On a chilly winter day in Brandenburg, a small, seemingly inconspicuous pond became the setting for an extraordinary encounter. Among the usual array of waterfowl, a first-year Long-Tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) stood out—a rare visitor far from its typical Arctic and coastal haunts. Its presence, alongside more familiar duck species like Smew (Mergellus albellus), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) and Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) created a unique opportunity for bird enthusiasts to study its behavior in a mixed-species environment.
On the pond, the Long-Tailed Duck displayed its characteristic diving behavior, searching for aquatic invertebrates, a diet that mirrors its feeding habits in coastal and Arctic regions. Despite its unusual location, the bird appeared well-adapted to the freshwater setting and was often out of sight due to diving.
The juvenile Long-Tailed Duck integrated surprisingly well with its freshwater counterparts, maintaining a certain distance yet occasionally mingling in loosely organized feeding groups especially with Gadwalls. Its diving prowess, however, set it apart from the dabblers and surface-feeders, offering a stark reminder of its marine origins.
The Long-Tailed Duck, known for its deep-diving capabilities and striking adult plumage, is a species typically associated with marine habitats in winter. This juvenile, with its understated brown-and-white coloration and shorter tail feathers, differed significantly from the striking black-and-white appearance of adult males. Juveniles are often prone to vagrancy, and this individual may have wandered off-course during migration.
For birdwatchers in Brandenburg, the sighting of a first-year Long-tailed Duck amidst common duck species underscored the unpredictability of migration. Factors such as weather disturbances or navigational inexperience likely contributed to its inland detour. This mixed-species gathering not only provided a rare chance to study a Long-tailed Duck in an atypical habitat but also emphasized the ecological diversity of even the smallest water bodies in the region.
As the seasons progress, this vagrant’s journey remains uncertain. For now, it adds an unexpected touch of the Arctic to Brandenburg’s winter landscape, enriching the experience of those fortunate enough to observe it.
The presence of a Long-tailed Duck in Brandenburg’s winter landscape was not the first vagrant bird for Brandenbug in this winter. It could not match the enthusiam about a vagrant Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius), a species typically found in the Americas at the Caputher Gemünde at the outflow of the Schwielowsee in Potsdam. But it was a welcom twich as well.
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