As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Wednesday, 12 March 2014

RARE BIRDS: Scaup: Rare ducks spotted at RSPB Conwy


A male and two female Scaups were seen on a lagoon near the Tal y Fan hide


The UK’s rarest ducks have been spotted at RSPB Conwy’s nature reserve.

Three of these Scaup ducks have been seen on a lagoon near the Tal y Fan hide at the Llandudno Junction site, off the A55.

An RSPB spokeswoman said: “There are three of them - a male and two females. It’s quite unusual to see them on an inland lake.

“They have been on a deeper lagoon but have now moved to a more shallow lagoon near the Tal y Fan hide which is quite full because of the heavy rainfall.”

The RSPB says that Scaup are diving ducks with a resemblance to tufted ducks. 

Only a handful breed in the UK every year, making them our rarest breeding duck.

Males have black heads, shoulder and breast, white flanks, grey back and a black tail, says the charity.

Females are brown, with characteristic white patches around the base of the bill.

In flight, they show white patches along the length of the trailing edge of the wing.

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