Thursday, July 12, 2012

Ringstone 12/07/12

Pair of great crested grebes on the resevoir and was struggling to find anything else until a grey heron flew low over the water & landed. Also heard reed bunting and saw a meadow pippit. Eventually 4 mallards and 2 tufted ducks showed up, with the drake in eclipse plumage.




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5 comments:

AndyC said...

top pic looks like a scaup..??but others look like T.Duck..??am I going mad.

3:25 pm
Andy Kiz said...

I know, I had this dilema too! Its definitely the same bird, probably just a trick of the light somehow. I posted them on birdforum first just to check but response was tufted. I couldnt see any white on the bird whilst I was there

4:02 pm
Andy Kiz said...

Its the female thats looking that way, they were pretty distant though

4:03 pm
David Sutcliffe said...

First impression as soon as I looked at the photo of the female was a Scaup too Andy (you are not going mad)!

9:36 pm
David Sutcliffe said...

After cut and paste and trying to 'blow them up' I think they are Scaup - though definition is lost as soon as making them larger. have you any more photo's Andy?
They both look very round headed, the female has a classic whitish base to bill though some female Tufted do also. The male looks to have some grey towards the rear of its back as well - possibly a sub adult!?? What does anyone else think? Might try check tomorrow.

10:11 pm

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