20/12/2014 Ferruginous Duck on Blashford Lakes and Barred Warbler at Portland Bill Observatory

Saturday 20/12/ 2014 
Portland Bill Bird Observatory and Blashford Lakes
with Paul and Bridget


The target bird today was the Barred Warbler that had been seen at Portland Bill Bird Observatory every day for the last few weeks.  If time allowed, we then hoped to have another shot at finding the Ferruginous Duck on Kingfisher Lake in Hampshire, on the way home.  The weather conditions were nigh on perfect with good visibility, no rain and temperatures reaching 11 degrees Celsius.

After a 06.45 start we were at the observatory for 09.15 where the Barred Warbler was showing well at the feeders less than 10 metres from us.  It was feeding on the half apples that the wardens had suspended from the trees adjacent to the main feeders, chasing off the other birds when necessary . 



Barred Warbler
Library picture

We enjoyed superb views for 15 minutes or so before the sun came out from behind the clouds at the back of the feeders to make viewing less pleasant.  We decided to use the time to go walkabout on the promontory, returning later to get another good look before departing for Hampshire.

Paul soon found the male Ferruginous Duck on Kingfisher Lake but the views were brief, albeit good, from behind the boundary fence.  Later on, after a stroke of good luck, we were able to get lengthy, uninterrupted views. 

Ferruginous Duck
Library picture

This drake ferruginous duck, named after the male's deep chestnut, rust-like plumage and often shortened to 'fudge duck', arrived in the area at the beginning of December.  We were in a good position to pick out the main ID features including the deep russet brown body, the white triangular patch under the tail and the somewhat peaked head.  A "vagrant", this is the only one currently being reported in the UK; they breed in southern and eastern Europe and southern and western Asia and are  somewhat migratory wintering farther south and into north Africa.

Things had gone so well, we even had time to visit Blashford Lakes where we saw, among other birds, a Black-necked Grebe, a male and a female Goldeneye and 20+ Goosanders on Ibsley Water. 



Today's species list:
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
House Sparrow
Blackbird
Barred Warbler
Kestrel
Peregrine
Blackcap
Dunnock
Robin   (10)
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Grey Heron
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Black-headed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Woodpigeon   (20)
Teal
Wigeon
Ferruginous Duck
Tufted Duck
Shelduck
Pochard
Mallard
Great-crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Lapwing   (30)
Coot
Moorhen
Cormorant
Shag
Pied Wagtail
Rock Pipit
Chaffinch
Ruddy Duck
Gadwall
Goosander   (40)
Goldeneye
Canada Goose
Black-necked Grebe
Black Guillemot
Jay
Kittiwake
Magpie
Raven
Shoveler
Starling   (50)
Mute Swan
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Red-breasted Merganser

Addition to UK Birds  2014 Year List:
Ferruginous Duck   (276 )

Addition to UK Birds  Life List:
Ferruginous Duck   (286 )




A typically good day out with Paul and the added bonus of a "lifer" for me - the Ferruginous Duck - a much more interesting bird than I had first thought.