A Westport semi-Mega is found!

On Wednesday 10th November, veteran Westport stalwart "Super" Jeff Jones found an immature Red-breasted Merganser, and it was still present on Friday 12th at least. It's an astonishing 23 years since I saw my last Red-breasted Merganser at Westport, the over wintering female bird in 1987/88. This is the 10th record for Westport, and the first for eight years. The first site record was as recent as 1987.

1987 Westport Lake An immature male from November 12th to 15th.
1987 Westport Lake A female from December 29th to February 22nd 1988.
1988 Westport Lake An immature male on April 16th.
1996 Westport Lake Three males and two females on February 1st.
1996 Westport Lake A female on November 15th to 21st.
1997 Westport Lake A female from February 21st to 27th.
1999 Westport Lake A female on March 15th.
2002 Westport Lake Two females stayed briefly on October 12th.
2003 Westport Lake A male and three redheads flew low through on January 30th.
2011 Westport Lake An immature male from November 9th to ....








For far better pictures of the Merg, check out the Seal's blog.