Lesser Scaup

I was informed by local birders that this immature female Lesser Scaup arrived at Slimbridge just after Christmas 2010.  The bird has remained on the outer side of the reserve in pools close to the Severn Estuary.  Birders biggest worries are that this rare Trans-Atlantic vagrant from North American might decide to hop into one of the collection pens and interbreed with the pinioned drake Lesser Scaup at the Centre.  Looks to me that it might fancy its chances with a drake tufted Duck.

Garganey

I was in Oxford, the UK over the weekend visiting family.  On the way back I detoured to visit the Wetlands and Wildlife Trust Centre at Slimbridge in Gloucester.  A fantastic facility and Nature Reserve and this was at the end of the winter season with nearly all the ducks, swans and geese already departed for the summer breeding grounds in the Arctic.  Did mange to see the free flying immature first-winter female Lesser Scaup, one drake Garganey, three Little Ringed Plovers, one Green Sandpiper, a few Sedge and Reed warblers.  This male Garganey was feeding on the Severn side of the reserve with other ducks.