With rain forecast for most of the day it had to be a day with the ducks. I was already contemplating going to see the ferruginous duck in Hertfordshire when news came through of a pair of juvenile velvet scoters in nearby Buckinghamshire. That clinched it - I was off on my travels, twitching ducks.
Buckinghamshire
- I decided to start by going as far north as I could where the weather was better. At Willen Lake, near Milton Keynes, the 2 velvet scoters were present with one close by and the other distant. This had to be the nearest I have ever been to this species - normally I would see them off the coast.
- Also present was a superb drake goldeneye, looking majestic in the water.
- A drake red-crested pochard and an accompanying female were a welcome surprise and added colour to a dull day.
I arrived at 12.30 and was done by 13.15 - a really good start.
Now it was off to Tring in Hertfordshire, a short drive south west, of just over 20 miles, to look for the drake ferruginous duck. This bird has been around for some time now.
Hertfordshire
- At Wilstone Reservoir I had a huge area to search and after half an hour I was getting nowhere, Thankfully a local birder turned up but was looking at an area a long way from me. I made my way over to him and after a while he found the aforesaid duck. It was about 50 metres away with some gulls and a few wigeon. The lighting was poor so the views were not brilliant.
Very pleasing outcome - thanks mainly to my local birder.
Additions to BUBO UK 2016 Year List:
Velvet scoter (254)
Ferruginous duck (255)
Good birding today despite the awful weather.
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