Red Crested Pochard - Milton Keynes Canal

[ultimateangling]

Hi All,

Whilst on my walk this morning I spotted what I think is a red crested pochard on the Grand Union canal in Great Linford Milton Keynes.

Is this unusual as i've not seen one before? Are they rare to the UK as it says so in one of my old books.

It had all the characteristics (red head & beak etc) and I've got a grainy photo from my camera phone.

[solus]

Not a native species but escaped/introduced and now with a sizeable feral breeding population - there are hundreds in the Cotswold Water Park between Swindon and Cirencester, for example. They do seem to pop up all over the place and it is quite possible this is what you saw. If you could post the pic via the Image Library that might help to confirm or otherwise.

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by ultimateangling

Are they rare to the UK as it says so in one of my old books.

.

Yes, they are rare passage migrants to the UK (they do breed in continental Europe). We also have a growing feral population so determining the origin of RC Pochard is difficult. On a canal in Milton Keynes, it's likely to be one of the feral birds - especially this time of year. Its on both the E, C and A list of British species, so can be from a self sustaining feral population, an escaped individual or a wild individual.

[ultimateangling]

It was a male on its own in a large group of mallards. No female that I could see. Milton Keynes has a reputation for being a concrete jungle but I see loads of cool stuff in my garden alone including a pair of resident Jay's, Green Woodpeckers and Long Tailed Tits. It does help that I back onto the park tho

[Monkey Orchid]

I saw and photographed this red crested pochard at Thatcham Reedbeds in Berkshire, on 7th January 2010.





He was hanging out with a big mixed group of waterfowl on the lake next to Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre: mallards, Canada geese, tufted ducks, coots, moorhens, mute swans, even a black swan. I'd not seen a red crested pochard there before, but maybe I just hadn't been looking very hard. He caught my eye that day because his colours were so beautiful in the winter sunshine, especially against all the heavy snow we had at the time.

[ultimateangling]

I went past this morning on my walk and he'd gone. Shame as I wanted a good photo in the morning sunshine as its glorious over here today. This is my poor quality pic from yesterday.

[Harold Smith]

I would say it is definitely a Red Crested Pochard.

Harold.

[Picidae]

Yes, RC Pochard.

Nice pics Monkey Orchid. I had one on my local Gravel Pits on Saturday. Like you say, bright orange/red head glaring in the sunshine!