Swarovski 80HD Nikon CP995

Location

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis 53cm

This solitary male Long-tailed duck visited Belvide Reservoir in May 2003. Long-tailed Ducks are rare visitors to Staffordshire Reservoirs and this individual was immediately spotted and became a major attraction for a few days.

This bird is just starting to lose his winter plumage which will eventually result in much of the back and head becoming black.

This particular bird seemed reasonably tolerant of human proximity and continued diving between 50-200 metres from the shoreline while being observed.