A sign of the coming winter a drake scaup was on Pant pond
this afternoon (Friday). It was still in eclipse so a bit scruffy. Plenty of kites and
buzzards on surrounding stubble fields. Re mandarin I did not check it out in
the books as it was obviously an escape but on checking BWP I agree it probably
was drake in eclipse. I did notice the sails on the drake were not fully
developed.
David Price.
Scaup is a scarce bird in the county and especially so away from the coast.