Green-Winged Teal - Lunt Meadows, Lancashire

With some free time today, I managed to catch up with all three of the trio of decent birds currently residing at Lunt Meadows, only a 40-minute drive from home.

Walking around the main lake, I soon came across a group of Canada Geese, and after a minute or two of scanning through I noticed a bird barely half their size - the Richardson's Cackling Goose. This was a lifer for me, though it was tainted somewhat by the unknown credentials of the bird. Without any proof to the contrary though, I'm happily adding it to my list! The bird was wary and mobile throughout my visit, and I soon lost the bird and couldn't refind it subsequently.

Aside from size, the head and bill structure also stood out!

Moving to the next pool towards the far end of the reserve, unbelievably I managed to pick out the Green-Winged Teal within seconds, despite their being perhaps 100 Eurasian Teal dotted around the shoreline of the lake. The bird spent most of its time asleep, though did wake up briefly at one point. My only other views of this species were in half-darkness at Grafham Water last Novemeber, so this definitely felt like an improvement.

Moments before the Green-Winged Teal fell asleep again!

I was less lucky with the drake Smew, which decided to swim into an obscured bay of the back pool mere seconds after I arrived, and didn't reappear until after I left. However, as Smew are one of my favourite duck species I was happy just to connect with it.

Distant but unmistakeable!

There were plenty other wildfowl around the reserve, plus several Cetti's Warblers and Water Rail calling, and perhaps 1,000 Pink-Footed Geese in nearby fields. There were plenty of birders and photographers enjoying all three rarities, and the occasional bit of sunshine!