Two Ruddy Shelduck hybrids were amongst a 1,000 or so Common Shelducks feeding at the mouth of the Rhymney Estuary this afternoon. One is a no brainer (black head and a white neck collar!), the other a more subtle female type. Apart from these two, my firt sizeable knot flock (500) of the autumn put on a great display and a Spot Shank was amongst the high tide roost at Green Point.
Some great visible migration was on offer on top of the disused motorcross track from early morning (10am) through till about 2pm. A constant stream of skylark, mipits, linnet, goldfinch, chaffinch and the odd group of siskin and redpoll made for a enjoyable day at the office. In the main, the birds all passed low over the top of the summit and then headed straight across the estuary and onto RGW heading east.
2 comments:
There have been 3 of these hybrids returning for the last 3 or 4 years now.They are interesting looking birds but i can't make out their parentage,Cape Shelduck perhaps?
There was certainly a very Cape Shelducky lookin one a couple of yrs ago on one of my WeBS counts. Hope your Knot and Spotshank are around for my WeBS tomorrow Randal.
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