Baikal Beauty 17/3/2023

A drake BAIKAL TEAL was found in Foryd Bay, near Caernarfon, whilst we’d been in Anglesey in January, presumably the same bird seen in southern Wales in late 2022 (and possibly the same bird wintered in Somerset in 2021/2022). 

The only other one I'd seen was an immature drake at Minsmere in 2001; the first record in modern times but seen by most (including me) at the time as an insurance job. I was keen to see this bird, but being short on time and with dogs and Karen in tow, I opted to pass it by and hope it lingered until later in the winter. Luckily it has.

Ducks of course are always tainted with a whiff of uncertainty, but records of this fabulous species have been on the up in the last two decades. Are they commoner in captivity, or does the increase in records mirror the wild population? Or both. Wild populations come from a long way east of Europe, but with a the invention of stable isotope analysis it has been proven to be a genuine vagrant to the region; a first-winter bird mistakenly shot as a Common Teal in southeast Denmark in November 2005 was shown to have originated from within the species' natural rage. So natural vagrancy certainly occurs. Some of the recent records have made the BBRC grade, whilst others have evidently been escapees. Luckily for me, having seen the 2001 bird, I could simply enjoy this one without any concerns over acceptance. 

Since being found in January it had often disappeared for long periods, or been viewable only at long range, both of which had dampened my enthusiasm. It was occasionally being seen on a farm track pond with Common Teal, but not reliably so until the last few days. Given it was now regularly showing well I made time today (instead of working) and am glad I did. 

Thanks to an earlier report whilst I was travelling, I knew the approximate area I quickly located it on a roadside pond, although not its regular spot. The views were initially obscured by reed but after a short while it showed superbly. An absolute dazzler of a dabbler that the photos don't give justice to. I spent a couple of hours watching and photographing this bird with (mostly) no-one else there, bliss.

I’ve not been to Foryd Bay before. It’s a lovely spot and packed with waders and waterfowl. It must be massively underwatched.

On the way home I called in at Llandullas and immediately picked up the two drake Surf Scoters, still with a group of five Velvet Scoter.  They were much closer and the sea calm, so the views were exceptional- certainly the best I’ve had in North Wales.  Large numbers of Common Scoter were scattered across the millpond sea, with many Red-throated Divers, a few Shags and Red-breasted Mergansers thrown in.