I have four or five records for this American duck species and all of those have been males. I have only seen them in Britain so a chance to observe this female, would also be an addition to my Algarve List. The duck was on the nearest reservoir at the ETAR this morning. Finding any bird at this site is very much down to luck as there are two reservoirs, side by side, but only one can be seen! This means you may have a 50% chance at best, although disturbance from within the site will move the birds around at times. Not showing too much of a high crown which is one of the best diagnostics, there is little doubt as to the identification of this female Ring-necked Duck. In both male and female adults, the slate coloured bill with black tip and thin whitish band above, should stand out well. The female has a white eye ring with a short white stripe behind the eye too. Otherwise, the body is fairly similar to a female Tufted Duck. I believe this Ring-necked Duck has become something of a 'long stayer' if not, an over-wintering bird for more than one year. Today on the ETAR, as well as the large number of Shovelers and Little Grebes, I did find a female Tufted Duck among some Pochard. Perhaps the most intriguing event was when a Yellow-browed Warbler began calling from the conifers and pines, alongside the ETAR. I spent a considerable time searching among a multitude of Chiffchaffs and Waxbills in the trees but, even though the Yellow-browed called at regular intervals, I just could not find it in the pines. Yesterday, Chris and Sue joined us on a visit to a couple of sites on the Arade. Beginning at the Praia do Mohle breakwater, we found a Rock Pipit, 2 Purple Sandpipers along with Turnstones, Sanderlings and a single Kentish Plover. After an excellent Prato do Dia in Ferragudo, we moved on to the ricefields where the Great White Egret was still present. Chris added the Scaly-breasted Munia to his list, as we watched many Waxbills whizzing along the bushes. In a wide range of species seen at this site, Marsh Harriers and Booted Eagle made up the raptor count.
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