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Reposted by Conor MacKenzie

Andy Hood @andyhood75.bsky.social · 1d

Oh lawdy...!!!
White-throated Needletail showing a bit well here at Bempton RSPB reserve @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 4d

The Oxon birding round up for September now live. Obvious highlight a 1w Bluethroat at @rspbotmoor.bsky.social, the 3rd county record. Other highlights include a couple Manx Shearwater and plenty of wader action, although frequently not twitchable. oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/10/sept... #UKBirding

September Review

Highlights I set out on a somewhat dispirited version of the highlights section in late September , pointing out the lack of rarities and ...

oxonbirding.blogspot.com

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Reposted by Conor MacKenzie

Raptor Persecution UK @raptorpersuk.bsky.social · 7d

Natural England confirms ongoing & relentless illegal persecution is reason why Hen Harriers are still rare in England.

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #Ornithology

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/02/h...

Hardly any Hen Harrier nesting attempts on English grouse moors for second year running

Natural England has finally got around to publishing the data for the 2025 Hen Harrier breeding season, which demonstrate very clear differences between areas managed for conservation and those man…

raptorpersecutionuk.org

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 7d

An excellent read Thomas, what a bird to end your time in Oxon on. Sorry to have missed your “final” Oxon twitch, good luck for the rest of the autumn!

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 8d

A great find indeed, but to be clear not mine!

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · 8d

Well who on earth had Bluethroat on their Oxon bingo card? An incredible run of birds for the county continued with a 1w male Bluethroat at @rspbotmoor.bsky.social this morning, found late evening yesterday. Both a county and UK ✔️ for me! County Big Year now on 188 (+ GWT). #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Sep 4

A round up of an exciting month of birding in Oxon - topped by a 2nd for the county and proper grip back for those who missed the 1st. Other highlights include an unseasonable Wood Warbler, a storm blown Shag and a southward bound Honey-buzzard #UKbirding
oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/augu...

August Review

Highlights One of the many great joys of birding is the appearance of a total wildcard. A totally unexpected species that not even the mos...

oxonbirding.blogspot.com

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Sep 4

A good way to round out the summer fieldwork season, an atmospheric evening monitoring post-breeding flocks of Stone-curlew, just before the weather turned this week. A real pleasure to work with this species over the summer (under license of course). #ornithology #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Aug 21

Little Stint at Farmoor yesterday evening. Took some finding after disappearing at midday, but well worth the punt that it was still around. #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Aug 20

Finally a Wood Sandpiper in Oxfordshire this autumn. With so many records in bordering counties, I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever get one. #UKbirding

Wood Sandpiper in foreground, Greenshank in background

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Aug 11

Still ticking away on the Oxon Big Year with three new birds in August. Shag the standout rarity so far. Although very pleased to finally catch up with Greenshank (!) and Med Gull after worrying these may be glaring omissions. Now on 182, hoping for more wader action. #UKBirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Aug 5

After our summer break here is the Oxon birding review for the last 2 months. Nothing too unexpected, but with the Crossbill irruption gaining pace and some early Wader action there’s been enough to keep us going. That being said, bring on autumn! #UKbirding oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/08/summ...

Summer review

Highlights After our usual summer break, I had hoped to be discussing a local mega disrupting this usually very relaxed birding period. In...

oxonbirding.blogspot.com

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Jul 31

Wouldn’t be surprised at all, long touted as another species to be introduced by the usual suspects. I’d be taking a very close look at all these Night-heron records if I was on the local rarities committee.

Reposted by Conor MacKenzie

BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · Jul 29

Wonderful news this evening! A pair of Montagu's Harrier has bred at a secret location in England this summer, the RSPB has announced:

Montagu's Harrier pair successfully breeds in England

A pair of Montagu's Harrier, Britain’s rarest breeding bird, have successfully raised four chicks at a secret site in England, the first UK nesting success since 2019. Monitored by the RSPB and a farmer, the rare birds' return offers hope for the species' future in Britain.

bit.ly

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Jul 22

Survey season pretty much closed out and it’s been a fantastic year monitoring my local ground nesting birds. Nice to see so many chicks, particularly Curlew, after a poor two years. Now looking forward to some quieter months though. #UKbirding

Woodlark family - newly fledged chick on right

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Jul 21

Early visits to Farmoor paid off again today when a Turnstone dropped in, picked up initially calling over F1. A new bird for the Oxon Big Year (178)and only present for c.30 minutes before departing once it the site got rammed by summer sailing lessons - who can blame it really! #UKbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Jul 18

A few visits to Farmoor this week finally paid off with a drake Common Scoter sat out on F1 yesterday am. A nice addition to the Oxon Big Year list, taking me to 177. Few bits also moving around - 2 Dunlin, 10+ Common Sand and 2 LRP in what felt like a birdy morning. #ukbirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Jun 9

An action packed May for Oxon birders with the obvious highlights of Red-footed Falcon and Savi’s Warbler. The latter being only the 2nd record for the county after a lockdown bird that, almost, no one heard or saw. #ukbirding oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/06/may-...

May Review

Highlights Well well, where to begin?! May is the magical month where things happen, spring migration reaches full throttle and with any l...

oxonbirding.blogspot.com

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · May 5

April’s round up of birding in Oxon now up. A game of two halves with an uninspiring and quiet start broken by a classic Spring day at Farmoor with lots of Tern and Wader action - 120+ Arctic the obvious standout. oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/05/apri... #UKBirding

April Review

Highlights I think we can all agree that the early part of spring had not exactly got the gears going. Inland birding can often be bleak a...

oxonbirding.blogspot.com

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · May 3

Largely given up on out of county twitching these days, but a Spotted Sandpiper 10 mins from my survey site in Cambs was too tempting. A stunner in summer plumage! What I wouldn’t give for another Oxon bird. #UKBirding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Apr 23

That’s really shocking and sad news, my condolences. Always a really nice guy to talk to at various twitches around Oxon.

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Apr 13

Bit late posting this write up, but here is the March Oxon Birding roundup. A stunning pair of sum plum Slav Grebe the obvious highlight. A probable Dick’s Pip at Banbury a tantalising record! Plus the welcome arrival of spring migrants, albeit slow going. oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/04/marc...

March Review

Highlights Quite often birding can hang on the ones that got away. This is especially true of county birding, where gaps between records a...

oxonbirding.blogspot.com

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Mar 5

Monthly round up of birding in Oxon now up in what was a relatively quiet period. Highlights include discovery of a 2nd Green-winged Teal and the Springs first arrival of Sand Martin. The latter coming only a 101 days after the last record in Nov! #UKbirding oxonbirding.blogspot.com/2025/03/febr...

February Review

Highlights With such a great start to 2025 it is not surprising that February was a somewhat quieter affair, mostly consisting of long-stay...

oxonbirding.blogspot.com

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Feb 27

My eBird trip report from 2 weeks of birding in and around Nairobi, in between family commitments that is. A friendly bird filled city, looking forward to getting back again next year! ebird.org/tripreport/3... #birding

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Conor MacKenzie @conormackenzie.bsky.social · Feb 24

I’ve been very lucky Tom! Hamerkop over the garden was a top highlight.

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