I got up particularly early this morning as I planned to visit Dunsford Woods for one last time before my Florida Trip early next week. My weekend will be taken up by an exciting weekend of music making with my Brass Band, Lympstone South West Telecoms at the Regional Championships in Torquay so not much chance of birdwatching over the weekend. I checked for emails and there was a message telling me that there were 4 Garganey Ducks, 3 Drakes and a Duck at Bowling Green Marsh. I was up dressed, showered and on the Chinese Bike by 9 on my way. At the hide which was already quite busy I was immediately directed to the birds that I had come to see. This is a lifetime first for me and I am thrilled to not only see such a nice bird but also to get the chance to include it my lifetime list which is incidentally only in my head as I am not a great list writer. The camera was quickly brought in to action and I took a few shots. I left the hide after a few minutes because I was pretty sure that I could get a better and clearer shot from the road. This proved to be the case and I am pleased to add them here.

The Garganey is a rare British duck with an estimated 23 to 100 or so breeding pairs in the UK and as such the assembled “throng” as it was quickly becoming as the word spread on the grapevine, were justifiably excited at the presence of, not only 1 but 4 all in one morning.

I wish the shots were a little better but all the usual problems, bad light and distance to the subject came in to play. But not bad for such a rare bird. After a while they waddled off out of the water and across the field giving me a chance for perhaps a better shot but again the distance was a factor.

The duck was particularly attractive I think with such nice markings in a very subtle plumage pattern. So with the hide rapidly turning in to a scene remeniscent of a Tunisian market and with more people than at the average Exeter City Home game ( and noisier as well) I decided to beat a hasty retreat and see if I could make it home without police intervention today!! I was particularly impressed (not) with the rather large lady in the bright white coat who thought that she should fit her mammoth figure onto the front bench of the hide and then was surprised when all the waders, mostly Godwits, took this as the straw that broke the camels back and left. A real wildlife experience for her. I wonder if she scatters the birds where ever she goes ….oh I do hate it in public hides!!!!

It could be that this is one of the rarest British Breeding birds so far on the Blog so this is quite a post today and its still only 1104 in the morning ……… still time for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Oh, and it was so nice to meet a couple of friendly faces today, both regulars to the blog and your comments are very much appreciated Nigel and I am glad that you found my police encounter so funny Mike.