A real Pintail

After the July duff duck day, we were extra cautious today, but it proved to be an eclipse Pintail in the NE corner that Brian found. The light was flatter so we could see bill colour and a 'pin' tail, revealing the eclipse plumage of a male.

Wigeon numbers jumped again with 82+ present today, only the second time we have had a count this big, this early in the autumn, the last was an almost identical number of 83/15th 2009 (TAG), the only difference being they were on Sandford.

The Shoveler count was around 14-16, then 15 more flew in, which is an increase, but will need to exceed the 2012 numbers of 39/1st Sept, 44/7th and 61/10th, to beat early autumn record counts, 65 on 18th Oct 1998, being the highest in the autumn period.

The highest counts were in 2005 with 110+/7th, 130+/22nd on Sandford and 100+ in Jan 2004.

I forgot to add my midweek rubbish shot of the week of the Raven with a Sparrowhawk, it's great!