My local yearlist has now hit the 100 species for 2026 and migrants have been gradually trickling in from early March onwards as the excitement of spring passage begins!
By the end of March, Grimsbury Res had produced all x3 hirundine species, including my earliest ever Swallow (22/03) and Sand Martin (13/03), together with my first Wheatear of the year that showed beautifully on 22/03 and a brief singing Willow Warbler (27/03).
As we've crept into April, a decent push of migrants on the back of some southerlies produced a Yellow Wagtail north over the house (08/04), first Whitethroat (09/04), Sedge Warbler (07/04) and Reed Warbler (13/04) at Bicester Wetland and several Little Ringed Plovers at both Ardley Quarry and Bicester Wetland on 05/04.
Firecrests were back on territory locally and I enjoyed listening to two singing males on 12/04.
Looking back to January & February, a fairly short-staying Dark-Bellied Brent Goose in the Mid Cherwell (on 24/01) was the stand out highlight, during a fairly quiet spell. Oystercatchers in the mid-Cherwell and Grimsbury Res in February & March were welcome, an early-ish Curlew on 08/02 headed through the Mid Cherwell and a handful of Brambling were in fields near Aynho, amongst an impressive gathering of c200 Chaffinch - in what has been a quiet winter for the species. A pair of Goldeneye at Grimsbury (08/03) was a nice patch scarcity, though otherwise Grimsbury was pretty quiet.
No comments:
Post a Comment