Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
Shardeloes Lake - 16th August 2004
Photos copyright Mike Wallen
This introduced species was first recorded in the county in 1960, with almost annual sightings from 1974. In 1980 the first breeding record came from Weston Turville Reservoir, while breeding was certainly successful at Shardeloes Lake in 1990 and many years since. It's future is treated by government policy to "remove" the species from the UK in order to protect the White-headed Duck population in Spain, a policy which is extremely controversial.
The top picture is of an adult female and the lower is one of it's offspring.