The drake lesser scaup was still present today, again at the western end with
30 tufted ducks and four pochard (3 drakes). Also today two wigeon, four
common sandpipers at the sailing club and two Egyptian geese.
When I first found the bird on Monday it was distant and asleep but I was
confident as soon as I saw it that it was a lesser scaup. The grey back and
black head clearly made it a scaup, and even with it's head tucked in I could
see that the crown was peaked at the rear, and it was obviously similar size
to a tufted duck. Really the only potential problem was eliminating the
possibility of it being a hybrid, but the dark tip to the bill which was
restricted to the nail ruled that out almost from the moment it woke up.
Looking through Birdguides recent sightings, this is the only lesser scaup in
the country at the moment and the last record before this was from as far back
as 4th May.
This photo shows nicely the purple sheen to the head.
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