Red-crested Pochard - Lumbsdale

 June Oliver let me know that she had seen a drake Red-crested Pochard yesterday whilst walking in Lumbsdale. It's a bird I've never seen locally, and I'm not aware of any previous records in the Matlock/ Bakewell area, so I was keen to see if it was still present this morning and fortunstely it was, on the second pond down from the Highfields end.

Red-crested Pochard - drake

It's a fairly scarce bird in Derbyshire but recorded annually at Carsington where birds can stay for some time. Most birds are thought to be of feral origin as it is widely bred in captivity.

Whatever its origins the males are a striking birds and it's great to see one locally.