Hooded Merganser

Whilst in Dorset for a few days during the end of July 2008, I went to see a young male Hooded Merganser that had been seen regularly in Radipole RSPB reserve in the middle of Weymouth, Dorset since June 2008.

This is the third recorded "wild" Hooded Merganser in Britain.
There are several escaped Hooded Mergansers around (including a strikingly marked male adult on Avecotte Pools in Warwickshire that  I saw earlier in 2008) A quick search of the internet revealed that the Warwickshire bird had escaped from Tywcross zoo in Leicestershire a few years ago.

This bird was easily spotted in inlet to Radipole lake from the harbour, and produced some good pictures that I am pleased with considering it was a damp day with plenty of showers and generally quite grey.  Indeed is it to hopeful to see a lovely marked adult Hoddie Merg in Weymouth next spring?

All Photos Copyright Nigel Spencer

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