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Blagdon Lake Birds

Smew Mergellus albellus [Linnaeus, 1758]

(Very scarce PM & WV)

 

Smew, Herriott's, Chew Valley Lake. 11th Feb 2012.Smew, Herriott's, Chew Valley Lake. 11th Feb 2012.

 

 

I have 170 records prior to 2000, however, it seems that the Smew Mergellus albellus is becoming increasingly rare at the lake in the last few years, so I'm publishing all records since 2000. If you can add to these, please send your records for inclusion.

 

  1. Two, adult male & immature male or female, 1st Jan. to 12th Feb. 2000 (N.R. Milbourne).
  2. One, immature male or female, 7th April 2000 (N.R. Milbourne). See note 1 below.
  3. One, immature male or female, 13th-14th Jan. 2001 (N.R. Milbourne). See note 2 below.
  4. One, adult male, 13th-15th Jan. 2001 (N.R. Milbourne). See note 3 below.
  5. One, immature male or female, 8th March 2001 (N.R. Milbourne). See note 4 below.
  6. Two, immature male or female, 30th Nov. to 1st Dec. 2001 (N.R. Milbourne). See note 4 below.
  7. One, adult male, 29th Dec. 2001 to 12th Jan. 2002 (N.R. Milbourne). See note 4 below.
  8. One, immature male or female, 7th Jan. 2002 (N.R. Milbourne). See note 5 below.
  9. One, probably an immature male, 29th Nov. 2002 (N.R. Milbourne).
  10. One, adult male, 21st Dec. 2002 to 3rd Jan. 2003 (N.R. Milbourne).
  11. One, adult male, 26th-28th Dec. 2002 (N.R. Milbourne).
  12. One, immature male or female, 30th Dec. 2002 (N.R. Milbourne).
  13. Three, immature male or female, 12th January 2003 (N.R. Milbourne).
  14. One, immature male or female, 1st Feb. to 1st March 2003 (N.R. Milbourne).
  15. One, immature male or female, 13th Dec. 2003 (N.R. Milbourne).
  16. One, immature male or female, 7th Jan. 2004 (S. Isgar). See note 6 below.
  17. One, adult female, 12th Feb. 2005 (N.R. Milbourne).
  18. One, adult female, 7th Jan. 2006 (N.R. Milbourne).
  19. One, adult male, 7th-14th January 2006 (N.R. Milbourne).
  20. One, adult male, 29th Dec. 2006 (N.R. Milbourne).
  21. Two, immature male or female, 23rd Feb. to 2nd March 2007 (N.R. Milbourne, M.I. Pearce & R.J. Palmer).
  22. One, immature male or female, 20th Feb. to 13th March 2010 (P. Delve, N.R. Milbourne et al.).
  23. One, female not aged, 10th-28th Feb. 2011 (C. Hunt, N.R. Milbourne).
  24. One, probable adult female, 18th Jan. 2023 (N.R. Milbourne).

 

 

Note 1: Date given as 8th April in ABR 2000, but may have been recorded by someone else on that date.

Note 2: Date given as 13th January only in ABR 2001. Correct dates given here.

Note 3: Date given as 13th January only in ABR 2001. Correct dates given here.

Note 4: These records were not published in ABR 2001 although they were submitted.

Note 5: Date given as 17th January in ABR 2002. This may have been a misprint, or, someone elses record. Correct date given here.

Note 6: Record not published and presumably not submitted to AOG. Probably the same bird seen in December 2003.

 

As long ago as 1917, Donald Carr, the former head keeper at the lake, wrote "Several smew have been shot this season; they have not visited Blagdon for several years." Then again, in 1921 he wrote " On December 27th six Smew were killed, five were females and immature males, the sixth was a most magnificent male in full dress." The Tenant kindly presented me with this fine specimen which is now in my collection. This is the first time I have seen a male in full plumage on inland waters."

 

Bibliography (sources of information):

  1. Davis, A.H. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2000. Avon Ornithological Group.
  2. Davis, A.H. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2001. Avon Ornithological Group.
  3. Davis, A.H. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2002. Avon Ornithological Group.
  4. Davis, A.H. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2003. Avon Ornithological Group.
  5. Hunt, C. pers. comm.
  6. Isgar, S. pers. comm.
  7. Milbourne, N.R. Personal Notebooks.
  8. Pearce, M.I. pers. comm.
  9. Rose, Dr H.E. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2004. Avon Ornithological Group.
  10. Rose, Dr H.E. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2005. Avon Ornithological Group.
  11. Rose, Dr H.E. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2006. Avon Ornithological Group.
  12. Rose, Dr H.E. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2007. Avon Ornithological Group.
  13. Rose, Dr H.E. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2010. Avon Ornithological Group.
  14. Rose, Dr H.E. (ed.). Avon Bird Report, 2011. Avon Ornithological Group.
Nigel Milbourne © 2009-23. All Rights Reserved.