Long-tailed Duck by John Wall

 

 

There can be no arguing that male Long-tailed Duck is among the most beautiful of all wildfowl plumages that can be enjoyed in British and Irish waters, but seeing an adult this well is a scarce treat anywhere away from a few areas of northern Scotland. This particular bird recently returned to a set of reservoirs on the outskirts of Bristol for its seventh consecutive winter, having first been reported here as an immature in early 2017, and is unique in the fact that it is a reliable fixture for this species in southern England year on year.

Dorset-based photographer John Wall recently paid tribute to this fabulous bird on a rare calm day and came home with some memorable images. Both of those he posted in the BirdGuides gallery could have won Photo of the Week, but we particularly liked the composition and pose of this bird, with lovely reflections on the water making for a very pleasing photo. Congratulations to John!

 

Other notable images

 

Myrtle Warbler, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (Scott Reid).

Richard's Pipit, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (Ashley Fisher).

Common Kestrel, Salford, Greater Manchester (Ivan Ellison).

Kittiwake, Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire (Jeremy Mcclements).

Common Gull, Alvaston, Derbyshire (Neil Loverock).

Iceland Gull (centre) with European Herring Gulls, North Ronaldsay, Orkney (Dante Shepherd).

Purple Sandpiper, Balcomie, Fife (Harry Bell).

Purple Sandpiper, Battery Point, Somerset & Bristol (Jonathan Bull).

Little Auk, Chanonry Point, Highland (Alex Penn).

Little Egret, Snettisham RSPB, Norfolk (Phil Bennett).

Russian White-fronted Goose, Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire (Jonathan Bull).

Velvet Scoter, Widdrington Moor Lake, Northumberland (Graham Sorrie).