On Friday 18th September, Colin Davison found what appeared to be a good candidate for an American Black Duck on the River Esk at Musselburgh. Several birders were on the scene very quickly and the bird was watched with Mallards at reasonably close range, but a few (including the finder) had their worries despite the bird superfically resembling Black Duck and hybrid was the main concern. Later that day, the bird was painfully confirmed to be a hybrid (Mallard x Black Duck) when in a wing strech it showed white borders to the speculum. In the end this was a big dissappointment to many, especially for those who needed it on their lists. On a more positive note, it was a good learning curve for lots of people involved and a great deal of credit must go to the finder for picking it out in the first place.

Hybrid American Black Duck x Mallard - pictures above by Mike Thrower.

Hybrid American Black Duck x Mallard - pictures above by Kris Gibb

IMAGES -
HIGHLIGHTS 2009

SUMMARY -
SIGHTINGS 2009

IMAGES
ALL PICTURE GALLERIES