December Highlights and Video Review of 2020

Ring-necked Ducks at Radley GPs, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

Through this year's last review period a number of wildfowl events and a rather special "escape" occupied much of the headline billing concerning birds in Oxfordshire. Other interest was offered by gulls, waders, raptors, winter finches and more besides; so it was quite a reasonable month overall. These observations brought our total county year list to exactly 200, the same number as in 2019.

Otmoor White-fronted Geese courtesy of Badger

Early December saw the largest influx of White-fronted Geese into south-east England for almost a decade. Initially these seemed reluctant to include our county on their visiting list, with just single records occurring at Cote (2nd) and Buscot Wick (6th). That changed from 12th with the arrival of a dozen on Otmoor which proved a popular draw, rising to 27 by 17th and more than 45 in the final days. The RSPB reserve had already hosted an as impressive group of seven Whooper Swan as the month opened. Another nine White-fronts were a patch first at Waterstock on 28th.

White-fronted Geese ↑ and Whooper Swans ↓ at Otmoor, courtesy of Terry Sherlock

We had to wait for a genuine mid-winter rarity until 19th when a pair of Ring-necked Duck (m & f) at Radley GPs were amongst some 30 logged around the British Isles at that time. All too infrequently our county this time shared in a national bonanza with the first Oxon record of the smart Nearctic ducks since April 2015. Our birds of the month boosted the spirits of all who observed them through to year's end. 

Ring-necked Ducks courtesy of Badger

Ring-necked Ducks, courtesy of Richard Tyler
click on remaining images to enlarge

A number of earlier winter headliners stayed with us in this review period too. The juvenile Great Northern Diver, three Scaup and Aythya hybrid at Farmoor Reservoir all showed no inclination to depart permanently, remaining popular with visitors as in November. Through this month the immature drake Scaup became ever more dapper as it moulted into adult plumage.

Great Northern Diver ↑ (juv) and Scaup (m) ↓ courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

More and more Caspian Gulls were recorded in the roosts at Farmoor, Port Meadow and Appleford by the burgeoning ranks of our experts who diligently logged herein the age and topography of each individual. This winter's juvenile Iceland Gull also remained in the Appleford area throughout.

Caspian ↑ and ↓ Iceland Gulls at Appleford, courtesy of Roger Wyatt

It was a respectable December for waders which were posted regularly from different places around the county. Otmoor was the best centre for this group with Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Curlew, Dunlin and Ruff all recorded through the often rainy month. Large concentrations of Lapwing, Golden Plover and winter wildfowl there continued to provide seasonal spectacle throughout.

Short-eared Owl on Otmoor, courtesy of Roger Wyatt

Further items worthy of mention were Short-eared Owl and Peregrine. The former peaked in the county early in December with sightings at Farmoor, Otmoor and elsewhere. The latter's growing regularity around Oxfordshire was reflected in records from seven different locations. Hen Harrier put in appearances a number of times from Otmoor, and away from there Marsh Harrier were noted at both Standlake and Cassington GPs.

Peregrine, courtesy of Jeremy Dexter

Otmoor Hen Harrier, courtesy of Nick Truby

Passerine news majored on Common Crossbill and Brambling, with a flock of the former recorded often at Cornbury Park in the Oxon Cotswolds. Further north the wintering count of Brambling at one stage exceeded 30 at the regular site of Sarsgrove near Chipping Norton. A more unusual item for this time of year was a very late Ring Ouzel found at Gramp's Hill on the Downs early in the review period (5th).

Ring Ouzel, courtesy of Mark Merritt

This column's final "novelty item" of 2020 is the errant Great Bustard from the Salisbury Plain release project that drew an appreciative audience to Letcombe Regis, near Wantage in south Oxon through much of December. Though not deemed worthy of consideration by all birders, this "escape" proved to be enormously popular and by some measure our most photographed bird of the month. The following images are just a sample, and thank you to all who contributed.

Great Bustard, courtesy of Mark Bradfield

Great Bustard, courtesy of Steve Burch ↑ and Nick Truby ↓

The third round of national emergency measures to counter Covid-19 introduced from 26th did not restrict access to the countryside for individuals or household groups. So opportunity for local birding continued over the holiday period, by which time low lying areas of Oxfordshire had become extensively flooded. With the immediate future being uncertain concerning any return to normal life it remains to wish all contributors and visitors to this resource a safe and bird-filled 2021.

Peter Law

Oxon Birding Annual Review Video

Another Gnome Studios Production