19th December - I made a pre-work visit to another of the pits in the Marlow GP complex, known locally as the Roach Pit and probably only 400-500 metres from LMGP as the crow flies. A juvenile Scaup had been photographed here last week with what looked like a pink rubber band around its neck. I had made a visit the day after this discovery, but during the cold snap, the pit had iced over and nothing was found. Anyway, this morning, a juvenile female type bird was back, loosely in the company of 4 adult male Tufted Ducks and a probable 1st winter male. It didn't have any pink neck band though. It was diving frequently, with the obvious leaping out of the water style, and showed obvious white ovals on the lores, a large greyish bill with restricted black on the nail, a dull eye and slightly larger more bulbous body to the accompanying Tufties. Hopefully if it hangs around in better light, I will be able to get some photos.
Curiously, later in the morning, 2 juvenile Scaup were reported from here, keeping very close company, although one may have been a hybrid, but no Tufted Duck, so exactly how many Scaup are in this area is now a bit clouded - I haven't noted any of these birds on LMGP yet, but a return visit is obviously called for!
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