Birdwatch Britannia: RSPB Otmoor

Starting Wednesday 24 December, there has been a significant arrival of both Russian white-fronted geese and tundra bean geese into England, especially southern and eastern counties. The largest wave occurred on 24 December, with sightings continuing strongly on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Many sites recorded significant numbers of Russian white-fronted geese, with over 150 locations in England logging birds between 24-26 December, including records as far west as Cornwall and Carmarthenshire. In contrast, while tundra bean geese were less numerous, their arrival was notable given the low numbers earlier in December, increasing from around 10 reporting sites prior to the 24th to up to 47 sites between 24-26 December.

Brisk north-easterly winds accompanying a cold spell from 24 December provided a classic trigger for westward goose movements from continental Europe. Increasing numbers of Russian white-fronted geese wintering in the Netherlands are often displaced into the UK during such conditions, while tundra bean geese, normally scarce winter visitors, only appear in greater numbers when weather pushes them further west than usual.

Reports from RSPB Otmoor suggested such an influx of these two geese species and so I asked if Kev Heath might be interested in a look - he was unfortunately tied up with family - so with Charlotte off to play pickleball, I made my way there solo.

I walked and scanned down to the bridleway, then continued along it until reaching the gate to Screens 1 and 2, before carrying on between Ashgrove and Big Otmoor - the two fields where the geese had been reported. I could make out groups of Canada geese, but any greylag-type geese were too obscured to pick out the new arrivals. Continuing on, I met a chap who had been up near the farm end of the track and had seen three tundra bean geese along with numerous Russian white-fronted geese. We edged along to a gap in the hedge, from where the goose flock was visible, along with a small herd of fallow deer. Out over Big Otmoor three ravens cronked back and forth. A short while later I was joined by Paul Willis whom I'd seen recently at Blenheim when searching for crossbills.

Peter Barker and others passed by, and we saw a Chinese water deer and three of the ten tundra bean geese reported earlier on Big Otmoor, before they moved across to Ashgrave. As people drifted off, I stayed on, sharing scope views with those carrying only binoculars and helping others with scopes onto the birds, eventually picking out a fourth bean goose and five barnacle geese.

Chinese water deer has been recorded at RSPB Otmoor, and sightings at the reserve are notable because the species is uncommon in Oxfordshire. One recent report mentioned it being the fifth record for Oxfordshire and the first for the reserve itself. Chinese water deer are a non-native deer species introduced from China in the late 19th and early 20th centuries - escapes from zoo collections has led to established wild populations.

After a while and following a chat with Sally and a new birder she was helping, we headed back to the Wetland Hide, where around a dozen birders and several families had gathered. Careful scanning of the flock produced a consensus of roughly 18 tundra bean geese and about 50 white-fronted geese. I was watching three bean geese when the flock was suddenly spooked and took to the air providing my best chance for a record photo. They soon settled again, allowing us to enjoy them for a while longer.

Chaffinches and reed buntings were busy feeding on the ground and in the bushes along the track beside the hide, attracted by scattered seed, though the normally accompanying linnets were notably absent. A moorhen and a couple of magpies were also present, and a water rail briefly showed itself, partly emerging from the grass beneath the fence and hedge behind. Water rails are much more often heard than seen, with distinctive grunting and squealing “piglet-like” calls, especially in winter as they become more active and abundant across UK wetlands. I’d heard one calling earlier while watching the geese and deer, but this one gave proper, clear views. As a magpie strayed too close, the water rail flared its feathers in battle-mode before melting back into cover.