Scaup...

20D, 400/2.8, ISO200, 1/320 @ f7.1, lowpod + 393, C1 beta2 + CS3.

I do trust that I have got the ID correct here, I took this image a couple of days before meeting Dave Kjaer at Slimbridge, thought it was a tufted duck...

Dave, a great day and thankyou for your support.

Phil

Lovely detailed image Phil

All hail the mighty 400 2.8

I'm surprised the 393 handles the weight - careful about those little grey plastic washers, they cracked on mine on one side and a bit fell out; after that the pivot screw used to undo itself if you rocked the camera back and forth too much.

Looks great Phil. Blacks are really well processed, touch of whites looking a bit hot, but very harsh to criticise that. A challenging bird to expose and it's really nice Looks like a Scaup to me

Rich,

I have a lot of Slimbridge shots..... this was in fact taken in the Basin in Stourport... I really did think that I was shooting a Tufted Duck and was quite happy with that, it was only when going round Slimbridge with Dave that I realised that it was in fact a Scaup...

All the best

Phil

Rich,

Was taken Monday.. 12th Nov I think, only one other image, along with 2 tufted drakes, I really did not realise it could have been a rare vagrant... must do something about my ID skills...

Phil

Step 1 - Its very difficult to make out the black tip "nail" on the bill from this angle, but it does seem to be there which knocks out most Aythea or Aythea hybrids as they have more pronounced tip stripes per Tufties rather than delicate "nails" of the Scaup family

Step 2 - A Greater Scaup has a greener sheen to the head and is proportioned more like a Pochard- the Lesser Scaup has the purple sheen and as the name suggests is smaller and is more compact in shape proportions as well - more Tuftie than Pochard. - looking good

Step 3 - the head tuft of feathers is none existant, in Aythea hybrids, the Tuftie legacy tuft is more obvious

Step 4 - the vermiculation markings - on a Greater Scaup these are very fine like a Pochard - this bird has strong vermiculation/barring which also extends to the rear flanks - classic for a Lesser Scaup per my BWP.


I can't say I have seen a Lesser S. but I would definately give it a thumbs up for being one. There are too many positive i.d. ticks for it to be an Aythea hybrid

For anyone in the South region there is currently a L Scaup in Berkshire at the Woolhampton gravel pits complex just off the A4 between Reading and Newbury (it's been an influx year for Lesser Scaup this year with several blown across the Atlantic) if you are curious, personnally I just don't get enough time to get out these days to see these rarities! - but there is also an Aythea hybrid there as well to make matters trickier.

Mike

Now you know Phil!
Nice one!!

Ian

Very nice shot, and a big bonus if you've bagged a rarity!

Mark

Hi Phil

Good to meet up and I really enjoyed the company.

Very very nice image - I would say it is definately a Lesser Scaup as it was Greater we were viewing at Slimbridge see attached image where head shape and colour are different! Quite a find!!

David

Appears you have hit the jackpot Phil

Nicely done!!

Alan

Looks like a lesser to me too Phil. Great image

Very pleasing shot Phil, lovely colours and detail. Have never seen one.

A comical laugh to the first one and and the other is a good shot too.

Lovely shot Phil and congrats on bagging yourself a rarity.