Every spring one of rarest ducks, Garganey arrive at Saltholme. Fewer than 100 pairs of Garganey breed in the UK so we’re always filled with excitement and every year I am determined to find where these secretive birds are nesting. But I always fail miserably. We usually get about 5 males which we can see from the hides, but the females are always more secretive, and then it all goes quiet. For a few months we have no idea where they are, or even if they are still here, and then all of a sudden someone gets a fleeting glimpse of a brood.
One of our Saltholme Guides, Bernie Hodgeson, managed to get this photo earlier this week of 7 chicks with a female on Bottom Tank. Female Garganey are vary dull compared to the splendid males, but they do have a characteristic head pattern. What is interesting in this photo is you can clearly see a head pattern on even the very young chicks.
Will I find a Garganey nest next year ? Probably not.