If I asked anyone what they thought was the prettiest duck in the UK, the answer I would probably get, much to my displeasure, would be the Mandarin ducks. But I cannot argue that these things are absolutely stunningly beautiful. I used to frequent Thetford Forest a lot, and a pair of these has lived for years near Santon Downham.
The first time I saw a Mandarin, it was in a bird guide when I was around 10 years old. It was on the same page as another jaw-droppingly beautiful duck was. And, back then, I immediately knew which duck was the prettiest in my eyes. And it was not a Mandarin. I always thought the wood duck was prettier. I liked both the shape better, and the lovely green colour of the bird more than the Mandarin colours.
Unfortunately, the situation with the wood duck in the UK is much more difficult. It was introduced, much like the Mandarin, but unlike the Mandarin, its self-sustaining population has almost died out, with 0-5 birds breeding each year, and most seen in the UK are escapes. This made it an even more appealing target in my eyes. Unfortunately, finding out where it lurked was easier said than done. But then I learned of a wood duck male which had been living in the company of mallards for the past few years. I found it without issue, getting extremely close views of the incredibly beautiful bird.
No wonder a lot of people consider this America's favourite duck. The beauty of this small duck is absolutely extraordinary, and having it in the UK, even in an introduced free-ranging capacity, is a massive privilege in my eyes, except it of course isn't doing so well as it used to anymore. Although there is one very small flock in the south still remaining. This particular bird, however, is missing part of its wing. It is known to have escaped from captivity, and now lives in the wild, so that is good enough for me. But whoever did that to the bird, cutting off half of one of its wings, is complete scum and a lowlife of mega proportions. Even then, that didn't stop this wood duck from surviving for so long and actually moving around the area regardless, avoiding predators. Perhaps it can still fly, though not likely. But that makes me admire this duck even more. It is a survivor.
Wood duck done with, which as soon as I was done ironically swam quickly away, I turned to Stocker's Lake amidst reports that a smew was seen there. A smew is another incredibly beautiful duck, almost pure white in appearance, with pretty black patterns, and unlike the wood duck actually winters in the UK, spending its summer deep in boreal forests in northern Europe. However, once I got to the lake and was greeted by a massive swarm of gulls on the water, I realised finding it would be easier said than done. There were too many gulls out there.
Whilst trying to check for smew, I noticed a few goldeneye, but didn't recognise what they were until quite a bit later. I was always interested in these, particularly in how amusing they looked with their disproportionately large heads.
I was walking around the area for a very long time trying to see the smew, but could not see it anywhere. But eventually my patience paid off- I spotted it in the distance. Initially, it was very far away and lurking in dense branches, but then swam out to the open just as I went to get a closer look. It then started splashing about in the middle of the lake.
Returning to my previous point, I got some really nice photos of it, though of course a bit distant- a goldeneye also swam through the view as I did so! And also had some really nice views of great crested grebes.
Next targets: Goshawk (TF), Tundra bean goose (LK)