carolina wood-duck

[nightshade]

Rarely-seen Carolina Wood Duck is spotted at Burnham-On-Sea park
I was just given a call about this bird so here you are all you birders (who probably know anyway)

[James_Owen]

Actually I hadn't heard about this on any rarities websites, perhaps suggesting that it certainly is an escape, not sure we have had any genuine records at all to be perfectly honest.
Being such a strikingly handsome duck, you can probably understand why it would make it into ornamental collections.
Nice to see it.

[Barbara]

Hi nightshade
This is a pic of a Carolina Wood Duck which I took back in the summer at Martin Mere I never knew they were rarely seen until I saw your post, thanks for that



Barbara

[aeshna5]

They are a common North American duck, but have never been officially accepted as a vagrant on the British list, despite at least a couple of birds with potentially good credentials in time of year + location.

The trouble is that being such attractive birds they are one of the most popular waterfowl in collections + they are not uncommon as escapes, so the problem is working out whether a bird is such or a genuine vagrant. Given how many American ducks that regularly turn up here, such as American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal + Ring-necked Duck to name the most regular, it seems inconceivable that one has never got here under its own steam.

Despite their regular appearances + occasional breeding as feral birds they've never taken off in the way of their closest relative, the Mandarin.

Lovely photos guys!

[V6GTO]

From the London Wetlands Centre at Barnes...



Martin.

[Gill Catton]

lovely duck used to be my favourite until i saw a group of male smew in full breeding plumage and watched their little punk rock hair-do displaying - gorgeous

[John]

I have been seeing these birds for years. Until they are accpted onto the British lists they will always be considered as escapee's.

The first time I saw one of these was on the River Kennet near Reading many years ago. I was fishing there (wasn't a birder then) and had one virtually all day right by me. Incredibly beautiful duck.

John

[Gill Catton]

I remember when I was in Ullapool I spent quite some time in the drizzle trying to id a really strange duck through the murk - turned out to be a mandarin in eclipse plumage! These escapes get everywhere

[John]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I remember when I was in Ullapool I spent quite some time in the drizzle trying to id a really strange duck through the murk - turned out to be a mandarin in eclipse plumage! These escapes get everywhere

Mandarin's are on the British list Gill. They can turn up anywhere. The trouble is away from their recognised areas you are not quite sure if they are escapee's or not.

Whilst up at Bingley (for the American Robin and the Firecrest), I came across a Mandarin on a canal. That stayed off my list but if it had been somewhere like the Forest of Dean (where they breed) then that would have been a different matter.

I think if you come across single Mandarin's you could possibly class them as escapee's but if there were a group of them perhaps they could be classed as genuine. That's my rule of thumb anyway.

John

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by John

Mandarin's are on the British list Gill. They can turn up anywhere. The trouble is away from their recognised areas you are not quite sure if they are escapee's or not.

Whilst up at Bingley (for the American Robin and the Firecrest), I came across a Mandarin on a canal. That stayed off my list but if it had been somewhere like the Forest of Dean (where they breed) then that would have been a different matter.

I think if you come across single Mandarin's you could possibly class them as escapee's but if there were a group of them perhaps they could be classed as genuine. That's my rule of thumb anyway.

John

Fair point well made, however, it's a thin fuzzy line for me, once it's clearly non- native I seem to automatically lose a level of interest though I still appreciate the beauty.

There are mandarins breeding in the wood where I grew up, they've been there for over 20 years!