Pochards: Last Lifer of the Trip

By Corey • October 21, 2007 • 6 comments

The Pochard is a diving duck of Eurasia, similar to the North American Redhead and Canvasback. Somehow, despite having visited several good locations like the Gulper See that should have had at least a few, no Pochard was kind enough to swim or fly through my field of view. Until today, that is, when, not ten blocks from where I am staying, five Pochards were hanging around in a canal with Mallards and Mute Swans. Lifer number 80 for my first European sojourn, not bad considering how much time I spent not birding.

There will be many more posts about the birds I saw in Germany (after all, I don’t want to disappoint Jochen) once I get back to New York. In the meantime, enjoy the Pochard, a most beautiful duck.

Pochard

Pochards

Pochard coming at you

Pochard sitting up

Another Pochard

Tags: Berlin, Birds, ducks, Germany, waterfowl

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About the Author

Corey

Corey is a New Yorker who has lived most of his life upstate but has spent the last three years in Queens. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy, their son, Desmond Shearwater, and their two indoor cats, Hunter and B.B.

6 Responses to “Pochards: Last Lifer of the Trip”

mon@rch Oct 21st, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Looks more like a Redhead to me than the canvas back! But very cool duck and would be a lifer to me!! But, not sure if I will ever be going to Eurasia anytime soon.
Larry Oct 21st, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Sounds like you’re doing pretty well for the limited time you put in birding.-Actually, you’re doing well period.-Hope you don’t run in to Chevy Chase on your European vacation!
Jochen Oct 22nd, 2007 at 5:28 am
Nice find and pics, but how was Gulper See and did you find Longtailed Tits?
Hey, world, by the way, I have a new post up at Belltower Birding.
Corey Oct 23rd, 2007 at 8:40 am
@Monarch: Definitely a cool duck. I was really surprised that, after missing in several more likely spots, to have it appear in Berlin.
@Larry: Heck, Chevy Chase should be glad he didn’t run into me!
@Jochen: No luck with the Long-tails. The Gulper See was great but very, very windy. Lots of the same geese as up north, and a couple German birders who let me know taht they hadn’t seen any pink feet around. AND WELCOME BACK!
Emily Nov 17th, 2009 at 11:10 am
That’s a redhead.
Corey Nov 17th, 2009 at 11:18 am
@Emily: No, it’s a Pochard…