be loved by many native and out of county birders alike. 

The Velvet Scoter, above courtesy of Nick Truby and under courtesy of Steve Liptrot

As if that wasn’t sufficient and with
so many eyes on the positioning one other county rarity apparently flew over on the 16^th,
with a doable Nice Northern Diver. Though it remained unconfirmed,
it appears unlikely that it was the rest and in contrast to the Velvet Scoter it
didn’t fairly just like the look of the small reservoir within the north of the county. Considerably
extra stable, Whooper Swan got here from two websites this month. Otmoor performed
host to essentially the most data with a single chook current from the ten^th
till the 14^th, which was adopted by a pair of birds on the 26^th.
Port Meadow additionally had a few
data with a trio of birds current on the floods on the 11^th
adopted by a flock of seven flying via the positioning on the 17^th, in
what has been an awesome website for the species already this winter. 

Three Whooper Swans at Port Meadow courtesy of Adam Hartley

A lone Frequent Scoter was reported this month, additionally from Grimsbury and got here on the 6^th – clearly a part of wider displacement of coastal
birds throughout this era with Grimsbury
on their flight path. Goldeneye had been surprisingly extra widespread than is typical for this declining
species, with no less than 5 websites recording birds. Dix Pit, the positioning for the
species had a most of six on the 24^th, while Farmoor and Pit 60 hosted single birds this month, not stunning
given the proximity to the Dix
Pit. Extra stunning was a fly over
file from Sutton Courtenay on the 25^th and a lone chook at Grimsbury earlier within the month. Goosander
had been current at solely two websites this
month, two current at Days Lock between the 9^th and the 11^th
while Hinskey Lakes hosted six on the 25^th rising to
9 on the 27^th inlcuding some on the bogus pond at this very
city website.

Shelduck had been additionally current
at two websites – two at Days Lock on the 9^th and a single chook at Pit 60 on the 13^th. Crimson-crested
Pochard got here again to their normal
winter hang-out of Dix Pit in power with a excessive depend of 43 right here on the 24^th,
once more the query of the place these birds spend their summer season stays unanswered.
A single male was additionally current at Chinnor
on the 5^th. Additionally at Dix Pit an enormous depend of 200+ Pochard
was additionally current on the 24^th,
an awesome quantity given the species declining wintering inhabitants within the UK. Mandarin had been current at two websites – Ducklington
and Blenheim with the previous
presumably being the preferred Mandarin
within the county’s historical past! 

The Ducklington Mandarin  Courtesy of Connor Pimm.

Additionally on
the extra plastic entrance the feral Ross’s
Goose continued to seek out Port Meadow to its liking, together with the weird Gadwall X Wigeon hybrid
which was current within the early a part of the month. One other uncommon species
current within the county was a pair of Bar-headed
Goose at Waterstock on the 17^th. 

The Port Meadow “Gadgeon” courtesy of Thomas Miller

The Port Meadow feral Ross’ Goose courtesy of Thomas Miller

Herons, egrets and so on

Grimsbury Reservoir continued
to its high quality type with a flyover Shiny Ibis over the positioning on the ten^th
of the month, presumably the Otmoor chook lastly relocating from its
prolonged keep on the website. One other implausible patch chook for the native birders
there and nicely deserved too. On the extra normal entrance, Cattle Egret continued
to be current in pretty massive numbers this month and unfold moderately nicely
throughout the county. At the very least 9 websites hosted birds this month, with the fields
round Wytham and the A34 proving to be enticing winter feeding
grounds and normally following the cattle as they’re moved between fields for
winter pasture. These fields hosted as much as 20 birds all through the month, with
most different websites internet hosting singles and small teams though Otmoor hosted
no less than ten birds on the two^nd.

Nice White Egret had been
additionally widespread once more this month, with no less than eight websites internet hosting no less than
one chook in November. The most important depend got here once more from Otmoor on
the two^nd the place a minimal of eight birds had been current, together with the
ten Cattle Egret. Most different websites hosted both singles or pairs, however Blenheim
had no less than 4 birds current on the 11^th. As talked about within the
earlier evaluate any Bittern data away from Otmoor are a reasonably
extraordinary affair, significantly for native patch birders. A single chook in
flight being mobbed by Gulls over Hinskey Lake on the ten^th
of the month actually was an sudden prevalence! Once more, additional proof if
any was wanted that placing within the onerous yards are nicely price it, even on the
smallest or most city of patches. 

Hinksey Bittern courtesy of Alex Figueiredo

For the fourth yr in a row a Nice
Bustard graced the west Oxon Downs for the winter interval. Presumably
the identical chook current the earlier winter given its uncommon behaviour of
associating with the native Roe Deer. 

The Nice Bustard courtesy of Geoff Dymott

Passerines

A implausible month for this group
in November, with two county mega’s simply making it into the evaluate
interval on the very finish of the month. The 27^th of the month noticed the county’s
first twitchable Snow Bunting since 2017, though the final file got here
in 2021 with the information by no means put out on the time and for or that cause, this was
all the time going to be a well-liked chook. These in a position to react fast sufficient to the information
had been rewarded with implausible views of this sometimes showy species with some
superb pictures gripping these of us unavailable or in my case heading on a
prepare to Devon! Sadly for the remainder of us, the chook had departed in a single day
though you wouldn’t wager in opposition to it turning up once more elsewhere within the
county. 

The Farmoor Snow Bunting courtesy of Thomas Miller

courtesy of Jason Coppock

That seemed set to be our final correct
rarity of the yr, however Radley GP’s had different concepts when it turned up a
pair of Bearded Tit on the final minute on the 30^th. This
species, though rather more widespread within the winter months is definitely
arguably rarer within the final decade or so and definitely is tougher to pin down,
with solely two earlier data within the final 11 years, though the 2022 file
from the Balscote Quarry was a single day affair. With the weekend looming,
it appeared that these birds would show a quite common twitch for the county’s
birders and a vigil of the positioning was performed by some devoted folks Saturday –
Sunday however with no luck it appeared that they had gone. Fortunately they had been relocated
within the early a part of December, of which we can have extra particulars within the
remaining evaluate of the yr. 

A video seize of one of many elusive Bearded Tits courtesy of Ben Carpenter

After the file yr of Yellow-browed Warbler in
the county, the lengthy staying and infrequently showy chook in Abingdon proved
common within the early a part of the month for so long as it stayed, remaining on Jackman
Shut till no less than the three^rd. I think we’re not fairly finished with
Yellow-browed Warbler this yr, or no less than that’s what a few of us are
hoping for no less than. A really late Ring Ouzel was undoubtedly a shock
file this month, with a single corking male current on the Oxon Downs from
the 29^th till no less than the 30^th and this chook could proceed
to be current into the early a part of December.

The Ring Ouzel courtesy of Geoff Dymott

While the Yellow-browed
Warbler invasion has died down after a really busy October, the Hawfinch
invasion continued to please devoted patch birders and county twitchers
alike. A whopping 14 websites hosted birds throughout all elements of the county this
month, with loads of small flocks current throughout Oxon. The most important flocks
got here from Nice Tew, the positioning that has some respectable pulling energy for this
species even outdoors of invasion years, with numbers fluctuating between one and
11 birds all through the month. Center Assendon additionally hosted a reasonably
sizeable flock with 9 right here on the two^nd, discovered invariably while
folks had been out dipping on the Booted Eagle. However the by far the most important
got here from Woodstock on the 7^th the place no less than 19 had been current,
with birds often commuting between right here and the Blenheim Property the place
no less than eight had been current on the 5^th. The opposite websites to get in on
the motion, so as of after they had been recorded, had been Port Meadow, Henley-on-Thames,
Kidlington, Lockinge, Headington, Moreton Golf Membership, Grimsbury, Kingston Lilse,
Fyfield Wick and Ardington. 

A Hawfinch at Nice Tew courtesy of Steve Sansom

Courtesy of Julie Dickson

It has additionally been a superb
month for Black Redstart data with no fewer than six websites internet hosting
birds in November. Chinnor continued to host a single chook from the 1^st
and 5^th, with the two^nd chook seemingly departed the
earlier month. Harwell Lab, a basic however out of bounds website, additionally
hosted a single on the 1^st, while Farmoor had one on the 4^th
briefly. Peep-o-Day Lane had a feminine sort chook on the 13^th,
albeit disappointedly temporary and obscured by sewage therapy works. Probably the most
common particular person of the month, nevertheless, got here from Christchurch Meadows on
the 27^th. A surprising 1^st winter male in an equally
gorgeous background couldn’t be resisted as soon as it grew to become obvious it was staying
put for a short while – with it nonetheless being current as write. The final file
of the month got here West Ginge Down on the 28^th and certain the Harwell
Lab chook relocating, which might very nicely be the identical chook at a number of of
the above websites. 

The Black Redstart at Christ Church Meadows courtesy of Thomas Miller

A Rock Pipit performed 2^nd
fiddle to a lot of the above data this month, with two data from Farmoor
on the two^nd and 30^th and will very nicely be the identical
chook reappearing. One thing which might have induced a serious storm if it had
been pinned down was an obvious Swift sp. Flying over Didcot on
the 9^th. Given the lateness of the file, ideas of Pallid
Swift instantly on the thoughts – however sadly no distinguishing options
had been seen aside from the distinctive and unmistakable Swift silhouette. One other
very fascinating file got here from Peep-o-Day Lane on the 4^th
the place a Sand Martin was current on the sewage therapy works. Already
at this level the newest file of the species within the county it went on to remain
no less than one other 9 days (13^th) earlier than seemingly being lastly
moved on by a chilly snap – shifting baselines earlier than our very eyes! Additionally on the Hirundine
entrance was two late, however not fully remarkable, data of Swallow with
one over Farmoor on the 6^th and Leafield on the 9^th.

Gulls and Terns

By far and away
the standout file this month got here from Port Meadow on the 19^th,
the place fairly unbelievably a flock of 14 Kittiwake flew over the floods on
very chilly morning. A implausible file for the species even throughout the peak
passage durations, a flock this dimension is sort of remarkable throughout the winter
months. A part of nation large displacement of the species with a number of inland
websites recording ones or twos with the occasional flocks, the Port Meadow flock
was nonetheless the biggest one noticed throughout the nation. 

Among the 14 Kittiwakes over Port Meadow courtesy of Thomas Miller

Capsian Gull
had been discovered at a minimal of 4 websites this month, with the 2 common gull
roosts of Farmoor and Port Meadow producing a 1^st
winter on the 1^st and 25^th respectively. Ardley ERF hosted
two adults on the 17^th while two Cassington GPs on the 20^th.
A single Mediterranean Gull was additionally within the Port Meadow roost however
solely on the 1^st of the month and never thereafter. 

Port Meadow Mediterranean Gull courtesy of Adam Hartley

The ultimate fascinating
file additionally stemmed from Port Meadow with a possible candidate heinei
(Russian subspecies) Frequent Gull. An fascinating article on
identification will be discovered right here – https://gull-research.org/papers/papers8/2016heineiCommonGulls.pdf

The putative Heinei Russian Frequent Gull courtesy of Thomas Miller

Raptors

The winter raptor season acquired nicely
underway this month, with three data of Hen Harrier in November. A
ringtail was current within the south of the county on the 29^th plus a second ringtail on Otmoor. A cracking male was additionally current a little bit additional west at in a
more likely place close to the downs at Childrey Subject additionally on the 29^th.
Three data of Brief-eared Owl got here this month, solely one in every of which got here
from the downs on the 9^th at Lowbury Hill. Otmoor hosted its
normal single chook in direction of the tip of the month with a chook reported sporadically
between the 21^st and 30^th of the month. The ultimate file
got here from a presumed flyover chook at Ducklington on the 29^th.

Merlin data got here
from no less than three websites this month with Otmoor hosted one on the three^rd,
Thame STW on the 6^th and Fyfield Wick later within the
month on the 29^th. Data of Marsh Harrier away
from Otmoor got here 5 websites this month – Cassington GPs, Farmoor, two
over Freeland, Buckland and Rushy Fen. A remaining noteworthy file
got here from the Lye Valley the place a really city Barn Owl was the one
the two^nd on the website within the final 5 years – a implausible chook to have
in such an city location.

Patchwork problem

Conor Mackenzie

Photograph Of the Month

This month’s Photograph of the month award goes to Thomas Miller’s superb set of pictures of a pair of Peregrines harrasing all of the birds over the frozen Port Meadow floods. It is price trying on the total set which will be discovered on his weblog right here.

Port Meadow Peregrine courtesy of Thomas Miller

“Birds in Black & White” by Phil Barnett

A evaluate by Adam Hartley

I used to be fortunate sufficient to be given a duplicate of this e book by the writer himself, who has been a daily customer to my native patch of Port Meadow in current weeks. Most county birders will know Phil as a devoted birder who has discovered greater than his fair proportion of county rarities in his time. However again within the day, he was additionally a eager educational and he spent a good bit of time as an ornithologist, learning numerous elements of chook life. That is mirrored within the first a part of this e book which consists of some ideas on a few of his analysis over this section of his life. Whereas it was very fascinating and sometimes illustrated the writer’s personal enter and analysis ideas, it did make for barely miserable studying because it largely consisted of what number of chook species we’ve misplaced within the county over the a long time on account of numerous elements.  Nonetheless, that’s the harsh actuality that we stay in now. This part of the e book is written in an off-the-cuff and accessible fashion so regardless of it is barely educational material it is vitally readable.

The second half is extra cheery, consisting of a write up of varied prime county birding websites together with an off-the-cuff listing of among the key species which have been seen over time. Of specific curiosity to me had been the historic data for Port Meadow (typically sadly after having been shot – such was the style again then).

Tacked onto the tip of the e book is a brief part on among the quaint chook names and it finishes with a poem.

Nevertheless, what makes this e book particular are the pleasant drawings. They’re simply easy black and white pencil line drawings, so actually not more than caricatures of varied chook species and sometimes considerably cartoonish in nature. Nevertheless, regardless of their easy nature they by some means seize the essence of the species in order that it’s normally doable to determine them regardless of their simplicty. They are surely very interesting! The e book is liberally sprinkled all through with these throughoutdrawings and this, for me is the spotlight of the e book.

So, all in all, a great gift for anybody desirous about birds. The e book is revealed by Oxford Folio and will be purchased by following the hyperlink under. All proceeds go to RSPB Otmoor.
https://www.oxfordfolio.co.uk/Birds-in-Black-White