Hooded Merganser

Lophopdytes cucullatus

One of the most remarkable and unexpected birds to be found on Severnside occurred mid afternoon on 23rd February 2026. What seemed to be a newly arrived female was found (having not been seen earlier by several visitors and visits earlier in the day) in some murky thick drizzle on the Butt’s Pool at Pilning Wetland. It soon flew off to land on the Signals pool. Fifteen minutes later it was flushed with Wigeon from the the Signals pool and flew off towards the estuary. Ten minutes later it was relocated on the river off New Passage where it was seen to dive, fly around , re-land and eventually fly back to the Wetland. The wary and restless duck remained flighty and visited all the pools until dusk.

The following sunnier day it was much appreciated by many visiting birders but departed that night. On both days the legs were seen while it preened and occasionally stood on an island and reassuringly it had no rings.

Hooded Merganser, New Passage 23.2.26

Hooded Merganser, Pilning Wetland 23.2.26

Hooded Merganser, Pilning Wetland 23.2.26

Hooded Merganser, Pilning Wetland 23.2.26

Hooded Merganser, Pilning Wetland 24.2.26