Lesser Scaup - Carsington Water

 Carsington Water continues its amazing run of rare and scarce birds today with a second County record of Lesser Scaup. A female this time found this morning at the Millfields end.

Lesser Scaup female in the shade (top) and sunshine (below)

Very similar to female Tufted Duck but the pale flanks of Lesser Scaup continue on to the mantle whereas the mantle is darker than the flanks in female Tufted. In flight the white wing bar is restricted to the secondaries but extends across the primaries in Tufted. The head looks rather more pointed in Lesser Scaup but varies a bit with posture.

I also saw the female Ring-necked Duck in the same area but there are still two Greater Scaup present plus Great Northern and Red-throated Divers so there is plenty to look for there.

Ring-necked Duck - Carsington Water

 A female Ring-necked Duck was found at Carsington Water on 17th November but wasn't seen again until it was refound at the Millfields end of the reservoir this morning. I saw it this afternoon in very wet overcast weather.

It's only the second record for Carsington and was showing well this afternoon, associating with a small group of Tufted Duck.

Ring-necked Duck - female

With another period of poor weather I haven't seen much else; a Little Egret was on the river at Chatsworth on Friday and I've seen a Pink-footed Goose with the Canada Geese at Bakewell several times. A female Pochard spent several days on the Whitworth Park Lake but left when the lake iced over.

At least 6 Hawfinch were aeen at Cromford on 18th November but I've not looked for them yet.