Gorgeous Garg

Em and I, over the course of the year, usually pay a few visits to the National Trust's Stowe Landscape Gardens, being just 15-20 minutes away from our home in Brackley - in fact just 6 miles as the crow flies!

It's particularly nice in early Spring, for a walk amongst the display of spring flowers. So a visit was due, however on this occasion there was an added incentive! News of a very obliging male Garganey on the Octagon Lake, in the heart of the grounds had certainly caught my eye!

Garganeys are right up there with the most beautiful ducks and one of my particular favourites. The thought of getting really good views of a male was mouth watering!

Em always likes a walk at Stowe and needed no second invitation to go. So off we popped there on Sunday 08/03 for a bit of lunch, before ambling down to the lakes for a circuit or two. A full circuit of the Octagon Lake, where the bird had been reported as 'showing well' some 30 minutes earlier, drew a frustrating and surprising blank. A female Red-Crested Pochard was a bonus, a Siskin flew over and several Gadwall and Tufties were generally about. But no Garganey. Hmmmm!





We had more of a wander about, before deciding on one more circuit of the Octagon Lake - the Garg had to be here somewhere!

I approached a reedy section of shore on the south side of the lake, that looked like one of the more likely spots for a skulky Garganey. Luckily for me, as I approached a weird noise came from the reeds, which I would liken to pulling the corrugated bit of a bended plastic straw. He soon inched out of the reeds and into view - there you are!





I was keen not to flush the bird, however I had no need to worry, as it swam out of the reeds, again letting several more calls and slowly swimming right past me, no more than 10 feet away! I couldn't believe it, how good is this!









His plumage was nearly there, with just a few brown flecks in the eye stripes and small brownish patches on each flank. But regardless of these 'imperfections', he was an absolute stunner!

He proceeded to potter about in this general area, calling frequently and having a good old feed, as the sun emerged for a short while. After some time spent enjoying this rare opportunity to see a Garganey so damn well, it slowly began to drift off across the lake, which seemed like an appropriate to depart.