This is a picture of a male Smew in the collection at London Wetland Centre, which Keith took on our recent visit. Seeing it highlighted that it is now a rare visitor to England, compared to twenty years ago. Then there were regular sites in the London area where you could see them – Wraysbury springs to mind. Females, such as the one I saw at Abberton last week, were even more common in the London area.
Interestingly, I recall that it was not common to see males and females wintering on the same site. Now even females are a rare sighting.
Yet, another example of our changing bird populations fuelled by climate change and other environmental changes. I imagine they no longer have to come this far south to winter and as has been recorded in other species, such as Bewicks Swans, they are stopping short on their journeys south from their breeding grounds.
A stunning bird, which is a much-missed winter visitor to the South East.
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