Posted: Wednesday 4th January 2012 by Potteric
Ring necked duck - Credit Jono Leadley
Sighting submitted by Roger Bird
An exciting start to the New Year came late morning when a female ring-necked duck Aythya collaris was found on Huxter Well Marsh cell 2a (SMB). The bird, considered to be in first-winter to adult plumage, was associating with a group of about 30 tufted duck and pochard at the reedbed edge, viewed from St Catherine’s Hide. Identification details were appraised and news of the ring-necked duck was circulated by early afternoon. Lots of birders were able to get to see it and a number of photographs were taken (more may be added here later - please note the photo used here was not the same duck as at Potteric). The duck was still present at sunset.
It is 28 years since the previous occurrence of this rare Nearctic waterfowl at Potteric Carr, when it was then a BB rarity. In April 1984 a drake appeared on the nature reserve and was not only a new bird for Potteric, but the first record for the DDOS Doncaster district recording area. So, today’s sighting had been long awaited by Potteric Carr listers.
Read Potteric's latest blog entries.
Comments
There are currently no comments, why not be the first.