January Review & News

Soggy local Buzzard during lock-down, courtesy of Mick Cunningham

In what one fellow county columnist described as a "very birdy start" to 2021 the emphasis inevitably settled upon local birding through national lock-down 3.0. Across Oxfordshire our dedicated patch workers remained diligent in keeping a good level of records flowing into this resource. Much of the ongoing news concerned the same birds as December, but there were added headliners for this first review period of the new year.

With the public being urged not to visit some major sites, localised records of Brambling were amongst the most frequent herein. The wintering flock at Sarsgrove near Chipping Norton drew much attention, with in excess of 40 observed on some days. That seasonal Finch was also logged at nine other locations around the county, with up to 70 reported from another site outside Stonesfield.

Brambling, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart ↑ and Nick Truby ↓
click on any image to enlarge

Common Crossbill at Cornbury Park in the Oxon Cotswolds were a second source of solace for those fortunate enough to reside nearby. This species' continuing winter presence was further evidenced by sightings from three other places: Bagley Wood, Sydling's Copse, and Sarsgrove again. Two more seasonal finches Redpoll and Siskin also featured regularly from multiple sites county-wide, with 30-plus counts at Cornbury and in Iffley Meadows respectively.

Cornbury Crossbill, courtesy of Ewan Urquhart

A much scarcer passerine was a Rose-coloured Starling that continued to visit a garden in Witney early in the month, the first Oxon mega of 2021. This first-winter bird had been present there since 22nd December, an outstanding find for any garden lister.

Rose-coloured Starling, courtesy of Penny Ponton

The enduringly popular Great Bustard from the Salisbury Plain release scheme showed no inclination to depart it's adopted area around Letcombe Regis, near Wantage in south Oxon. That celebrity gained competition from mid-month in the form of a nearby Cattle Egret, and the unlikely double bill offered further diversion for local observers through what was often a dismally wet and foggy mid-winter.

Great Bustard courtesy of Mark Merritt.

Cattle (right) and Little Egrets, courtesy of Mark Bradfield

The visiting flock of White-fronted Geese lingered at RSPB Otmoor throughout, with more than 70 counted there on some dates. A black-bellied Brent Goose was noted in amongst them on 11th, while more wintering White-fronts were logged at two Lower Windrush Valley GP sites and in the Thame Valley at Waterstock.

White-fronted Geese on Otmoor, courtesy of Peter Alfrey

Amongst other scarcer wildfowl, three Ring-necked Duck of unknown origin were found in the LWV complex on just 9 & 10th, while the pair at Radley GPs stayed settled there throughout the month. The three Greater Scaup also remained at Farmoor Reservoir, becoming ever smarter looking as winter progressed, and some records came from Dix Pit possibly with cross-over between the two sites.

Caspian Gulls continued to be tracked in the various county roosts, at one of which Port Meadow another winter Little Gull was logged on 4th and a Mediterranean Gull on 29th. Raptor news once more majored on Hen Harrier, with regular sightings again this month in the Otmoor basin. Urban Peregrine featured from both Banbury and central Oxford, and Merlin put in swift and low fly throughs here and there as is their wont.

Caspian Gull in Port Meadow, courtesy of Giles Moon

Little Gull over Port Meadow floods, courtesy of Giles Moon

To end, may I add my own request to those sometimes made by Eds for Going Birding contributors not to either check or uncheck the "post to Oxon Birding" box when submitting records? The greater participation during lock-down of non-regular observers in county birding is very much appreciated, but there are automatic filters between the two web-sites that transfer what is required across. Onward then.

Peter Law

Oxford Ornithological Society is pleased to announce that The Birds of Farmoor Reservoir has just been published and is now available. 

The checklist contains 64 pages and provides an introductory brief history and background to the reservoir which serves as a useful guide to its facilities and the opportunities it provides for birding, but the main part provides a list of all 250 species of bird seen at the reservoir up to 31st December 2020 including no less than 12 National Rarities.

Each species listed has its own short account and for all scarce and rare birds a comprehensive list of all sightings for each species is shown.

There are also over 100 full colour photographs to accompany the text.

For any birder visiting Farmoor it provides an essential reference to the birds that have and can be seen at the reservoir.

The price is £7.95 incl p&p for OOS members and £9.95 incl p&p for non members.

To order a copy and pay by bank draft please contact Barry Hudson on mobile 07788 496847 / landline 01993 200790, or email secretary@oos.org.uk

If paying by cheque please make it out to OOS, and post to Barry Hudson, 4 Bushy Row, Bampton, Oxfordshire OX18 2JU.