ML616126640
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
Self-found. First-winter female. As I walked along Monalty Lough, chatting on the phone to Peter Phillips, I picked up a distant aythya with the bins that got the heart racing. The white shield at the base of the bill was very prominent and is what drew me to this bird initially, however when I noticed the wavy pattern on the upperparts it got me excited. I ran back to the car for the scope and it was exactly what I hoped it would look like. Black on the bill restricted to the nail only. The peak at the rear of the head was consistent on all angles. Spread wing showed white secondaries and an obvious divide with the grey primaries. The wavy pattern on the paler upperparts (compared to Tufted Duck) nailed it for me. Absolutely chuffed. The first record for Co. Monaghan and only 2km from my front door!
Technical information
- Original file size
- 3.03 MB