Wood Duck at Drift.

[Andrew]

Considering it's location, could this possibly be genuine?

Clutching at straws? :brains:

[devon.birder]

Considering it's location, could this possibly be genuine?

Clutching at straws? :brains:

Very unlikely Andrew. There have been a few knocking around the South West for the last few years now, I believe there were a couple at Sutton Bingham only a few weeks ago. The Drift bird was reported on Rare Bird Alert as "of interest" which shows what they think of it. Always worth seeing though if you are down that way, just in case!!!.
I see you sw the Hume's today, hope it is still there in the morning. Roger :-O

[Chris Oates]

I see it's not reported on Surfbirds or the local site at Sennen Cove whereas the lesser Scaup is.

Link to the Sennen site (http://www.sennen-cove.com/birds.htm)

[Highway Man]

Considering it's location, could this possibly be genuine?

Clutching at straws? :brains:


Genuine? Of course it's genuine;) as to where it originated from who knows.

Mark

[Reader]

Considering it's location, could this possibly be genuine?

Clutching at straws? :brains:

Clutching at straws come's to mind. lol

Over the years I have seen a fair few around from the south west right through to the Midlands. As lovely as they are I wouldn't go for one deliberately. If one swims by I will take in the beauty of it and just make a mental note of it.

[will bowell]

Its worth noting that this species has been recorded in Iceland at least 4 times and 3 in the Azores (including a bird that was ringed/banded in North Carolina) and with this being a female/immature type there is definite possibility that this is Yank bird. This Autumn has seen good numbers of American birds on this side of the ‘Big Pond’ so I wouldn’t be so quick to judge it (especially since it appears to be sharing the reservoir with Lesser Scaup and 2 Laughing Gulls!)!

However, as we all know there is quite a few knocking about in Cornwall (though I don’t know of any in that general area) and there hasn’t been many new American birds found in Britain recently (Lesser Scaup was found on the same day though, up north).

Will

[Darrell Clegg]

Where do people get the impression that there are loads of Wood Duck in Cornwall?

I can tell you exactly how many I have seen in the county - 3!

Female at Helston boating lake.
Female on the River Lynher
Male near Looe

All of these were known captive birds.

I have seen more Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, American Wigeon, Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe in Cornwall than I have Wood Duck.

We may never know where the Drift bird comes from but if it can be aged it would be a start.
Green Heron, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Lesser Scaup, Upland Sandpiper, Laughing Gull, Franklin's Gull, Chimney Swift. All have arrived in November, and as has been mentioned Wood Duck has the ability to reach the Western P. Just 'cos no-one will tick it doesn't mean it wasn't born in the good ol' USA

Darrell

[KnockerNorton]

Clutching at straws come's to mind. lol

Over the years I have seen a fair few around from the south west right through to the Midlands. As lovely as they are I wouldn't go for one deliberately. If one swims by I will take in the beauty of it and just make a mental note of it.

Most local recorders would like you to make an actual note of it, and submit it with your records at the end of the year! Keeping tabs on feral/escaped species is important yet very often overlooked.

[tom mckinney]

I'm chartering a Space Shuttle bound for Drift as we type....

[Andrew]

Hang on, could it be a drift migrant?

[tom mckinney]

Hang on, could it be a drift migrant?

Shame on you Andrew. Shame shame shame...

:flyaway:

[Big Phil]

Where do people get the impression that there are loads of Wood Duck in Cornwall?

Darrell

Possibly to do with the ones roaming around the Plym Valley - obviously just over in Devon.

[will bowell]

Personally I have seen 5 on Helston boating lake at once, though didn't see any on a visit earlier this month.

cheers
Will

Where do people get the impression that there are loads of Wood Duck in Cornwall?

I can tell you exactly how many I have seen in the county - 3!

Female at Helston boating lake.
Female on the River Lynher
Male near Looe

All of these were known captive birds.

I have seen more Green-winged Teal, Surf Scoter, American Wigeon, Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe in Cornwall than I have Wood Duck.

We may never know where the Drift bird comes from but if it can be aged it would be a start.
Green Heron, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Lesser Scaup, Upland Sandpiper, Laughing Gull, Franklin's Gull, Chimney Swift. All have arrived in November, and as has been mentioned Wood Duck has the ability to reach the Western P. Just 'cos no-one will tick it doesn't mean it wasn't born in the good ol' USA

Darrell

[cheshirebirder]

Years ago I think Wood duck came close to getting into category C of the British list . I think the main colony was in Surrey ? Also heard recently that there are some around the Alton Towers area ? Remember seeing them in the States years ago - personally , I wouldn't mind if they did become established here.

[Reader]

I remember fishing on the River Kennet near Theale, by Reading (I think it was 1996) and was very surprised by a Wood Duck that stayed relatively close to me for most of the day. It was certainly towards the back end of the year, Oct / Nov time)

[Woodchatshrike]

I saw a brood of 12 and 2 adults on Loch Gelly in Fife in 2003 and there was one that hung around the docks in Bristol. I am guessing there is quite a lot out there!

What age is it?

[dan pointon]

Also heard recently that there are some around the Alton Towers area ?

Any around the Alton Towers area will definitely be either escapes or released on-site, the lakes at the JCB factory nearby at Rocester are full of rare and exotic species, as are some of the surrounding lakes etc, for instance the 3 Red Crested Pochards and 4 Black Swans currently present with the Fudge Duck on Brooklees Lake are certainly of captive origin, however judging by how timid the Fudge is, I imagine it's a pure bird.

Cheers,

[ed keeble]

I saw a brood of 12 and 2 adults on Loch Gelly in Fife in 2003 and there was one that hung around the docks in Bristol. I am guessing there is quite a lot out there!

What age is it?

One of three species I have on my "down the chimney" list in Suffolk.

[devon.birder]

Wasn't there a record of Wood Duck on Scillies a few years back which some of the top Listers went to see, just in case. I presume that record was never accepted as a genuine migrant. Roger

[MarkHows]

There are a pair in the vicinity of the Lea Valley, and I have seen 12 at a place in Essex.

There are lots about - I have also seen them in Cornwall

Mark

[Tim Hall]

There's one about 3 miles from me in Cardiff, at Forest Farm, apparently taking bread with Mallard......Still may pop down to see it though.

[Andrew]

I remember seeing a pair in Taunton a few years ago. Right in the town centre under the bridge over the Tone.

Super birds for what they are worth.

[Cuckoo-shrike]

Personally I have seen 5 on Helston boating lake at once, though didn't see any on a visit earlier this month.

cheers
Will
There's a full plumaged male on the boating lake at the moment. Don't bother going to Drift cos you can get great views of this one as it takes the bread from your finger-tips.
I don't see why the Drift bird can't be a genuine vagrant. As an aside when I've seen them in the States they have always been extremely wary and unapproachable.

[tystie]

I saw one 130 miles out in the North Sea in November flying around the vessel i'm on with a flock of Redwings in north westerlie winds !!,i managed to get a photo of it when it landed on the sea close by,It was reported to the North Sea Bird Club and forwarded to the relivent bodies.It was in great condition and had no rings but heard no more about it,that was a couple of years ago.

[josh jones]

Blimey! Would be fascinating to know what the authorities would think of that!

[Tim Hall]

There's one about 3 miles from me in Cardiff, at Forest Farm, apparently taking bread with Mallard......Still may pop down to see it though.


Very smart it is too!

[Bluetail]

Possibly to do with the ones roaming around the Plym Valley - obviously just over in Devon.Those are Mandarins, not Wood Ducks. Just down the river, the Saltram estate does have a Wood Duck or two which have been known to get on the Plym sometimes (or used to - I don't go down there much these days), but they've never wandered far from home.

[snapper]

Years ago I think Wood duck came close to getting into category C of the British list . I think the main colony was in Surrey ? Also heard recently that there are some around the Alton Towers area ? Remember seeing them in the States years ago - personally , I wouldn't mind if they did become established here.Them in the Alton Towers area think will have come from joe bounfords bird collection (the founder of JCB diggers) at Roaster in Staffordshire just a stone's throw from Alton Towers there must be at least 10 pairs there.

[Big Phil]

Those are Mandarins, not Wood Ducks. Just down the river, the Saltram estate does have a Wood Duck or two which have been known to get on the Plym sometimes (or used to - I don't go down there much these days), but they've never wandered far from home.

I've seen Wood Ducks at loose in the Plym Estuary area fairly often in the past and further up the river from time to time. Yes they were outnumbered by Mandarins, but they are (were) free winged and in the 'hood, which was point really.

[lister400]

Don't worry, they'll be Cat C birds soon, and then we can tick most of the above mentioned feral birds (Horray!)

[Bluetail]

Well, theoretically, if you were to tick it, you'd need to be sure that the bird you were looking at was one of the self-sustaining Cat C population and not and Cat E bird. But somehow I doubt whether listers will agonise too much about that.

But how likely is it that Wood Ducks will be elevated to Cat C? Sure, there are a lot of them knocking around, but I got the impression a while ago (and it's quite a while, so things may have changed) there wasn't all that much evidence of feral breeding.

[Cuckoo-shrike]

I've just had a photograph shown to me. It is a deceased duck, shot here on the Lizard recently and the shooter wants to know what it is. Yes folks, it's a male Wood Duck!

[Andrew]

That will keep you wondering for a few days!

[Bluetail]

I thought wildfowlers are supposed to know that they're shooting... :h?:

[Chris Oates]

I've just had a photograph shown to me. It is a deceased duck, shot here on the Lizard recently and the shooter wants to know what it is. Yes folks, it's a male Wood Duck!

Wonder which one that was as the Helston duck was in residence on saturday.