Rare visitor to the UK pictured at Welney Nature Reserve

Photographer Nick Bowman was at Welney Nature Reserve last week when he captured an image of a ruddy shelduck.

“I noticed the colourful bird coming into land and was not sure what species it was,” he said.

“Fortunately, I had an expert birder sitting next to me, who advised it was a ruddy shelduck.

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“(This is) a first for me and I understand that it is not a native species to the UK, so I’m pleased to capture this image.”

The ruddy shelduck has orange and brown body plumage with a paler head, while the tail and the flight feathers in the wings are black, contrasting with the white wing-coverts.

It is a migratory bird, wintering in the Indian subcontinent and breeding in southeastern Europe and central Asia, though there are small populations in North Africa.

These birds are rare visitors to the UK, with most sightings being of those that have escaped captivity.