Wednesday, 19 December 2018

Smew - Castleshaw Rervoir

The Smew is not a very common bird in the North West. Only turning up in the winter months and never in great numbers or great regularity. That being said, I saw that one was up in the Oldham hills on Castleshaw Reservoir and it was too good an opportunity to miss.
It had been a few years since I saw my last, in Cheshire.
The bird was quite a distance out, but at it's closest when I arrived. I was able to pop my head and camera over the wall of the upper reservoir and take a few pictures.


The water was choppy on a very windy day, and like all Smews, this one was very wary.



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8 comments:

  1. David M. Gascoigne,19 December 2018 at 19:32

    One of the birds I would most like to see is a male Smew. The closest I have ever come, and the only Smew I have seen, was an immature male in the harbour at Oshawa, ON a few years ago. It only stayed for a couple of days, and while quite lovely, did not rival an adult.

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  2. Bob Bushell19 December 2018 at 22:00

    Beauty Smew female, swimmer of kind.

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  3. Anu20 December 2018 at 05:40

    Hello Adam. Congratulations! Smew is a beautiful bird.

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  4. Linda23 December 2018 at 05:40

    What a great red head!

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  5. Phil Slade23 December 2018 at 08:54

    Can't remember the last one I saw Adam. They are even scarcer here on the West coast.

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  6. Anni 23 December 2018 at 10:17

    Thanks so much for sharing your post & beautiful bird with us at I'd Rather B Birdin this week. LOVE the colors. And being such a rare sighting makes it all the better!!

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  7. eileeninmd23 December 2018 at 11:07

    Hello, Great bird and sighting. I would love to see this bird. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Sunday, enjoy your day and weekend. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

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  8. Lea23 December 2018 at 16:04

    Very exciting to see a seldom seen bird!
    Merry Christmas!

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