The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Had a rewarding visit to both places today.

Arrived Donna Nook mid-morning - car park only half full which was a big surprise!
Incidentally, the overflow car park was waterlogged.
Had excellent views of the Glaucous Gull.

On to Covenham after lunch and there we saw:

Grey Phalarope along the east side
Mandarin Duck female on the south side - believed only the second Covenham record. See album
Long-tailed duck on the west side
Grey Wagtail on the north side

All birds were giving close views, although the Mandarin was on the bank with Mallard which soon take to the water.

Roy

The female Mandarin Duck has been present with the Mallards since at least Saturday (see Covenham thread started by Richard Pipe further down the bird reports page). I'm surprised more people haven't looked for it when taking the Grey Phal and Long-tailed Duck in this week - I'm sure just like me there are quite a few Lincs birders that have seen less Mandarins in the county than Grey Phals and Long-tailed Ducks.

The Mandarin was the 2nd exotic duck of the year on the reservoir for me - a drake Wood Duck was present (also with Mallards) on 23/2/08. I'm not sure how many Wood Ducks have been recorded here & though its origin is likely to be from somewhere much closer than its native North America, it certainly brightened up a cold Feb day!


regards

Chris

I agree with your comments about the Mandarin either being missed or ignored Chris and unlike the Wood Duck, it is on the British list.

Roy