Heavens to Murgatroyd, Part II

Was it Sid Waddell that said "it's like deja vu all over again"? If not, then it sounds like something the great man, the voice of darts, would say.

Boxing Day turned into a bit of a bonus birding day. Pity the football was postponed, as I was really looking forward to watching the Albion at Port Vale in a Staffordshire derby. But I went birding instead, consisting of Uttoxeter Quarry and Brookleys Lake.

At the quarry there was a Jack Snipe in the sedge, along with 6 Common Snipe. Then at Brookleys the first-winter drake Scaup still around, although looking a little bit smarter than a few weeks ago.

Then onto today with the same itinerary. Andy had picked up the first-winter drake Scaup at Uttoxeter yesterday, and was still there today. But there was also a second Scaup, a female, and a Pink-footed Goose in amongst the Greylags.

Then onto Brookleys Lake again. A first scan along the duck produced another "oh my god!" moment:



Bingo, one drake Ferruginous Duck. Well that wasn't around on Boxing Day. There was a drake Fudge Duck here four years ago. Could it be the same bird? Although there are a few around the country at the moment.