With weather warnings issued across the country, Kev and I decided to reassess the situation at 7 a.m. based on any changes. While conditions looked reasonable where we were, the forecast predicted they wouldn’t hold for long. In North Oxfordshire, the weather seemed better than expected, but reports indicated severe conditions elsewhere. Heavy snowfall was affecting Scotland as well as parts of northern and central England, and the coasts were being hit harder. Tragically, a man had died on the A34 in Hampshire after a tree fell on his car. Meanwhile, thousands of households in South and West Wales, the East and West Midlands, and Cumbria were without power due to the storm.
We talked about giving a visit to Slimbridge a whirl but decided against it in the end - spending the day with our wives would be something they'd appreciate - probably.
However, without a mandarin duck on my list this year, the report of one still gracing a pond in Ducklington near Witney had me quickly dressed, and on the road.
The mandarin duck is a strikingly colourful duck species native to East Asia, but it has established a thriving feral population in the UK, and it is now considered naturalised. Males are especially striking, with ornate plumage featuring bright orange sails, a purple crest, and intricate patterns of white, green, and chestnut. Females are more subdued, with mottled brown and grey colouring, and a distinctive white eye-ring and stripe. My bird would be a male, associating with mallards.
Mandarin ducks prefer wooded areas near lakes, ponds, or slow-moving rivers. They often inhabit parkland or estates with ornamental water bodies. They nest in tree cavities, often near water, and are adept at raising ducklings in elevated locations. Originally introduced as ornamental birds, escapees from private collections and zoos established wild populations, with notable concentrations in southern and central England. They are omnivorous, feeding on seeds, acorns, aquatic plants, insects, and small invertebrates.
I pulled up beside the Village Hall and found the pond located right beside it, the mandarin sleeping as I arrived. In a short while the mallards swam out onto the water and the mandarin followed giving great views. I took a few photos but didn't hang around long as I was getting wet and expected conditions would be getting worse. Home and only two hours required to see this stunning species.
Year list: 246.
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