Blagdon Lake Birds

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca (Güldenstädt, 1770)

(Very rare status unclear)

Drake Ferruginous Duck, Tiny's Shallow. 20th July 2011.

1. One, immature shot, 4th Nov. 1922 (ref. Palmer & Ballance & H.H. Davis).
2. One, ♂ not aged, 12th Jan. 1969 (C. Rutter).
3. One, adult ♀, 15th Oct. 2006 (N.R. Milbourne).
4. One, ♂ not aged, 16th June 2007 (R.M. Curber).
5. One, adult ♂, 21st Dec. 2008 (N.R. Milbourne).
6. One, adult ♂, 13th July to 23rd Aug. 2011 (N.R. Milbourne).
7. One, adult ♂, 12th July-19th Aug. 2012 (N.R. Milbourne).

The bird found in January 1969 had previously been seen at Orchardleigh Lake and Chew Valley Lake in December 1968 and was spotted at Blagdon by Clive Rutter, the first for many a long year. The adult ♀ in 2006 was undoubtedly a bird from Chew Valley Lake that had been temporarily displaced to Blagdon, it was noted with a large Aythya flock off the North Shore until they were flushed by a boat. A portion of the flock flew off east, including the Ferruginous Duck.

Bibliography (sources of information):

1. Blaythwayt, Rev. F.L. & Tucker, B.W. Ferruginous & Long-tailed Ducks in Somerset. Notes, Brit. Birds, 18: 301. Apr. 1925.
2. Davis H.H. 1948. A Revised List of the Birds of the Bristol District. Reprinted from the Proceedings of the Bristol Naturalists' Society, vol. XXVII, part IV, pp. 225-268. 1947.
3. Davis, H.H. (ed.). Somerset Birds, 1969. Somersetshire Archaeol. & Nat. Hist. Soc.
4. Palmer E.M. & Ballance D.K. 1968. The Birds of Somerset. London.
5. Rose, Dr H.E. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2006. Avon Ornithological Group.
6. Rose, Dr H.E. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2007. Avon Ornithological Group.
7. Rose, Dr H.E. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2008. Avon Ornithological Group.
8. Rose, Dr H.E. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2011. Avon Ornithological Group.