 |
| Slavonian Grebe |
I had a very pleasant sunny day out today at Rutland water. By most birding trip standards this year it was almost local at 100 miles from home! My purpose was twofold. Firstly, to see a Hooded Merganser which was found yesterday. Now this was probably plastic, i.e. an escapee from a collection, but I always live in hope! Secondly, to try and catch up with three birds missing from my UK year list, namely Smew, Slavionian and Red-necked grebe.
The problem with exotic ducks and geese is that they are kept in collections and have a habit, given half a chance, of doing a bunk. The Hooded Merganser is a North American native often kept in collections but there are 9 accepted UK records of what are believed to be genuine vagrants to date. Many exotics fail the first big test, are they ringed and are they free flying? The subsequent tests are a little less black and white. The state of moult, if any, can be checked against what would be expected of a wild bird. If the bird is very confiding it can suggest it is use to the proximity of humans and is hence probably from a collection. Finally, with some birds you can check if they are with a carrier species that migrate from the origin of the bird. Now most exotics are escapees so its best not to get your hopes up too high but this bird was initially reported as unringed and free flying.
On arrival at Rutland water I discovered that the bird was showing from the Teal hide, a short drive from the bird watching center. Sure enough it was giving good scope views but a little distant for anything other that record shots. Unfortunately, it has been reported this evening that the bird is indeed ringed, i.e. it’s escaped from someone’s collection.
 |
| The plastic quacker |
Again from the Teal hide the Slavonian Grebe was showing well. This is a bird that makes a remarkable transition from summer to winter plumage. That is not to say, however, that the winter birds are not attractive in their own right. I find it astonishing that the bird can expend so much energy with a complete moult twice a year. Nature rarely, however, does something without a purpose and I suspect the duller winter plumage increases its chance of survival by making it less prone to predation.
 |
| Todays winter plumage Slavonian Grebe |
 |
| Summer plumage Slavonian Grebe for comparison |
In the afternoon I found the female, so called redhead, Smew, albeit very distant. I also had a quick look for a White–rumped Sandpiper that had been found that morning. It was very distant and, as I’ve had great views of this particular bird a few months ago in the UK, I did not stay long. There were many winter wildfowl present on the lagoons namely Widgeon, Pintail, and Goldeneye etc.
I spent the rest of the short afternoon looking without success for the Red-necked Grebe. I had some very precise directions from someone who had seen it that morning but I could not locate it having scoped the area for an hour or so.
All in all a very pleasant day out in the sun
Comments
Post a Comment