I went over to Rushy Common nature reserve, near Witney, yesterday, where a male long tailed tuck has been reported intermittently over the past 10 days or so. These ducks are rare visitors inland and the last one in Oxfordshire, was apparently five years ago. It would be a new lifer for me, so when I saw it had been reported at midday, I realised there would be an opportunity for me to go and see it during the afternoon.
Due to local flooding, I had been advised to wear wellingtons to reach the hide, but the duck in question had regularly been seen from the car park. On arrival, I could see someone with a camera standing at a gap in the hedge in the car park, so I joined him and he pointed it out to me, directly in front but at a distance in front of an island. Through binoculars I could easily make out its colours as it regularly dived and remained beneath the water for a minute or so before resurfacing. Gradually it became nearer and I was able to take some photographs that, after some cropping, made a decent record shot.
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment