DECOY POND - IN SEARCH OF A RARE DUCK
WEATHER: overcast, light rain to start, brighter later. Temp 14C
For the last few winters several American Ducks have over-wintered on the summer levels, te majotity of them (up t0 5) have been Ring-necked Ducks. One of their favourite places to spend the winter has been the 'decoy pond' on Shapwich Heath. This year one of them has already arrived and that is what I set out to see today.
From the muddy lay-by close to the Southern Drain it is a fairly easy walk to Decoy. You have pass the replica of the prehistoric wooden walk-way through the marshes, this impressive construction was biult 3,800 year BC!!
I saw very little during the walk but heard several Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler. A section of the 'pool' can be viewed from the footpath and from there I clocked afew more species: Mute Swan, Gadwall, Shoveler, Mallard and a small group of Tufted Ducks.
In the hide I met a guy who was also looking for the Ring-necked Duck, he had information as to where it might be favouring. Of course, this was the furthes point from the hide that a duck could possibly be found!
a record shot of the adult male Ring-necked Duck - it was distant
After searching for a while I spotted the little bugger annd sure enough it was distant. I got the other guy on to it and attempted a couple of pictures.
male Tufted Duck
In the meantime a large flock of Shovelers had dropped in, also two Great Egrets, two Marsh Harriers and then a small duck. This small duck intrigued me as it stood on a floating log next to a Shoveler, it looked Teal size standing next to the bigger bird.
I scoped the small duck, it was facing away form me, it then truned its head and bingo! It was a Garganey, an unexpected find! The guy sitting next to me was pleased to see it too, but told me that it had been reproted by other other birders over the last few days, Doh! I thought I had found it.
the Garganey
I had to get back to the car by 1pm and drive into Street to collect Dawn and her friend Ivy. On the way back I saw, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit and Chiffchaff. On the way across to Street I passed a field with 15 Cattle Egrets in it. It would have been rude not to stop and take a picture or two.
Cattle Egrets
Dawn and Ivy had been shopping and had had a nice lunch in Prets, whilst I had a couple of aging bananas and some multloaf, But I did sneak a Bounty Bar into my pocket, yummy!!