Hens Teeth Week

Local rarities it seems are like this July's rainstorms, you don't see any for weeks and then a deluge (OK a very small deluge).

Following quickly on from the MK Painted Lady (see last blog) I have fallen upon a ducks deluxe of Common Scoter (2male, 3 female).

Melanitta nigra the Common Scoter

(Sorry about photo they insisted on keeping their distance)

As I have often mentioned I am not an avid (rabid) birder, so getting ticks doesn't particularly turn me on, but oddity (Bill Oddity come back all is forgiven) does. So what on earth possessed these five little sea ducks - now on the red list - to pitch up on a relatively small lake on the north west edge of Milton Keynes.

A quick bit of research tells me that in July any UK Scoters are likely to be on breeding grounds  in N and W Scotland, especially the Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland, whilst in winter they can be found off the coast in places like Carmarthen and Cardigan Bays, the Moray Firth, and along the North Norfolk coast. MK - not a mention.

Perhaps, at this rate, I can expect to see a raft of Common Australian Ducks (edgedat anderson) by the end of the week.