I'm Back Again, But At A Different Location

Victoria Park, St Helens - 18.01.2025

Well the American RND a vagrant to Europe very similar to our Tufted Duck is on the move again, this time appearing on a small pond some way from where it's been many months hopping between Ecclestone Mere and Taylor Park. Worth a trip ?

Checking on-line mapping Victoria Park pond is small, so small that I'm a little supprised the duck has taken up residence, probably a result of being part of a mobile group of the more common "tuffie's" that move around the area. Next check the weather, it doesn't good with grey cloud and some rain later in the week, so it's today or wait a week by which time the duck may have departed.

As it's a new location I thought I'd have a quick rece and scan to try and locate the duck before getting the kit out, no need as the duck is picked up straight away up against the bank no more than a few meters away...right time for some action.

Surrounding the pond is a waist high steel fence so shooting low is not an option other than removing the lens hood and getting the lens up as close as possible to the fence, of course you could just shoot over the fence but the images won't be as good shooting downwards…in the end I did both !

Initially with stubborn early mist the light only slowly improving never optimum for the entire visit, it's a case of low shutter speeds avoiding any action shooting into coloured water, I hate white water shots.

These are some of the images taken around midday, not great image quality in the poor light the fence bars not helping but at least it wasn't an abortive trip, maybe a return trip if these grey days of poor light will ever end.

Footnote….. now two days later and the RND has moved back to Ecclestone Mere so happy I made the trip when I did.

Ring-necked Duck - male

This image clearly shows why this duck is called ring necked...

The American Is Back

Taylor Park, St Helens - 03.12.2025

It's been some time since I last posted on the blog that's not so say that I haven't been active with trips to Scotland and Central Spain all done in the last few months. I haven't bothered doing reports as they've more or less been repeats of trips done just a few months earlier.

Now early December and a male American Ring-necked Duck that's been hanging around for a time has reappeared in St Helens. Frequenting two lakes, one public the other private, but mainly the private lake it's a case of waiting for the right opportunity for a visit and importantly in some good light.

Checking Birdguides the Internet bird information service the duck has been reported early morning on the public lake, the weather forecast for the week is rain but good light for today only so the decision is made to make the 30 mile trip.

A new location for me I'm interested and hoping for a smallish lake, is it small ? well yes and no, just small enough to get a shot if not too far away. Grabbing just the camera and the bins the plan is to circumnavigate the lake hopefully locating the duck. Halfway round I bump into a colleague which makes locating the duck a little easier, and with the light behind the duck is more easily located hanging around with some "tuftiest"...time to get the camera out.

Over the next hour or so the duck remains just a little to far away for any mega shots, to add, the light is ever changing from sunlight burning out whites to overcast conditions having to dial in some over exposure. All too soon the sun is low throwing half the lake into shadow signalling the best of the light and day is now over. With some images on the card I'm interested to see the results.

The forecast for the remainder of the week isn't so good, but on the other hand next the week looks promising, maybe other trip ? ...you never know.

Ring-necked Duck - male

The image below, you can just see the brown "ring neck" the duck is named after.

Finally Caught Uo - 2

Alexandra Park, Manchester

After yesterday's disaster loosing data I'm back trying for images to replace those lost. It's a great morning with blues sky's a little bit more sun than I really wanted but hey ho. Yesterday the duck was in the rear part of the lake in more shade area the ideal location, wouldn't it be good if I could entice the back back, well yes you just need to bring along a bag of seed.

Laying down spread eagled on the path occasionally having to move for people out enjoying a walk in the spring like weather, with the sun directly behind the AF auto focus, eye-detect of the R5 working perfectly a massive improvement on the 5D4, just frame the subject the cameras AF system dose the rest. 

After an hour on site I've now spent more time in total photographing this duck than I would normally but Alex Park is so compact it makes sentence to take the opportunity when its there, just make sure a visit isn't at weekends. Now with all the images I need its time to head back but I'm sure I'll be back. Thanks again to all those birders that logging and putting out reports on their local areas.

Ring-necked Duck

Finally I've Caught Up - 1

Alexandra Park, Manchester

Ring-neck Duck a north American vagrant that's been picked up visiting local water's around the area over the past couple of weeks, a female not unlike our own brown female Tufted Duck and can easily be identified as such to those not familiar. Suggested as the duck first sighted on Elton reservoir in Bury a couple of weeks ago that stayed only for one day then a week later picked up on a small lake in Alexandra Park Whalley Range near the city centre.

Elton being a reasonably big reservoir getting decent images of the duck sat in the middle of the reservoir is virtually impossible but Alex Park on the other hand being a small park lake the chances are pretty good. I've been Alex Park previously and head straight to the side favourable for light and there in the middle I quickly pick up the duck with it's head tucked under a wing sleeping, it's a waiting game.

One of the benefits, or not, is people like to feed the ducks, but the RND is cautious and stays distant, but once the Tufted Ducks get interested it soon gains confidence allowing some close shots. Happy with my lot I head for home, but thats not the end of the tail as during the evening transferring some files I loose all the images !....shame really as some of the images looked pretty good, looks like a return visit is on the cards.

Ring-necked Duck - female