Ferruginous Duck #42

I had a morning in the garden clearing up after the sparrowhawk, thankfully just feathers as he must have come back for the carcass at some stage (or at least 'something' took it). After lunch it was still dry and warm, but getting more and more windy and I'd finished what I could in the garden, so we took a quick trip back to Woolston Eyes to see if we could see the 'Fudge' Ducks. We were hoping it would be third time lucky, and it was. We spotted them from the bridge out in the open soon after we arrived and managed a few shots before they started hiding behind the trees and reeds.  A more traditional duck shot of the pair is in extras.

Ferruginous Ducks are increasingly rare visitors to the UK from southern Europe and Northern Africa  and are often overlooked as they hang about with tufted ducks and pochard, both whom share some of the same characteristics. This is my fourth new duck this year already, all of them being seen within 25 minutes drive of home. It's been a bit of a duck fest recently.