Lesser Scaup, Abberton Reservoir

On Sunday news broke of a drake Lesser Scaup at Abberton Reservoir. I've seen two of these North American visitors previously, but neither has been in my home county of Essex. Unable to make the trip yesterday we were left hoping the duck would spend at least another day on site. 

We headed along the A12 this morning towards Colchester picking out the Cattle Egrets at Garr House farm on route. Parking up in the layby we walked along Lodge Lane, through the gate, and turned right to the viewing area. We scanned the large raft of Tufted Ducks and thought we had picked out the Lesser Scaup among them. The ducks were drifting away from us, so we headed back up the hill and down the track to the other viewing area. Soon we had the Lesser Scaup in the scope, right in front of us. There were three Greater Scaup in the same flock allowing some nice comparisons between the two species. Also found among the raft of Tufted Ducks were several Goldeneye, Pochard, and two interesting hybrids. 

The Lesser Scaup is only the third record for Essex, the others being a drake at Seventy Acres lake in Waltham Abbey 23rd-25th March 2003 and a 1st-winter drake at Abberton Reservoir 11th-31st December 2004.

Record shot of Lesser Scaup

View of pumping station from Lodge Lane screen 

We went in search of yellow Wagtails around Billet's Farm and Wigborough Bay areas and although we failed to see any we did have nice views of two Spoonbill overhead as they flew towards Layer Breton Causeway. We headed to the causeway but failed to relocate them. We did however pick out a couple of Great Egrets a Green Sandpiper and two new additions to the year list when three Swallows and a single Sand Martin were seen.

We then drove round to Layer de la haye causeway in search of Little Ringed Plovers and quickly found two birds busily feeding along the reservoir banks.

Little Ringed Ploveer