[IanF]

The White-headed Duck that stayed so long in the area last year has returned again - well it looks the same one - quite remarkable really as local experts assure me it's reappeared on the same calendar day as last year - 29th March!

Any Members who didn't see it last year or want to add it to their year list may be better off visiting soon as there is no guarantee it will hang around as for long as it did last year, though there are decent numbers of Ruddy Duck about for it to chase again!

It's been moving around quite a bit between the ponds, but over the last two days I have only seen it on Saltholme Pond west late afternoon i.e. 3-5 pm. Both days it's been close in to the side of the road at the north end. Quite a few birders turned up this afternoon for a look/tick (plenty do!) whilst I was there today. Being a bit brighter this afternoon though still hazy, I grabbed a couple of shots - just in case.

[Geoff Pain]

Ok come on own up who's had it caged up at home and decided to release it again?
Never had one of these,so a trip oop North might be in order if it stops around for a while.

[Hotspur]

Not sure i wanna venture into smoggy land for a plastic

[dbradnum]

This is almost certainly the bird that has overwintered for the second year at Broadwater GP in NW London. The matchup between the dates at the two sites is uncannily good:

last reported Broadwater 28/3/04
arrive Saltholme 30/3/04
last reported saltholme 24/10/04
(brief foray to Rutland Water on the way south, 31/10 - 1/11/04)
arrive Broadwater 7/11/04
last reported Broadwater 15/3/05
arrive Saltholme 29/3/05

There is absolutely no overlap, and only one other record of drake WHDuck in the UK over this period (per Birdguides).

Quite interesting to be able to track its movements this closely!

[dbradnum]

Oh, and AFAIK, no-one's ever determined the bird's origin... . The assumption amongst many people is that it's plastic, but does anybody actually know that this is the case?

[Paul F]

What's the date tomorrow?

[IanF]

Now now Paul

I don't think it's origins will ever be known for sure. Whilst I like to keep an open mind, I do tend towards a captive origin as most likely. Either way it's certainly living in the wild now as anyone who's visited this area will well know. I do wonder if we'll see some hydrids this year going by the way it was chasing the Ruddy Duck last year, though it was often chasing the males as well!!!

[brianfm]

I see it's on Birdguide map as common. You must have missed all the rest Ian

[dbradnum]

Originally Posted by Paul F

What's the date tomorrow?

LOL...

I didn't say what I thought about the bird's credentials... but I thought someone might bite! Just stirring a bit...

[dbradnum]

Hmmm, I see there's a report of the drake WHDuck at Broadwater again today - what's going on? Is there still a bird up in Cleveland, or has it decided it's still a bit chilly up north, and come back for a week or two? Are there in fact two birds involved?

Answers on a postcard, please...

[Stewart J.]

Shame on you Hotspur "Smoggy land" indeed!

Stewart

[pauliev69]

I agree with Hotspur Stewart, "Smoggy land" it is , but we seem to get our fair share of birds!!

[Stewart J.]

Yo Paul looking back on my records and this shows my age, I first birded there as a motorcycle driving teeny in 1966 with a few Sunderland friends. It was smokey then but thought they'd cleaned up their act in last few years. Last visit was for Great Knot and the Ross's Gull or was it other way around?

Stewart