Unusual Duck

[+Bino-viewer]

Greetings fellow astro peeps.

Can any of you birders offer any information here ?

 

I spotted this beautifully marked duck in the Derwent down at Darley Abbey mills near where i live.

I hadn't seen one before and it was the only one out of about 20 or so other ducks.

I believe it to be a male Mandarin duck.

Are they a rare bird ? I believe they originate from Japan & east Asia.

Not sure if it was alone, or if it had a mate ? The females are rather bland, and look like any other female duck (pretty much)

 

But quite a beautiful bird. I was down there again yesterday (not birding, but 'Pokemon hunting' with my boy) but couldn't see it. Maybe hes moved on.

Sorry for the poor images. It was a quick iPhone job, fully zoomed out, as he was rather shy.

 

Edited December 5, 2016 by Bino-viewer

[Doc]

You are right that is a male Mandarin Duck Rob.

 

Pretty rare, but one day when I was up near Grindleford I saw 20 males sitting on the river bank.

 

Edited December 5, 2016 by Doc

[+Bino-viewer]

Thanks for the confirmation.

Maybe not a rare duck then, but still unusual for Darley Abbey 

[Guest]

I've seen the odd one on the Bristol Avon near us.

[Stephen]

I have seen them in Battersea Park lake in London