Here are a couple more shots of Red-crested Pochard in Arnot Hill Park. They are interesting birds as many of them are escapees from wildfowl collections, but at this time of year others fly in from wild populations in Europe.
There was a group at Idle Valley Nature Reserve last autumn and another small flock when we visited Rutland Water earlier in the year. In fact there are 39 there now, according to the latest sighting reports.
The three photos below show various birds at Arnot Hill earlier in the year – as you can see, the females are much drabber, and one of the drakes has a light back – a sign that it is an escaped bird from a collection (domesticated birds tend to be lighter).
The third picture shows a Red-crested Pochard and a Common Pochard.
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- Red Crested Pochard
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- Red Crested Pochard – Arnot Hill
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- Red Crested Pochard looks down its beak at an ordinary Pochard
Thank you.
My pleasure. 🙂
A very handsome specimen!
He was looking good in the sunshine.
Marvellous
Thank you. 🙂
Cool photos. My eyes were playing tricks on me and I read the name of the bird as Potshards…
That would be a great name – I’d love to see them. Some form of crustacean perhaps?
Such a striking bird, and I had never even heard of them. Love finding out new things.
They are a handsome bird indeed. That’s the beauty of blogging – always so much to learn, and it gets me out to find more stuff. 🙂
I know! My blogging friends have expanded my world, and I love it!
Yes, it’s a great thing.I don’t know how the last year would have gone without blogging.
I know just what you mean.
🙂
I don’t believe I’ve seen either a pochard or a red-crested pochard. Handsome birds!
Even the Common Pochard isn’t common anymore. At one time they were always there with the tufted ducks.
🙁