Ferruginous Duck is a scarce passage
migrant and winter visitor primarily from September to April, and is also a
rare breeding species. The species is currently listed as Near Threatened worldwide
and prefers shallower and more vegetated areas than other Aythya
species and seldom sits out on open water. It was thus a surprise when I found
three males on the muddy edge of the percolation pond that soon moved out into
the open water. As I attempted to get a photo of them on the water they flew,
but luckily circled around and came back to land allowing a few flight shots to
be taken. The birds then stayed in the open for some time at a distance before disappearing
into the main reed bed. I have seen birds on a couple of occasions before on
the ‘patch’. I saw two males at the Percolation Pond on 15 November 2012 and two
males at the same site in June 2013. I have also seen birds rarely at Sabkhat
Al Fasl. This is the largest count of species on the camp in the four years I have
been here, so I was happy with my evenings birding.
