A request from Philip for help in confirming a sighting he had yesterday. Having consulted various books he’s fairly sure that he saw a pair of Smew ducks yesterday opposite his house in the Flora fields. He described the markings in some detail (snow white plumage, with pencil-line markings in Y-shape). They were touching beaks, so he thought they might be a mating pair.

He and his wife have also recently observed:

• Heron paddling in Alder Pond (24th April) and one flying over ex-Gleesons Field (26th April)
• 5 lapwings (26th April, Flora)
• A hare (ex-Gleesons Field, 18th April)

Any help appreciated.