Tufted Duck with ducklings - Bakewell

 In the last few days I've seen a couple of broods of Tufted Ducks in the Bakewell area. Both looked to have 3 ducklings, at Bakewell Bridge and Ashford Lake.

Tufted Duck female with duckling

A Common Sandpiper at Bakewell was the first I've seen there and nice to see a juvenile Dipper.

Breeding Tufted Ducks

I've seen my first Tufted Duck ducklings this week with a brood of three at Chatsworth and a single on Harthill Pond, Youlgrave.

They are late nesters, hatching several months later than the of the first Mallard. I've only seen them nesting on ponds/lakes so there is limited suitable habitat locally but I suspect they may also nest along the rivers where they will be harder to locate.

Tufted Duck with duckling

Chatsworth in the snow

 With the snow and freezing temperatures over the last couple of days I didn't think it was a good idea to drive up on to the moor so I went to Chatsworth instead. I was hoping that with the freezing weather some waterfowl might have been forced on to the river but the only unexpected birds were two drake Tufted Duck but they were accompanied by the hybrid Tufted/ Pochard which is the first time I've seen it this winter. I first saw it in February 2014 so it's been wintering in the area for quite some time.

Tufted/ Pochard hybrid with two drake Tufted Duck

There were lots of Siskin feeding in the Alders along the river and they looked very festive in the snow laden trees.

Siskin

Evidence of birds being forced of the higher moors came in the form of two Common Snipe flushed from the river edge and a lone female Stonechat, both species are very scarce along the river.

Common Snipe

There were plenty of Redwing around and one or two Brambling but the scenery made up for any disappointment on the bird front.

River Derwent at Chatsworth

Shoveler - Bakewell

Having just returned from clear blue skies in the French Alps it was a bit of a shock waking up to the grey skies and mist in the UK but there are generally more birds here than in there rather inhospitable winter alpine climate.
I took a walk around Bakewell this morning and came across a drake Shoveler, which I assume is the bird seen around Rowsley last winter. 

Shoveler - drake

There were more Tufted Duck around than I had seen prior to Christmas, I counted 24, which presumably moved here during the recent cold spell. The Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid was with them so guess they haven't travelled very far.

Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid

Finally had nice views of a Grey Heron, already in breeding plumage by the footbridge on the north side of town.

Grey Heron

Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid back at Bakewell

The male Tufted Duck x female Pochard hybrid has returned for at least its third winter and was by the island in Bakewell this morning and giving great views in the sunshine. For the past two winters I've seen it around Chatsworth but it's certainly easier to view at Bakewell.
It has been occasionally reported as a male Scaup but it's more likely to be confused with Lesser Scaup although with views like these it shouldn't be a problem. 
The extensively black-tipped bill and grey back with fine black vermiculations separate the two. Lesser Scaup has just the nail of the bill black and the back is white with coarse black vermiculation. 
You can see these differences on the Lesser Scaup photographed at Ogston in March 2013, click the link and view below.

Tufted Duck x Pochard male hybrid

Hybrid Tufted Duck back at Chatsworth

Ducks on the river at Chatsworth this morning included a male Pochard, female Gadwall and the hybrid male Tufted Duck/Pochard which I last saw in February, so it could be back for the winter.

Male Tufted Duck/Pochard hybrid

Tufted Duck x Pochard Hybrid - Chatsworth

Checking the ducks on the river at Chatsworth this morning one duck in a group of 6 Tufted looked distinctly odd. I think this is the product of a male Pochard and female Tufted Duck. These hybrids occasionally lead to claims of Lesser Scaup but there are some clear differences shown in these photos. Lesser Scaup (follow this link to photos of the bird last year at Ogston) only has the nail of the bill black and the back is more distinctly vermiculated. Also the eye looks orange rather than yellow which makes me think this is the offspring of a male Pochard.
Several Crossbill in the larches by the second weir and a pair of Gooseander were the only other birds of note.

Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid

Tufted Duck with nasal tag

Whilst at Carsington looking for the Scaup (below) I came across this female Tufted Duck with a bright blue nasal tag. Mentioning this to Roger he advised that Tufted Duck AAS has been seen on and off each winter since 2009 and was tagged near Nantes in France in 2007. Can't say I find the idea of the nasal tag too appealing bit this individual has worn the tag for over 6 years so it doesn't appear to have caused it any problems.

Tufted Duck - female with nasal tag