On the 31st October, a Ruddy Shelduck was discovered on Melbourne Pool, a local water near to where I live. I believe this to be the first time this species has been recorded at this site. As soon as it was found, mid-afternoon, I immediately went to see it and soon found it roosting on one of the islands. It was obviously tired and it was also quite apparent that there was an unusual number of Shoveler on site, I counted 34, which is unprecedented for this water. It seemed to me that the Ruddy Shelduck had most probably arrived with the flock of Shoveler.
Although genuine wild birds do occur in northern and western Europe, and in some cases in Britain, during so called invasion years, the majority of sightings seem to refer to birds having escaped from captive collections or from feral breeding populations. Having said this, if this bird had hooked up with a flock of migrating Shoveler, who knows of its exact origins.
The following morning, no sign of the Ruddy Shelduck or of any Shoveler.
