Anas americana

Rare vagrant

There have been about 14 records of American Wigeon in Berkshire but that figure is considered to include escapes and possibly even Gadwall x chiloe hybrids.

November 1985 saw a party of two first winter males + two females at Thatcham before they moved to Theale. These birds were reported at both sites until the end of the year. For the next few winters ones and twos were reported in the county  but only two November '87 birds were accepted by the BBRC so joining the four 1985 birds

The bird in these photographs was found by the prolific Ken Moore on November 20th ('08) at Lower Farm [if accepted it would be the 7th for the county, I think - although Berksbirds would have it as the 6th]. It has made occasional trips to the adjoining Trout farm lake with its Eurasian cousins

I've included the very poor flight shots to show the underwing