Musselburgh - Sea ducks plus support act

It would have been rude not to try for the American White-winged Scoter (once more) on my journey to the Highlands but there was no sign! There were at least 200 Common Scoter, one or two Velvet Scoter and at least six Long-tailed Duck seen, all at considerable distance!

Could have done with this male LTD 100m closer!

This female was almost in range?

The only birds close to the sea wall were a small group of Eiders...

With news of Wood Sandpiper and Garganey at the nearby lagoons, I yomped an extra mile or so where there were but just one but three Wood Sands on view!

And the smart drake Garganey...

Was joined by another!

You could say they saved the day? The rain started to fall again and it was Highlands here I come...

Chetwynd Pool - Long-tailed Duck

I got a message from Martin Grant this morning, doing his monthly duck count he had found a... 'Long-tailed Duck on Chetwynd Pool'. Wow, that's the fourth in the county in the space of a month and despite my viral throat, I figured a bit of fresh air would do me good. 

It was reasonably showy too (for a while) and the calm water was coloured up nicely from the tree reflections...

Another 1w female methinks?

I sensed there might be a bit of a reflection opportunity from the duck as well!

And slowly but surely, it cruised into the calmer water...

Two for the price of one!

Well done Martin, a cracking find! Fresh air and duck therapy, the perfect cure to winter ailments... Now where's that bottle of wine?

The Mere - Long tailed Duck

The Long-tailed Duck was still present but constantly either in the middle or off the inaccessible far corner of Colemere! The Mere beckoned and thankfully the male here was showing reasonably well?

A series showing off all angles and those prominent white scapulars, looking good for 1st winter male.

I'm sure he would have looked better against dark water but this was the best I could manage!

Whitemere next.....

Colemere - a new Long-tailed Duck!!

Heading north for a talk, I factored in a quick hour dash around the meres this afternoon. I got bogged down at Colemere however, scoping the mere from by the car park, I could see a distant shape in amongst some Goldeneye half way across which could only be one thing - a Long-tailed Duck.... Except, this was as dark headed as the mere bird was white!! It had to be a new bird :-)

Camera at the ready, I legged it around the bank passing the sailing club and got as close as I could get - still 100-150 metres away and really mobile!

This one looks to be a female...

And typically playing hard to get, this was as close as I could get (without a boat)

A quick dash to the mere produced the 1st winter male present on the far bank so no more pics but I plan to have another go at this one over the weekend!

Ellesmere - Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck is as seriously good inland bird and especially so in Shropshire! I was planning an image catch up today but news from John Morris of an Lt Duck on the Mere had me 'scrambling' with the camera bag!

It was still there on arrival and showing reasonably well near the roadside! Never close up to 'excite' at least some half decent record shots were on the cards....

Occasionally coming to within 40m or so! With those white scapulars and no hint of pink on the bill, it looks good for a 1st winter male?!

As close at it gets with this one!

An an appropriate image to end on! It was under the water more than on it!!

We need a male Smew in the County this winter? It's been a long while and on the cards.....