 Greater Scaup (Aythya marita). Male. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on January 22nd 2021. Male. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on January 22nd 2021. (1/1250th sec at f9. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Scaup (Aythya marila). Female. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on February 2nd 2022. Female. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on February 2nd 2022. (1/800th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Scaup (Aythya marila). Immature male. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on December 4th 2020. Immature male. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on December 4th 2020. (1/400th sec at f9. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Description L: 42 - 51 cm; WS: 71 - 80 cm Scaup are diving ducks with a resemblance to Tufted Ducks. Males have black heads, shoulder and breast, white flanks, grey back and a black tail. Females are brown, with characteristic white patches around the base of the bill. They are found in Norway, around the Baltic and into northern Russia. They spend the winter on British and western European coasts, occasionally coming inland. They breed in maritime habitats (salt or brackish water), and on freshwater lakes in mountains. Wintering birds are gregarious and often associate with Tufted Ducks. This species is on the UK red list owing to the small number of breeding birds (1-5 pairs). Around 5200 birds spend the winter in Britain. Sightings | 16-Feb-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2f) | | 02-Feb-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 16-Jan-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 04-Jan-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) |
| | 15-Dec-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 08-Dec-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 20-Jan-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| | 20-Dec-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 11-Feb-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 02-Feb-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 02-Jan-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) |
| | 13-Dec-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 01-Dec-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 21-Nov-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 14-Nov-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 28-Jan-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1m,2f) | | 22-Jan-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1m,2f) | | 12-Jan-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) |
| | 17-Dec-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 14-Dec-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 04-Dec-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2juv) | | 01-Dec-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 13-Nov-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 10-Nov-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 05-Jan-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) |
| | 03-Dec-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f,1juv) | | 17-Nov-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) | | 03-Nov-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) |
| | 06-Jan-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) |
| | 30-Dec-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) |
| | 10-Mar-2013 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (4) | | 27-Jan-2013 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (4) | | 13-Jan-2013 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (4) |
| | 25-Nov-2012 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 03-Nov-2012 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| | 18-Oct-2009 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1f) |
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