Oxon Birding Weblog: December evaluate

Rely 12 months Checklist Totals

Firstly, Merry Christmas everybody I hope you all had an important festive break and
that you just possibly even caught up with a rarity or two. I believe everybody can agree
that this 12 months has confirmed to be a superb 12 months rarity sensible, albeit with a sample
of high quality over amount. December solely added a single species to the
12 months tally taking the Oxon 12 months Checklist to a decent 211 for 2023, simply above
the typical of 210 for the reason that flip of the century. The pattern, nonetheless, continues
to be one in every of much less species recorded annually albeit with peaks and troughs (see
under). 

 

Species	Location	Date	Standing
American Wigeon	Port Meadow (relocated to Otmoor)	12th January – 29th March	First report since 2018 with the final twitchable hen in 2011
Lesser Scaup	Farmoor (with a short tour to Dix Pit)	2nd March – 23rd April	First report since 2008 with a number of hybrids since then.
Purple Heron	Pit 60	25th April	Recorded in 2021, 2016 and 2007
Black-crowned Evening Heron	Otmoor & Sutton Courtenay	30th April & 9th – 27th July	First report since 1976 (hen seen in 2000 doubtless escape)
Black-winged Stilt	Otmoor	6th Might	3rd report since 2000, all within the final decade.
Montagu’s Harrier	Otmoor	23rd Might	Extinct breeding species in Oxon with no pairs breeding within the UK for the final two years.
Pallid Harrier	Otmoor	9th September	2nd county report.

For these which can be on this type of factor, and I
depend myself in that class, alongside the usual county checklist, Oxon has
additionally recorded an extra 14 non-BOU species or subspecies in 2023. These
vary from Siberian Chiffchaff, which with the way in which issues go might find yourself
promoted to species standing one in every of nowadays, to reintroduced people from
not but sustainable populations such because the IoW White-tailed Eagle challenge
and all the way in which to the dodgier finish of the size with such beauties as Pink-breasted
Goose.

With all of the Waxwing motion up and down the nation
and even throughout the border in Northants and Bucks I had hoped in
this part to be writing about incredible flocks of this intrepid and
enigmatic hen loved by the plenty of the county birding scene. Sadly
for everybody, particularly so for those who have but to see one in Oxon, sightings
proved fleeting and though a number of have been reported via the month none
have been seen by anybody apart from the observers. As an alternative the standout rarity of
the month got here as soon as once more from Cote. Given the quantity of curiosity within the
website for the reason that earlier month and the willpower of 1 native birder to
stage a close to fixed vigil of the flooded fields, it appeared doubtless that the
website had the capability produce one thing additional. A Dotterel, nonetheless,
might not have been on the checklist of doubtless candidates. A really out of season hen
mingling amongst the hordes of Golden Plover was expertly picked out on
the 7^th, solely to vanish after being flushed. It proved very exhausting
then to pin down thereafter with the birds seemingly feeding or roosting
elsewhere for big durations of time, it reappeared briefly once more on the 8^th
solely to bunk by the afternoon permitting solely a choose few to attach earlier than
being misplaced for good. It’s a exceptional coincidence that the final Oxon Dotterel
was discovered nearly to the day two years in the past on Port Meadow (8^th
Dec 2021) earlier than relocating to Otmoor on New 12 months’s Eve. There’s some
hypothesis that they may even be the identical hen given the timings and
circumstances, though how doubtless that is I’ll go away to raised minds than my
personal. In any case, a cracking hen to see out the 12 months. 

Spot the Dotterel, courtesy of Mick Cunningham

Waders

Except for the aforementioned Dotterel
the principle wader curiosity once more got here from Cote via the month of December.
The 2 Gray Plover from November remained on website all through
the month, while a doable flock of birds flew via within the early a part of
the month added weight to the suspicion that there was greater than two birds
current all through December. A lone Ruff additionally continued to be
current on the floods sporadically with sightings on the 8^th, 9^th
and 15^th and infrequently within the presence of two Redshank which have been
current from the three^rd till the 16^th. Redshank have been
additionally current on Farmoor via the center of the month with two birds
on the causeway between the 12^th and 17^th.

Farmoor Redshank courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

 

The mega Dunlin flock
continued to feed on the floodwaters at Cote together with the hordes of Golden
Plover, though numbers wholly trusted the autumn and rise of water
ranges on website with birds presumably feeding within the abundance of habitat current
within the wider panorama. The height depend reached 280 on the 8^th
falling to a meagre 12 on the 14^th earlier than rising once more to 256 the
following day. A flock of 14 was additionally current on Port Meadow on the three^rd
rising to 16 on the 9^th earlier than lowering to single digits on the
13^th. A lone Black-tailed Godwit was additionally current on Port
Meadow on the three^rd however was not seen once more via the remainder of the
month.

Jack Snipe have been slightly
extra forthcoming this month with 4 information. The primary of which got here from a stunning
supply within the type of a path digital camera in city Didcot on the 1^st
of the month, with some incredible footage of this sometimes very shy species. A
couple of birds have been current on the flood meadows close to to Days Lock on
the two^nd affording wonderful views while Bicester Wetlands produced
a single hen noticed on the 12^th after which two birds on the 29^th.
Warneford Meadow in Oxford additionally obtained in on the motion with solely its 2^nd
report when a hen was flushed a few occasions on the 27^th, a presumably
extra basic remark than the earlier three information. Just one report of Woodcock
got here this month however it was of a whopping depend of 11 birds from Boarstall
Decoy presumably all flushed throughout a scientific stroll of the woods right here. 

Jack Snipe Didcot courtesy of Keith McDonald.

Jack Snipe courtesy of Nick Truby

Each Frequent and Inexperienced
Sandpiper information solely got here from one location this month Farmoor and
Bicester Wetlands respectively. A lone Frequent Sandpiper frequented
Farmoor for a lot of the December interval having taken up winter
residence right here for one more winter, while a Inexperienced Sandpiper was left on Bicester
Wetlands on the 7^th with a 2^nd hen noticed the next
day. 

Wildfowl and so on

The return of the pair of Bewick’s
Swan from the earlier month was a considerably sudden however good shock
for the native Otmoor birders this month. On no less than three events (3^rd,
15^th & 17^th) the pair returned to the primary display to
bathe and wash up earlier than departing, presumably the be a part of the Mute Swan herds
within the surrounding panorama. Given the infrequency of the sightings it’s extra
than doable the birds are nonetheless on the market inside the bigger Swan herds
having taken up their winter residency. 

Otmoor Bewick’s Swans, courtesy of Malcolm Bowey

With such a short sighting in November
it was with a lot aid when one other Nice Northern Diver turned up
on Farmoor on the 11^th. Fortunately this hen had the nice grace
to hold round lengthy sufficient to be loved by others and as of writing was nonetheless current
on F2 on the finish of the month, and hopefully will stick round for the winter
now it appears to have settled in on the massive concrete bowl. Additionally at Farmoor the
long-staying feminine Scaup remained in place seemingly very joyful in
amongst the flocks of Tufted Duck, the place I believe it’s going to stay for
the remainder of the winter as in earlier years. 

Farmoor Nice Northern Diver, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Except for the above it has been
a really quiet and uneventful interval for our scarcer wildfowl. Shelduck have been
current at two places with 2-3 at Cote between the two^nd and
9^th while Port Meadow hosted 1-3 birds between the 13^th
and 20^th of the month. Goosander have been a bit extra widespread
with eight places internet hosting birds this month. The best depend by some margin
got here from Standlake the place as much as 8 have been seen on the 23^rd. Singles
and pairs have been principally noticed from the remaining seven websites. On the dodgier
finish of the size a single Ross’s Goose was current briefly on Grimsbury
Reservoir on the two^nd, its firm of Canada Geese solely
including extra weight to its credentials. Blenheim continued to additionally host
as much as 20 Mandarin Duck with none reported anyplace else within the county. 

The Farmoor Scaup, courtesy of John Workman

 

Herons,
egrets and so on

Curiously the Cattle Egret put up breeding flock
has determined to not depart the county over the winter and has remained in good
numbers visiting a number of websites via the course of December. Otmoor hosted
as much as 11 birds on the 8^th with 20+ birds then favouring pasture fields
between Farmoor village and Wytham Wooden, a website that has ceaselessly
been utilized by feeding flocks over the past couple of years.

Extra about our wintering Cattle Egrets on Black Audi Birding

A few of the Cattle Egret flock courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Single birds have been
current on Days Lock (20^th), Bicester Wetlands (21^st
– 27^th) after which Sutton Courtenay on the 28^th. Three birds have been additionally famous within the horse paddock adjoining to Peep-o-Day Lane Abingdon om the thirtieth. 

Cattle Egret, courtesy of Steve Curnock

Nice White Egret have been sometimes widespread this
month with no less than 10 websites internet hosting no less than one hen. Blenheim hosted
essentially the most people with 4 birds right here on the 18^th with 3 remaining
till the 26^th. Each Radley GP’s and Standlake hosted
two birds on the 25^th and a pair of^nd respectively. The remaining
websites hosted single birds with most being single day observations. Our resident
Crane additionally determined to stay it out within the county over the winter interval
with the enigmatic trumpeting name heard within the fog on the 6^th. A
pair the place then noticed in flight over Port Meadow on the 26^th
presumably heading to or from Otmoor for feeding alternatives elsewhere. 

Nice White Egret, courtesy of Steve Curnock

In what’s slowly changing into an everyday incidence a Nice
Bustard from the reintroduction challenge down on Salisbury Plain was
discovered wintering on the Oxon Downs simply exterior of Wantage on the
18^th. Weirdly the hen was seen to be preserving firm with a herd of
Roe Deer, presumably attributable to a scarcity of something of comparable dimension current
inside a a number of mile radius. Given the frequency of the incidence of this species
inside our border, may we in the future be including this our checklist of county breeders?

Gulls
and Terns

Little or no motion was recorded this month with the one
notable species reported being Caspian Gull. Port Meadow had essentially the most
motion with as much as two birds seen within the night roost between the three^rd
and the 20^th. Solely Farmoor recorded one other particular person with one
seen right here on the 8^th. 

Grownup Caspian Gull on Port Meadow, courtesy of Thomas Miller

 

Passerines

As I mentioned beforehand, I had hoped to raving about all of the Waxwing
motion the county had seen this month. Sadly that turned out to be
a moderately poor prediction of what was to return. Headington had the primary
hen reported with a probable hen in flight on the ten^th. Cholsey had
a way more stable sighting with two birds current in a non-public backyard on the 14^th,
sadly this sighting was moderately temporary. One other Oxford Metropolis sighting
got here within the type of a feeding hen alongside St Giles on the 17^th
however regardless of a lot looking out the hen had seemingly disappeared. A few sightings
of a single hen adopted over the following week alongside Woodstock Highway, however
once more proving inconceivable to pin down. One other sighting got here from Iffley on
the 22^nd with a small occasion of 3-4 flying over the Rusty Bicycle pub. On the 30th some hope was on condition that some birds may very well be pinned down when a flock of 12 birds have been seen in East Challow. Sadly, an hour spent looking out the world proved fruitless. Resembling a county vast sport of whack-a-mole the birds seemingly reappeared in Oxford the next day. Once more as all different sightings this is able to develop into one other fruitless afternoon for the assembled birders, with the flock having bunked to elsewhere. Lastly, a late report of 5 birds on the Glos/Oxon border filtered via on the final minute on the thirty first with the birds simply 500m into the county border, once more this sighting was temporary single remark.  Given so many sightings proceed to return via from counties bordering Oxon
and but extra birds to filter inland and to the south, we are able to solely hope that
a flock is pinned down in some unspecified time in the future. 

Waxwing East Challow courtesy of Mark Merritt

The beforehand ringed Siberian Chiffchaff was seen
once more at Burgess Discipline on Port Meadow on the 14^th and once more
on the 19^th, while a 2^nd hen heard calling was noticed
on the 16^th. A pair of Black Redstart have been current at Chinnor
Cement Works on the 12^th, a website that has hosted a pair in earlier
years with birds frequenting the housing property that borders the location. 

One among two Black Redstarts Chinnor courtesy of David Stracey

A single
Firecrest was recorded at Abingdon STW on the 4^th
while a peak depend of 15 Brambling have been recorded once more from Blenheim
on the 6^th. A county report depend of Ring-necked Parakeet was
recorded from Oxford on the 12^th with a whopping 56 seen
coming to roost there after detective work to find this winter’s roost. Extra on the Cowley Parakeets on Out of the Blue Sky

A stupendous group of Parakeets courtesy of Tom Bedford

Blenheim Brambling courtesy of Gareth Cashburn

 

Raptors

Two Hen Harrier information have been reported this month coming
from reverse ends of the county. A ringtail was seen ceaselessly at nightfall on Otmoor
via the month, presumably profiting from the Otmoor starling
roost. A 2^nd hen, once more a feminine/ringtail sort hen was seen searching
over Churn on the 17^th of the month. Merlin have been reported
thinly on the bottom this month with solely three stories filtering via.
Singles got here from Churn on the three^rd, Otmoor the 17^th
and Bablockhythe on the 18^th.

 

Patchwork problem
& Inexperienced Birding

I believe its protected to say that this years Patchwork Problem has
been an important success story not solely throughout the nation but additionally for the county
of Oxon. There have been some cracking efforts made by native birders
discovering some wonderful birds not just for their very own native patches however for the
county itself. Though I’m not sure of the collective whole of the patches,
I’m fairly positive between us now we have had a big share of the whole county 12 months
checklist for 2023. Highlights from PWC 2023 embody Lesser Scaup, Black-crowned
Evening Heron, Water Pipit, a number of Kittiwake and presumably the rarest
of all of them within the type of the primary Oxford Metropolis Corn Bunting in 43
years amongst many different delights and Patch Gold.

I and a few others have already mentioned participating in PWC 2024
and I hope those who did this 12 months might proceed into the following 12 months and possibly
even some extra folks too? Given the state of Twitter/X nowadays I’ve largely
come off the location for essentially the most half which makes it troublesome with a lot of the
PWC group native or in any other case connecting on there. It was urged that
possibly a PWC Oxon WhatsApp group possibly helpful for sharing sightings/highlights/factors
totals and so on. In any case, please get in contact both by way of my quantity on the Oxon
WhatsApp group or my e-mail tackle conormackenzie91@gmail.com
if you wish to be included within the PWC Oxon Mini League for 2024.

Its additionally price mentioning one other large native effort that has
taken place this 12 months – a by bike Oxon Huge 12 months by Ben Sheldon. Having already taken
half in a Huge Day by bike, with Thomas Miller, and recorded the joint highest 2^nd
whole for any massive day accomplished within the county motorised or in any other case, he has
additionally managed to report 177 species non-motorised for the 12 months. A complete, I
suspect, that may take some beating sooner or later!

Patch	Birder	Factors	Species	Spotlight	Goal	Proportion of goal
Aston eyot	Ben Sheldon	58	56		90	64.44
Blenheim	Gareth Casburn	135	118		100	135.00
Dix pit	Simon Bradfield	114	91		75	152.00
Grimsbury reservoir	Gareth Blockley	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 MacKenzie	160	132		140	111.43
East challow	Mark Merritt	84	80		83	101.20
Freeland	Glen Pascoe	90	80		80	112.50