Not such a Great Scaup

This morning and early afternoon was spent going part of my University assignment, a call from The Finch interrupted me from work and informed me that the Lesser Scaup had been seen again and had relocated. I checked BirdGuides and sure enough there was the news, so I picked The Finch up about 30 mins later and we were north bound. We arrived around about 04.15 and paid for a parking ticket, oh how I loathe to pay for parking! However 5 minutes later we were watching the Lesser Scaup, it was one of those species I thought would eventually come to me and sure enough it did......score! Hard to believe the first for the UK was just back in 1987 when a mate (Beadnell Stringer) had it on his then patch; Chasewater in Staffordshire. Since that record there have been many more and the bird has gone from being an absolute MEGA to a rare but fairly annual vagrant.

The bird didn't really put on much of a show and spent most of its time asleep, but it did wake up on about 6 occasions briefly showing that nice white blaze on the face. Lately birds seem to just fall asleep when I arrive and don't do much! lol

Oh and some music to go with the pictures and videos... well it's no Blackburnian Warbler!

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It was showing well even though it was asleep!

 (Lesser Scaup & The Fog - © Derek Charlton)

(Lesser Scaup - © Derek Charlton)

Until next time, Foghorn out!