Garganey 2 (m & f)
Wigeon 100
Teal 100
Little Egret 8
Year 186 (Baikal Teal)
Just as we were about to leave the area, news broke that the Baikal Teal which had been at Fen Drayton for a couple of weeks, but which had gone missing today, had relocated to the Ouse Washes. It spent most of its time asleep but on a couple of occasions lifted its head to reveal its face pattern, complete with teardrop (unlike the Marshside bird from last December). It was with a flock of about 200 Wigeon and Teal. A pair of Garganey swam in front of the bird.
At about 19:30, with the light fading and the rain starting and faced with a long drive home, we decided to call it a day. After about a 15 minute walk back to the car, we were packing away our gear when a flock of Wigeon and Teal flew high overhead and headed away north east along the drain. I couldn't say for sure that the Baikal Teal was with them, or even if it was the same flock that we had seen, but they came from the right direction and were about the correct number of birds. Perhaps the Wigeon were starting their long migration home and perhaps the Baikal Teal was with them.
The flood plains of Hundred Foot Drain near Sutton Gault on the Ouse Washes. This was a great setting in which to see Baikal Teal, and to possibly see it leave and head north east on migration with the Wigeon flock was a great experience.
Update 09/04/2014: the Baikal Teal has not been reported from anywhere since, so the chances are it did depart with Wigeon on the evening of the 5th April, which certainly improves it credentials as a genuine wild bird.
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