Despite a bit of research I'm still not 100% sure I've got this right but I think it's a young drake. The wing coverts have some grey feathering (see my attempts to sketch what I could see in the field) but definitely looked very white when the bird was in flight. On the photo below the tail looks spiky - perhaps another indication that it's a young bird. What I need of course is better views and ideally better photographs.
Hi Matt. Great skills as ever buddy, I've been hoping for something that looks like this on the Axe! Definitely a male, and I would say (without looking anything up at all) it's got to be a first-year. I think an adult in whatever stage of eclipse (presumably by now coming to the end of it?) would look more like an adult drake. It just has the look of a young bird to me. Sure this doesn't help at all - just my feelings without any knowledge!
ReplyDeleteJust had a quick look online, this should help: https://www.aba.org/birding/v37n2p156.pdf
DeleteThanks Steve - agree entirely but would be nice to have something definitive. Will check out your link. Many thanks once again. Matt
ReplyDeleteHi Matt - Well done and great find as always. I don't have much experience of Yank Wigeon age groups, but I wouldn't totally rule out a well marked female? It may just be the photos, but the cream forehead doesn't look that striking? It might help looking at the 2 females on the Gannel I did a blog post on in 2014.http://creamteabirding.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/aw.html
ReplyDeleteAlso Plate 12 on the BB paper is worth comparing to your bird: https://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V96/V96_N01/V96_N01_P002_022_A001.pdf Regardless, I hope it re-appears as certainly worth seeing and thanks for the text. Sorry I wasn't able to come over.
Of course nothing like seeing the bird first hand! Just seen your sketches which show an obvious cream forehead!
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