Garganey

Today started well as we watched Hibs beat Motherwell, can't say it was the result I was expecting, but that's life for a Hibee.

We then were off on a Garganey hunt. Never seen a Garganey before, but we'd read there was one at Wilstone Reservoir (Tring).

Currently ducks are in their eclipse plumage, none of that bright colourful plumage to attract a mate. Breeding season is over, so no need to make the effort any more - you know how it goes! Basically most ducks are brown at this time of year, the Garganey included, so you've got to look for the more subtle differences and in a Garganey that's a white spot near the bill and a pale line over the eye.

We wandered all the way round the reservoir and saw loads of brown ducks, but no Garganey. Returning past the car park we decided we'd enough time to head back to the corner where it was most likely to be and "BINGO". Well actually it was more a whispered "bingo" as we still weren't sure, but snapped away and took a few shots through the telescope.

It was only once we got home and I could have a good look at what we'd taken, that I could convince myself & Mrs L that we had seen the elusive Garganey - so today's blip photo is of a boring brown duck with a white spot near the bill and a pale line over the eye (it's the one on the right - the one on the left is a Mallard - that's a boring duck - we've seen loads of them before!).

Then to cap off a good day we watched Andy beat Roger - Andy's back, bring on the US Open.