9th August.

A really good local confirmed breeding record that Mark! With Tufted Duck being such a scarce breeder in Oldham, I thought I would have a wander up there this afternoon in the rain and enjoy watching the young ducklings. When I got there and after a good while checking and counting there appears to be actually three separate broods of Tufted Duck on the same lake!! One female with 8 small ducklings, 1 with 4 larger ones and 1 with 3 larger ones. The female with the 8 smaller ones initially started off as 4, which then became 7, then 8 then 6. The very small ducklings seem to have a greater tendency to wander away from mother, more so than the more advanced ducklings - probably the reason for the changing numbers? Still a really lovely spectacle on such an urban pond.

Also c125 Canada Geese, c110 Feral Pigeon, c85 Mallard, Moorhen on a nest, 2 Coot, family party of Chaffinches, family party of Woodpigeons and a Sparrowhawk in hot pursuit and just a few yards behind a male Blackbird trying to make a fast noisy escape to the nearest bushes...which I think it made it to!

Cheers,

Bill.

Alexandra Park.

Female Tufted Duck with brood of 4 small ducklings at 1 pm.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 8th of August 2010 09:33:11 PM