Hooded Merganser Radipole

What's the current thinking on this one.

Watching Autumnwatch the other day, Bill Oddie spoke as if it were quite likely to be genuine, having been found exhausted in a sluice (the bird, not the birder that is). Lee Evans favours it, but he is more accepting than many.
I think I'll still wait for official confirmation before I count it, but wondered what others thought.
Might also pop down again over Christmas when I'm in the westcountry to see it in its breeding finery, regardless of provenance.

And hey! I'm the first person to post in this forum Whoo Hoo!

Hi Phil

Firstly, congratulations for being the first on the forums!

It's interesting to see that 27 BUBO Listers have recorded Hooded Merg on their British life lists (BOU). Of these just 5 list the 2000 North Uist bird which is the only one BBRC currently consider acceptable. 10 list the Newbiggin bird (and 2 Woodhorn Flash - the same bird?) which I think is generally assumed to be a likely wild bird and may be accepted by BBRC in due course. 7 count the Dorset bird; I would have thought that many other BUBO Listers would have seen this individual so this may suggest that most consider it more likely an escape, and may not have twitched it for this reason?

I can't really speak about the credentials of the Dorset bird but I'm sure many people do have an opinion - let's hear them here!

Was very dubious about this bird, particularly date of arrival and the fact it hasnt gone anywhere since. There have been discussions elsewhere to suggest date may not be out of the question for American Ducks (eg the Scottish Barrows) and of course the overshooting Sparrows etc are known to occur at this time..
The fact that it arrived in an exhausted state and lingered on the drain until fit to fly does hint at a transatlantic arrival, but why hasnt it summered elsewhere as seems to be the case for most nearctic wildfowl.
Am now tempted to go and see it myself.

I remember when I first started birding people only took rare ducks and geese seriously if they were about a mile away, in amongst massive wild flocks, in the middle of winter and took flight the moment you peered out of your car. Anything less would mean escape. (I exaggerate of course).
Nowadays things are very often given the 'benefit of the doubt'.
I don't know why there has been such a change.

When I saw it I presumed it was an escape, but it's going on my list now!

Tom Jordan wrote:

When I saw it I presumed it was an escape, but it's going on my list now!

Why's that Tom? What has swayed your thinking? (I'm not saying you're wrong - would just be interesting to hear your reasoning)

Cheers

Andy Mus.

Just wanted to amend what Mike had said about currently accepted Hooded Mergs. The last BB report on rare birds in 2007 (in the October 2008 issue) has three accepted records: the 2000 Outer Hebs 1w that Mike mentioned plus the New Biggin 1w of March 2002 and the Shetland ad male of April-May 2006.

Not sure if the species comments in that issue offer any clues as to how the recent Radipole and Fife birds might fare. It is noted that they are still relatively common in captivity and that not all future records will necessarily be acceptable just because it's now on category A. Each will be judged on its own merit. The lack of rings will clearly be important and accurate ageing of female types is suggested as possibly helpful.

My approach would be to publish all that are not obviously dubious (so exclude any with rings for a start), age them and then look at the emerging pattern (if there is one) when there are enough records. It's not up to me though!

all the best

John M

I feel bound to wait until accepted. Not hopeful though, so many in captivity. No rings, fully winged, found exhausted, 1s bird, a number of yanks arrived at the same time, celebrity endorsement....
I went on the way back from a short break in Devon, mainly as its a smart bird, but also as insurance in case the powers that be decide its kosher. Come on the hoodie!

Our thinking and understanding of migration does change. Once upon a time, American Passerines couldnt cross the Atlantic without the aid of boats, and I remember a time when things like Rose Coloured Starlings and various Buntings were always assumed to be escapes despite the formers known irruptive behavior.
Remember the first Brown Flycatcher? Despite none being known in captivity it was presumed to be an escape.
Ducks of course are a bit more tricky, being popular in collections, long lived and prone to wander unless the wings are clipped (though that didnt stop one Merganser).
Have been reading Martin Garners Frontiers in Birding, and there is a lot of interesting information in it. Not much pertaining to Hooded Merganser though it points out that there are few if any records of juvenile/1st winters in Europe except those that can safely be considered wild (Azores, Iceland). Also its the only north eastern American duck (apart from Wood Duck) yet to make it into category A.

John Martin wrote:

Just wanted to amend what Mike had said about currently accepted Hooded Mergs. The last BB report on rare birds in 2007 (in the October 2008 issue) has three accepted records: the 2000 Outer Hebs 1w that Mike mentioned plus the New Biggin 1w of March 2002 and the Shetland ad male of April-May 2006.

Thanks for correcting me John - my excuse is that the October 2008 issue of BB hasn't yet made it here in Bangalore!