The Ferruginous Duck …

… lives in Ukraine or Hungary. Seeing it in Western Europe is very rare apparently, it is the rarest of the European diving ducks. Last spring 10 were seen near Geneva. This one was pointed out to me by a birder who I see almost every time I go to the Grand Canal. She makes notes of all her sightings and sends them to a Swiss Ornothology group so I imagine a lot of birders will be turning up to this area soon. Sadly, the global population is decreasing due to illegal hunting and habitat loss due to drainage, pollution and mismanagement of breeding zones. Extra of the duck from the normal view!

Thanks for all your good wishes for Preston. This morning he had his stitches out and he has to wear his cone for another couple of days till the wound dries up completely but he’s a different cat today! Playful and running (yes, on 3 legs) away from me when I have to put his cone on because he starts licking the area!