Oxon Birding Weblog: March Assessment

Highlights

The obvious spotlight this month is the welcome return
of our summer time migrants. I’m positive like everybody else; one can’t assist however smile
whenever 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 area in your
village. Though meteorological Spring begins on the 1^st March and
astronomical Spring began on the 20^th March, for many people Spring
will likely be after we see our first correct sub-Saharan migrant. With the
inflow of those migrants this month the county record stands at a decent 149,
with 15 species added in March.

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

It appears that evidently quite a lot of our migratory birds flip up earlier
every year and that’s considerably borne out by the crude desk beneath with birds
arriving earlier within the final decade than within the final close to quarter of a century.
The notion although could be generally deceptive, with our first Sand
Martin of the yr approaching the 23^rd February, primarily
nonetheless winter, however then the following information not following for an additional two weeks
and all approaching the median arrival date for the reason that flip of the century – the
15^th March. However its definitely true that species like Oystercatcher
are shifting considerably with birds arriving almost 2 weeks sooner than in
earlier years. The place they have been extra more likely to arrive simply earlier than meteorological
Spring, they’re now returning to territories nearer to mid-Winter. My
assumption is that for many species this may solely imply unhealthy information within the lengthy
time period for his or her populations however that could be a considerably bleak observe to finish on, so right here
is one thing brighter. Inside days of studying this we must always hopefully have the
subsequent tranche of spring migrants arriving within the county and placing extra smiles
on the faces of those that clock eyes on them!

The primary Wheatear of the yr 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
Home 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 by means of the county in
the early a part of the month when a trio of Avocet landed on Port
Meadow on the 7^th. A basic rarity for the early a part of March,
the birds sometimes didn’t stay lengthy and have been passed by the afternoon. A second
likelihood for native birders did come up although when a single turned up once more on Port
Meadow on the 20^th, though as soon as once more this was solely a short
refuelling go to earlier than it was gone. 

Courtesy of Russell O Allen.

On the final day of the month Otmoor acquired in on the motion with a pair of Avocets spending the day on the Flood Subject. The wintering Gray Plover remained
all through March turning up at each Port Meadow and Otmoor steadily
displaying the well-used and essential commuting hall between these two
premier birding websites of Oxfordshire. Usually within the firm of a number of
hundred Golden Plover it was final seen on Port Meadow on the 23^rd. 

One of many two Otmoor Avocet, courtesy of Pete Roby

2024’s first Little Ringed Plover got here on the 9^th
with a chook again on territory at Peep-o-Day Lane and was a little bit forward
of the median arrival date of the 14^th. The following birds arrived a bit
nearer to this date with a chook on Rushy Widespread on the 15^th and
Otmoor on the 17^th. Extra birds piled in thereafter with
one other six websites internet hosting birds within the latter a part of the month, with the best
rely of 5 birds coming from Chinnor on the 29^th however with
most websites internet hosting pairs. The Port Meadow/Otmoor commuter
hall additionally hosted a big flock of Black-tailed Godwit which
presumably have been utilizing the positioning as staging grounds earlier than heading off to
breeding grounds. The primary three birds arrived at Otmoor on the two^nd
earlier than a flock of 55 have been on Port Meadow on the 7^th which
elevated to a whopping 69 on the 8^th, with 51 seen at Otmoor the
identical and presumably a part of the identical flock. These birds continued to be seen at
each websites all through the month with the flock peaking at 80 birds on the 19^th.
Days Lock hosted as much as 10 birds between the 9^th and 10^th
while Pit 60 and Rushy Widespread 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 three websites this month, with the only
lingering chook at Bicester Wetlands nonetheless current on the 16^th.
New information got here from Peep-o-Day Lane on the 13^th and Iffley
Meadows on the 27^th. The Ruff continued additionally at Otmoor
this month with three nonetheless right here on the two^nd however solely a single
chook remaining by the 18^th. The primary Ringed Plover of the
spring season got here from Otmoor on the ten^th with no different
information coming this month. Dunlin continued to be current in massive
numbers with most birds retaining to Otmoor in March with the
occasional foray to Port Meadow. The best rely got here on the 9^th
when 227 have been current, though triple digit counts have been made on two different
events on the two^nd (120) and 13^th (c.100). Port
Meadow’s highest rely was of 64 birds on the two^nd, presumably a
splinter group from the principle flock at Otmoor. Smaller flocks have been
recorded at Port Meadow by means of the month, while Days Lock and Waterstock
hosted three and one birds respectively and each on the 9^th.

Inexperienced Sandpiper have been at the same variety of places within the earlier month
with 5 websites internet hosting birds. Three 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
single birds. The Widespread Sandpiper continued its winter vacation at Farmoor
and was recorded sporadically all through the month between the two^nd
and 23^rd. Redshank, other than Otmoor, have been at three
websites – Port Meadow (9^th), Rushy Widespread (10^th)
and Peep-o-Day Lane (13^th). 
Oystercatchers have been on at the least 9 websites this month with many
websites internet hosting breeding pairs, the best counts got here from Pit 60 the place
5 have been current on the 9^th while Peep-o-Day Lane hosted
4 birds on 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 current at Thrupp Lake on the
14^th. A pleasant native discover on certainly one of our Patchwork Problem patches,
the chook caught round till at the least the 15^th and was additionally reported
there on the 16^th. A Nice Northern Diver reported from Farmoor
on the 26^th was little bit of a shock after the lengthy staying chook
had departed final month, however with no affirmation of the report forthcoming the
chook was presumably 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 identical date as final yr. A pair have been
additionally on Peep-o-Day Lane on the 26^th however not like final yr this
pair didn’t dangle round lengthy and have been passed by the afternoon. The group of White-fronted
Goose have been nonetheless on Otmoor by means of the month, being reported
sporadically. While the long-staying pair of feminine Scaup have been nonetheless on
Farmoor till at the least the 15^th, while a attainable feminine was then
current on Cassington GP’s on the 22^nd. Goosander have been
current on 4 websites this month with a lot of the information coming from Port
Meadow, though the best rely got here from Pit 60 the place seven
birds have been recorded on the 9^th. The opposite two websites solely recorded
single birds – Radley GP’s and Days Lock on the 14^th
and 25^th respectively. Port Meadow additionally produced probably the most
information for Shelduck this month and in addition the best rely with 11 birds
right here on the 17^th. An extra eight websites reported birds with most
websites internet hosting a number of birds. 

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

 

Goldeneye continued at the least 5 websites, all within the west of the county.
The best rely sometimes got here from Dix Pit the place 11 birds have been
current on the 16^th. While Farmoor, Rushy Widespread, Pit 60 and
Cassington GP’s all hosted between 1-3 birds. A excessive rely of 128 Pochard
from Otmoor om the two^nd was an important rely for the species,
while Pit 60 continued to host a unprecedented variety of Pintail with
646 birds right here on the 9^th with Otmoor internet hosting 250 birds additionally
on the 9^th. Pink-crested Pochard have been at a number of new websites
this month, presumably with the wintering flocks of Dix Pit on the transfer.
Radley (8^th), Rushy Widespread (10^th), Appleford
(10^th) and Otmoor (17^th) all hosted 1-2 birds.
The one Mandarin information got here from Sonning Eye Widespread om the 19^th
the place a pair have been current. 

One of many 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 Cattle Egret and Nice White Egret widespread. The foremost
distinction been the recording of two White Stork flying over Henley-on-Thames
on the 27^th. Presumably these 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 seen over Studying two days
later. Presumably these birds are actually heading again to Knepp in Sussex
to breed once more.

Cattle Egret information remained pretty static with the identical birds been
recorded repeatedly at websites which have hosted birds over the winter. Eight
websites hosted birds together with Peep-o-Day Lane and Radley GP’s the place
birds from the previous seemed to be roosting on the latter and doubtless additionally
commuting between right here and Day’s Lock. Bicester Wetlands, Aynho, Witney Lake
additionally hosted single birds this month. Wytham hosted the big flock
originally of the month the place 23 birds have been current on the two^nd
earlier than presumably dispersing to websites talked about above. Otmoor recorded
as much as 10 birds this month, while a pleasant promising signal of issues to come back got here
within the kind 12 birds returning to the breeding web site at Blenheim albeit
briefly. It appears that evidently the Gray Heron and Little Egret have moved
shortly to breed on the island at Blenheim and the competitors for area
is perhaps robust on the web site this yr so fingers crossed for one more profitable
breeding yr. 

 

BWR NT

Nice White Egret continued to be recorded from many websites, though down from
the earlier month with water ranges receding, with at the least 12 websites reported birds.
The best rely got here from Pit 60 the place 5 birds have been recorded,
while a summer time plumaged chook was simply to the north at Blenheim and
presumably it’s solely a matter of time earlier than we have now our first breeding report
within the county?

Gulls and Terns

With our first Widespread Tern due
any day now (median arrival 3^rd April) and Sandwich and Arctic
Tern on account of observe in a pair weeks we have now make do with the standard
suspects this month. Caspian Gull have been recorded at solely two websites this
month – Port Meadow and Appleford. Two 1^st winter
birds have been seen steadily on the Port Meadow roost at each ends of the
month while 1+ have been reported at Appleford on the 7^th.

Mediterranean Gull have been recorded from three websites and
most likely associated to 2 birds. A single summer time plumaged chook was on Radley
GP’s on the 1^st while presumably the identical chook was steadily
recorded at Port Meadow from the two^nd till the 27^th.
A lone 1^st winter chook was additionally recorded at Dix Pit on the 11^th. 

Radley Mediterranean Gull courtesy of Ian Elkins

 

Passerines

Considerably overshadowed by the start of the spring
migration, the Waxwing invasion continued to simmer throughout the county
with three websites reporting birds in March. Sonning Widespread had 20
birds feeding in a non-public backyard on the 4^th however weren’t seen
subsequently. While the birds that frequented the gardens of north Abingdon
returned once more on the 6^th and surprisingly once more on the 22^nd
after lengthy intervals of absence, presumably feeding up throughout the city earlier than
their lengthy journey again to northern Europe. A single chook was additionally reported
from Lengthy Hanborough on the 6^th however not seen subsequently. The
standout for the month got here within the type of Ring Ouzel proper on the demise
with a shocking male seen at Aston Upthorpe on the 30^th, a
basic web site for the species proper on que. Sadly regardless of different individuals
current on web site the chook went to floor and remained elusive, though a report
did filter by means of from the afternoon however whether or not this was from the morning or
later within the day wasn’t clear. 

In all probability my most eagerly anticipated returning spring
migrant, the primary Wheatear made landfall within the county on the 15^th
and was sometimes on the downs at Scary Hill. Subsequent sightings additionally
got here from the downs at Lollingdon Hill and Sparsholt Firs each on
the 16^th. Thereafter although birds started to be reported at a wider
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 an enormous fall of birds
with the best rely coming from White Horse Hill the place 10 birds have been
recorded, adopted carefully by Sarsgrove and Shennington which noticed
eight birds every! The primary Redstart additionally made an look on the very
finish of the month, once more in basic kind on the downs. This chook was a little bit
early although with the basic arrival not been for one more week or so. While
one other feminine chook was current on Otmoor on the 31^st

Wheatear Sparsholt Firs courtesy of Geoff Dymott

 After a really early report on the 23^rd the following
information of Sand Martin have been far more consistent with the standard arrival
time with two information on the 15^th at Balscote Quarry and Farmoor.
Seven websites then recorded small flocks of birds from the 19^th to
the 24^th peaking at 30 birds over Peep-o-Day Lane on the 23^rd.
The primary Swallow was additionally bang on time with the primary chook approaching
the 22^nd (median 23^rd) and got here from Wytham, this
was adopted by singles and pairs at 5 extra websites between the 23^rd
and 26^th. The primary Home Martin, nonetheless, was a little bit early
coming virtually per week earlier than the standard arrival time with a single chook over South
Leigh on the 21^st. The following report got here just a few days later from Blenheim
on the 25^th, additionally a single chook and within the firm of a small
flock of Sand Martin.

Home Martin courtesy of Gareth Casburn.

One other species which appears to reach earlier every year, the
first singing Willow Warbler was heard at Warneford Meadow and Farmoor
on the 20^th, with extra birds at extra websites following shortly
behind – Radley (22^nd), Otmoor (23^rd), Marston
Meadows (23^rd), Grimsbury (24^th), Port
Meadow (27^th) and Peep-o-Day Lane (29^th). Not
sometimes on the radar till early April the season’s first Sedge
Warbler got here on the 26^th from Farmoor and presumably
was from Pinkhill Reserve or some place else alongside the Thames stretch.
Grimsbury Reservoir additionally acquired its fair proportion of the migrant motion hosted
the yr’s first Rock Pipit on the 13^th in addition to the primary White
Wagtail of the spring on the 26^th. An extra 3 of those continental wagtails have been seen at Rushy Widespread on the thirty first. A feminine Black Redstart was
in an Eynsham backyard on the 15^th, a report made much more
fascinating for the reason that identical backyard additionally hosted a male within the autumn of 2021,
while a 2^nd chook was in Bodicote briefly on the 30^th.
One other intriguing report got here from Lye Valley on the 16^th
with the report of a Mealy Redpoll, though the knowledge got here from
the birding providers and affirmation of the report was not forthcoming. 

Eynsham, Nick Tasker

The wintering pair of Siberian Chiffchaff continued to
be often reported from Port Meadow by means of March with the
ringed particular person most reported however each have been seen on the 8^th. The
final report got here on the ten^th, presumably the birds now having moved
on from the positioning. Brambling additionally continued to linger on within the county with
principally singles and pairs noticed throughout 4 websites, together with some cracking
males coming into summer time plumage. While the lone report of Crossbill got here
from Cowleaze Wooden on the three^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 sometimes been temporary fly by means of information. The primary got here from Otmoor with
a chook circling there on the 22^nd while a 2^nd chook was
additionally noticed circling Farmoor on the 24^th. The wintering Hen
Harrier continued at Otmoor by means of the entire month, though the ring
tailed chook was solely reported sporadically. 

Searching Otmoor Marsh Harrier courtesy of Malcolm Bowey

 

Quick-eared
Owl additionally continued to be reported from
varied websites with probably the most birds sometimes coming from the downs, with 4
birds seen on the 17^th. Single birds have been
reported at Otmoor from the 1^st – 24^th, Kidlington
and Center Barton each on the 9^th and Banbury on
the 24^th. A stunning male Merlin was reported twice on Otmoor
this month with information approaching the two^nd and once more on 20^th.

Patchwork
problem

Patch	Birder	Factors	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	Pink-crested Pochard (2nd Patch report), Nice Egret, Jack Snipe (Patch tick)
Radley GP’s	Ian Elkins	96	86	Cattle Egret, Marsh Harrier and Black-necked Grebe
Freeland	Glen Pascoe	64	63
South Hinksey	Alex Figueiredo	50	49
Cholsey	Alan Dawson	93	87