Scaup: I braved the weather and the roads and took a trip to North Wales. I had a few errands to run down that way and I ended up at Eirias Park hoping for a few shots of the female Scaup.
And I wasn't disappointed.
Although I have seen plenty of female scaup on sea watches this was my first up close and personal views of a female Scaup.
I haven't really noticed how distinct they are, with their mainly brown plumage, palest and grayest on flanks and back with a white belly is seen only in flight and their striking white patch at base of bill.
The Yankee Duck has been at the park for a couple of weeks now and looks fairly settled buddying up with the local Mallards.
The bird spent plenty of time diving, presumably foraging for food.