Canvasback

Canvasback - Lee Gregory - Cavenham Heath NNR - 26th March 2010

On the 25th March 2010 I found a 'Canvasback' locally at Cavenham Heath National Nature Reserve.

At the distance I viewed it really looked the part, structurally sound, much larger than nearby drake Pochards, paler on the back and with that bill!

However, despite appearing otherwise perfect, the bird had an imperfection; a pale patch behind the tip of the bill:

Canvasback - Lee Gregory - Cavenham Heath NNR - 26th March 2010

As this detailed British Birds (Keith Vinicombe - March 2023) article sets out, the presence of white on the bill is death-knell stuff for getting a bird accepted, I mean, just read the abstract:

The identification of a male hybrid Canvasback Aythya valisineria × Common Pochard A. ferina at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset, is discussed. The most important character for separating a pure-bred Canvasback from a similar hybrid or impure individual is the presence of small white marks on the bill. The identification of Canvasback in Europe requires caution. Critical examination of all the key features, both structural and relating to plumage, is essential, and particular attention should be paid to the bill.

This is reinforced by a more recent Birding Frontiers post by the late great Martin Garner from March 2011.

My views of the Cavenham bird were closer to these photos taken by good friend Malcolm Fairley:

Canvasback - Malcolm Fairley - Cavenham Heath NNR - 25th March 2010

Canvasback - Malcolm Fairley - Cavenham Heath NNR - 25th March 2010

Presumably this individual was the bird which had previously visited nearby Lackford Lakes in 2009 and Nosterfield up in Yorkshire in 2008. I think the last accepted record of Canvasback dates back to 2002 - over twenty years ago!

No one is going to argue with Keith Vinicombe or Martin Garner - absolute legends. But we need to find some wild Canvasbacks with pale patches behind the bill...