Duck on the Grand Canal? - Species Help

Clip-Clop

Saw a duck I've never seen before on the Grand Canal today.

Not a birder but interested in nature so hope not missing something obvious.

Gone through RSPB and BWI sites and nothing jumps out at me.

Description:

Its a duck - pretty certain of that. Brightly coloured

Pestering a female mallard and about 2/3 of her size.

Black flight feathers with some more brightly coloured feathers mixed in (Not sure of the colour of these) Russet, fading down to White on the breast.

Distinctive bright red eye.

Long Crest that swept down the back of the neck (rather than standing tall - grebe like) - Crest was black and white.

Bill was shorter than a mallard and brightly coloured but cannot recall the colours - red/yellow rings a bell but could not swear by it.

Call was a low cheep, cheep sound.

Any ideas what it was?

Ditch

Red Breasted Merganser. Check that out on Google Images.

Rainbowsend

Sounds like a Wood Duck to me?

Ditch

Damn! Ye dead right, Rainbowsend.

So long since I've seen one, I'd simply forgotten them.

No idea where the Grand Canal is, or what's there. But, my mind was niggling me; " Merganser, up a canal? And smaller than a Mallard ....? "

Too busy to think straight tonight :rolleyes:

Enjoy that well earned cigar

Clip-Clop

Dead right - thats the fella - beautiful looking bird.

Never seen one before so was thrilled.

Just below Mount Street Bridge if anyone is in the area.

Thanks for the help