Thursday 4 February 2010

Colemere - RB Merganser!!

Another month and amazingly another Shropshire lifer! Nice one Paul Rutter the previous day and with just a 30 min window of opportunity at lunchtime, I nailed the female Red-breasted Merganser.....

Initially scoped from the bank by the car park and seen here with male and feamle Goosanders. The smaller size, spiky head and diffuse gradation from the brown of the head to the white of the neck. The bill shape noticeably distinctive too!






A very annoying helicopter flushed the whole mere on at least two occasions. In the drizzle and gloom, this is the best record shot I could manage.....






Blimey, at this rate, I'll have joined the 200 club by July......... :-)