Female Scaup? 10th January, Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve, Lunt UK (1 Viewer)

Hi all

Haven't been on here for a while so hope you all had a Merry Christmas - and a Happy New Year to you all too

Santa left me a new Nikon lens - a 300 - but alas this still didn't have enough reach to get a decent photo of this little chap/chapette.

There were male and female Tufteds, but they kept their distance from this single individual (photo of Tufteds included in main upload for reference to plumage etc).

I've not altered the images so if they are over/under exposed then at least they haven't been altered in post.

Why do I think it's a female Scaup? Different plumage, the lack of tuft (but this could just be down to the conditions) and the light bar across the top of the beak area.

Any help appreciated.

thanks!

Looks like a female Tufted Duck to me.

Pretty difficult to say from these photos. It could be either

Thanks for the replies guys - even my investment in new 300 lens hasn't helped sorry.

..and, sorry to admit it, I'd forgotten my bins ha ha