Today we were heading off to
Aberdeen specifically to hopefully see an immature male Harlequin Duck that has
been present since the 3rd.
On route we saw a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard but very little else in
initially snowy conditions. When we
arrived in Aberdeen we went slightly wrong but as we approached the site we saw
two other birds who informed us that it had been present on the river near
Papermill Drive but had flown up stream about ten minutes ago. We parked the bus and spent quite some time
looking from a footbridge but all we saw were three Goosander, several
Goldeneye, a Little Grebe and a couple of Dippers. When we returned to the bus for drink Roger
wondered on to where it had been seen earlier and was rewarded with brief views
of an Otter but it had gone to ground by the time the rest of the party
arrived. With still no sign of the
Harlequin we felt the best option was to go Meikle Loch where there had been an
American Wigeon reported several times recently, and return later. It was quite a drive to the north of Aberdeen
but we eventually arrived in very windy conditions and unfortunately most of
the ducks were congregated in the far corner.
There were plenty of Teal and quite a few Wigeon amongst them but we
couldn’t find the American Wigeon, although it could have been there as it was
almost impossible to get good views as the ducks swam in and out of the reeds
in what were very windy conditions.
We eventually set off back to
Aberdeen seeing several flocks of Pink-footed Geese and a single Buzzard. As we approached Aberdeen a tweet informed
that the Harlequin was back and could be seen close to Papermill Lame. Getting back wasn’t easy as the road we
wanted was closed due to road works and so we parked
close by and walked the last
few hundred yards. I was the first to
arrive at the river bank and saw two other birders on the far side of the
safety fence and just beyond them the Harlequin Duck resting on an exposed
rock. It was very approachable as it sat
and the rock and eventually dropped into the water to feed whilst we were still
there providing good opportunities for photographs. Whilst most of the plumage was still brown
there were signs of blue appearing on the sides of the head, some of the
coverts and tail and I suspect it may resemble a rather stunning male before it
departs.
First-winter male Harlequin Duck
First-winter male Harlequin Duck
First-winter male Harlequin Duck
First-winter male Harlequin Duck
First-winter male Harlequin Duck
First-winter male Harlequin Duck
First-winter male Harlequin Duck
With the afternoon drawing to
a close and the promise of more snow we called it a day and headed off back to
Nethy Bridge.
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