Cheddar Reservoir,UK,Lesser Scaup, thoughts? (1 Viewer)

[JCB1980]

Hi all,

Had this bird today, looks good for lesser scaup to me 1st winter male. Head shape fits, bill tip seems to fit too, bill width unable to use as an ID point.

Thoughts please?

Thanks

James

 

[JCB1980]

Any guidance on this bird would be great thanks

James

 

[Andy Hurley]

I agree with Lesser Scaup, after from the points you have already made, I can add that the vermiculation looks fairly coarse and although no nail is visible, it suggests it isn't a hybrid as they tend to have the whole tip black. Also the lack of white around the bill, although not conclusive, tends to favour Lesser.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

The head peak isn't as strong as I usually see for lesser and the head isn't as rounded as a greater. But it's a hard call to make sometimes, especially since you can't see the nail of the bill well.

If I saw it over here, I'd probably call it a lesser (which is more common where I live), or if I was feeling wimpy, scaup sp.

 

[Graham S]

Features fit first-winter drake Lesser Scaup.

LS has fine flank vermiculations. These may be present but blurred out in this photo?

Do you have any other shots?

 

[JCB1980]

Not that give anymore insight, same angles less close and less clear.

Thanks for all the input though guys.

 

[Jan-Paul Charteris]

Ideally want to see wingbar to rule out hybrid 100% but it looks perfect for Lesser Scaup 1st winter male to me, definately isn't Greater

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Agree with Lesser Scaup

CB

 

[Alan Tilmouth]

Images showing more detail today suggest otherwise, see here

 

[lou salomon]

Images showing more detail today suggest otherwise, see here

...which shows that caution is needed when claiming a lesser scaup. many hybrid variants have an affinis-like head and james packer, the author of then blog correctly labels it as a "Lesser Scaupalike". I think it's a (greater?) scaup x tufted duck, fine barring of new scaps suggesting marila, bill pattern and short tuft suggesting fuligula.

 

[TLeukering]

Looks fine for an immature male Lesser Scaup (see http://cfobirds.org/downloads/In the Scope/017 In the Scope January 2011.pdf)

 

[Jan-Paul Charteris]

Looks fine for an immature male Lesser Scaup (see http://cfobirds.org/downloads/In the Scope/017 In the Scope January 2011.pdf)

The extent of the black on the bill rules out Lesser, and other combinations of features leave no possibility but hybrid as Lou has said above

 

[Southern Frogmouth]

The extent of the black on the bill rules out Lesser, and other combinations of features leave no possibility but hybrid as Lou has said above

Indeed but a better quality hybrid than the usual hybrids - there may even be some Lesser Scaup genes in the mix on this one.