Today's sightings-Ferruginous Duck still here

30 December 2014

Ferruginous Duck- the female was finally tracked down among a quartet of the closely related captive Baer's Pochard in the Asian Pen. A similar species both being in the 'white-eye' clan. Both species are threatened in the wild, Baer's Pochard appear to be close to extinction. The 'Fudge' duck was rather spooked, it reacted nervously and confused on re-discovery initially disappearing into a channel at the back of the pond. It was interesting to hear that the group of birders gathered moved back and the bird came back out onto the main pond. It never stayed in this area long and soon flew back to South Lake for rest of the day.

Female Ferruginous Duck- South Lake
Pics-Martin

Note that the male Pochard x Ferruginous Duck hybrid was also seen here this morning as well as the small brown Pochard with extensive white around the base of the bill.

South Lake

A wide variety of duck gathered here especially during the morning, included Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Shelduck, Tufted Duck and Pochard.

Single Great Crested Grebe and 7 Cormorant were present all day. A pair of GCP Cranes roosted.

Kingfisher Hide

White-fronted Geese (left) and the adult Pink-footed Goose

White-fronted Geese 140 and single adult Pink-footed Goose to 10.10am when they moved to the Tack Piece/Ox Piece.
Stonechat-female on fences
Snipe 3
Marsh Harrier 2 hunting 0945-1000am at least
Roe Deer 4
Reed Bunting 1

Rushy

Whooper Swan to 0830 when it moved to fields NE of centre, returned at 1650hrs
Bewick's Swan 151 on site today
Shelduck, Pochard, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Mallard in hundreds.
Teal c200 roosted on the ice
Black-tailed Godwit 3 among the Teal
Little Stint-1 fed close to the hide adjacent to the In Focus shop on and off but especially this afternoon.