This rather untimely female type Smew was found on Dorney Wetlands in Berkshire on 8th October 2023 and was still present the next day. I visited the site on 17th October and was not expecting to see the bird but very quickly saw it on the main Jubilee River adjacent to Dorney Wetlands. I was not that close but maybe I startled it and it flew out of sight. However about 30 minutes later I refound it on one of the pools and viewed it somewhat closer from a screen.
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| Smew with Gadwall |
The most recent record for Smew in Berkshire is Nov 2021!
Subsequently to my post someone managed to see a yellow ring on this individual, so it is clearly an escape and that explains the unusual timing.
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