Out For A Duck (or two) - on Wednesday 27th February, 2019

Firstly, my apologies for my lack of visits to websites that I follow. I have been away for just over a week, visiting the Isles of Scilly. I will try and catch up with your blogs over the next couple of days or so. There will be a post on this visit at a later date. Herewith a post that I wrote before going away.

Wednesday 27th February was in my diary as attending a pre-season Osprey Volunteers' meeting at Rutland Water in the early evening. I made up my mind, therefore, to set off after an early lunch and get in some birdwatching at Rutland Water beforehand.

However, I also had a couple of reasons for wanting to visit a reservoir more local to my home, one of which was to seek out a Wood Duck that had been seen there.

This particular day was forecast to be exceptionally good weather, with a few days of fairly grim weather following close behind it. I decided, therefore, to kill (no, I won't use that expression). I decided, therefore, to achieve as many objectives as possible that day, and set off for the local reservoir after an early breakfast.

I think that every man and his dog (literally) had also decided that this would be the last decent weather for a while and headed for the same destination. The car park, and parking spaces on the adjacent road were all fully occupied. Fortunately, I'd gone in my tiny Smart car, and squeezed into a space that no other vehicle would fit into.

I decided on an anticlockwise walk round the entire perimeter of the reservoir. As I crossed the dam, there were Pied Wagtails beside the dam wall.

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) (male) - a local reservoir

There were plenty of Teal around, but none were close. This shot was taken from up high on a bank.

Teal (Anas crecca) (male) - a local reservoir

I'd got five sixths of the way round the reservoir before I spotted the Wood Duck. I make no bones about it - this is, with little doubt, a bird that is an escapee and many birders would shun it as 'non-countable'. However, for me, it was a delight to see. It was quite distant, and preening before having a nap. I suspect that this was its regular resting place as there was a bit of a worn track leading through the long grass to the water's edge. However, I was not going to depart from the path (as I suspect others had done) and risk disturbing it. Here are a few shots of it. Although the light was bright, it was not in a position where it displayed the full sheen on its wonderful plumage. The second image surprised me a little in that it shows just how narrow this duck's head is.

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) (male) - a local reservoir

I'd now spent significantly longer here than intended and, having phoned Lindsay to say I'd be late for lunch (again!), I set off homeward.

After a quick lunch, and having made myself a picnic tea, I set off for Rutland Water. I took the old 'owling route' and, sadly, not a single owl was seen.

On arrival, I first called at Plover Hide, where little of photographic interest was seen. Next was Bittern Hide, and here I was entertained by a Little Grebe amongst the reeds in the shallow waters close to the hide.  My first shots were with it in full sun, against dark water, and I'm rather pleased with the effect.

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

It was fishing, but had moved into the shadow of the hide. I was somewhat astounded at the size of the fish it caught - and swallowed whole!

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

It caught two of about the same size before heading off into the distance. I suspect that it had taken enough to keep it nourished for a while!

Calling in at the usually productive Shoveler Hide, which was quite busy with people, There seemed to be little happening, so I continued on to to Buzzard Hide. Here there were a few pleasant photo opportunities.

A pair of Gadwall passed by at a distance, looking handsome.

Gadwall (Mareca strepera) (female + male) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

A drake Goldeneye was even more distant and I didn't manage to catch it flipping its head back.

Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) (male) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

A drake Shoveler was far more cooperative, passing close by and showing of its glorious plumage.

Shoveler (Anas clypeata) (male) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

If I see any bird flying by, it is usual for me to try and take a photo of it, as I consider it good practice for when I really want to capture an image of something special passing by. Often these practice shots are consigned to the bin. However, sometimes I get one that I want to hang on to- even if it is a common bird. It's easy to forget just how magnificent a bird a Mute Swan is!

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

From here, I moved on to Smew Hide where I found myself unable to see a thing as I was looking directly into a bright low sun on flat water. I then continued to Crake hide in the hope of catching up with the Jack Snipe. However, the water level was way above what it was when I was last there and I came to the conclusion that, without any muddy margins, a sighting was unlikely.

My next stop was at Sandpiper hide on Lagoon 4. Here there were a couple of gentlemen already installed when I arrived. They pointed out a couple of redhead Smew in the distance. I watched and waited patiently for a while as they were joined by a drake and another redhead. However, they soon headed off north.

I then moved on to Dunlin Hide and immediately spotted several Smew at reasonably close quarters. I was just sorting out what was where when ex-Rutland Water boss, and continuing head of Birdfair, Tim Appleton, and a companion arrived. Between us, we counted 12 Smew (4 drakes + 8 redheads). However, I am relatively confident that the four seen five minutes earlier from Dunlin hide weren't in that count, and so there were possibly/probably 16 Smew present on Lagoon 4.

I don't suppose that many shots of four drake Smew have been taken at Rutland Water or anywhere in the county, for that matter!

Smew (Mergellus albellus) (male) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

There will now follow a bit of a 'Smew-fest'. I have never had views like this of this species before, and it is unlikely that I ever will again! 

Any previous sightings I've had have all been of birds 'drifting around' on the water. One thing I did notice this time is what tremendously powerful swimmers they are. When they really want to motor, it seems that they sink lower into the water and carve a deep furrow - this seems to defy logic, as you'd think that skimming the water was more efficient.

Smew (Mergellus albellus) (male) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

 There was the occasional 'head back' display by the males.

Smew (Mergellus albellus) (male) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

Whilst things were calm for most of the time I was watching, there was the occasional altercation - probably testosterone-fuelled!

Smew (Mergellus albellus) (male) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

Most of the time, things were peaceful, however.

I must confess that I mainly concentrated on the males. In an effort to address this imbalance, here are a few shots including or featuring female Smew.

Smew (Mergellus albellus) (male + female) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

Smew (Mergellus albellus) (female) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

Here are a few shots of drakes, when there was not too much contention going on.

Smew (Mergellus albellus) (male) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve

Sadly, I had to depart to give myself time to walk back to my car and eat my picnic tea before the meeting. On departing the hide I called out to the gentlemen in Sandpiper hide to alert them to the Smew at Dunlin Hide. On my way back Tim Appleton stopped to tell me he'd felt the need to rush home to get his camera to photograph the Smew.

When looking at my photos afterwards, I was absolutely astounded to see that the time that had elpsed between my first and last Smew photo was a mere three and a half minutes! It seemed very much longer.

It was an informative meeting that evening, and it was good to meet the new members of the team who will be looking after various aspects of the Osprey Project this season.

Nothing of interest was seen on my way home, but it had been a very rewarding and enjoyable day.

I suspect that my next post will feature my visit to The Isles of Scilly.

Thank you for dropping by.