27/01/2015 A "lifer" at Bray by the M4 in Berkshire

Tuesday 27th January 2015
Bray,  Berkshire

On a fine, clear January afternoon I managed to "twitch" another "lifer", my third in 2015.  The drake Ring-necked Duck sighting was particularly pleasing as Sandra, Paul and I were unsuccessful here earlier this month.

I was lucky that the duck was moving about as I got there, making the ID much easier with the grey side panels and the distinctive beak.  In my excitement, trying to signal to another birder on the western edge of the lake, I lost sight of the bird, by which time it had decided to rest up and in doing so tucked it's head in.  When the other birder got to me I was unable to find it again.

We were joined by a couple of birders, one from West Sussex and his friend, from Surrey, who had seen the resting bird from the other side of the lake and were able to pick it out for us.  This time nobody took their eye of it and we were rewarded with good views of it's head when it stirred from time to time. 



Ring-necked Duck
Library picture

What a remarkable contrast between the ID skills needed for a moving bird and a sedentary one - and that was for a drake!


Addition to BUBO 2015 UK Bird List:
Ring-necked Duck   (135)

Addition to BUBO UK Bird Life List:
Ring-necked Duck   (282)

Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

You can find Ring-necked Ducks in fairly small, shallow wetlands. They breed mainly across far northern North America, so check the range map and look for them during migration and in winter, when they can form large flocks. Don’t look for a ring around the neck—it’s really hard to see. Look instead for the bird’s peaked head shape, white ring around the bill, and white patch just in front of the gray flanks.