Male Greater Scaup in Gloucestershire, January to February 2006

One of the Lydney first-winter male Greater Scaup (bird 1) 7 January 2006. M.J.McGill.

This is second of the two Lydney first-winter males on 7 January 2006. M.J.McGill.

The first winter male Greater Scaup at WWT Slimbridge 20 February 2006. J.S.Lees

The same bird on South Lake when it arrived on 8th January 2006. M.J.McGill.

Have a close look how much the head colour has changed, the flanks have whitened and the vermiculations (greyish feathering) has advanced. The Lydney birds were way ahead in their moult, I have seen this before in previous winters at WWT Slimbridge. A first-winter female was with the two Lydney birds with at least two different females at WWT during this period at WWT Slimbridge.