One of our rarest duck visitors. A splendid male specimen was killed at Boyndie in September 1853.
Anas Americana [American Wigeon].
A mutilated male specimen of this rare duck, shot on the Burn of Boyndie, in January 1841, was for many years in my possession.
Anas marila [Scaup Duck]. Pretty frequent during winter.
Anas fuligula [Tufted Duck]. Very rare.
Anas clangula [Goldeneye].
A regular winter visitor, generally coast-wise, but they are also met with on mill-dams some miles inland.
Anas glacialis [Long-tailed Duck].
Abundant, but always keeping near the coast. I have shot them when in their full breeding dress, which gives them quite a different appearance. In spring they are very clamorous, pursuing each other through the water, and diving and skipping about like Merry Andrews. The noise they make on such occasions is so loud that I have heard it, on a still morning, nearly three miles off. They are generally among the first birds to arrive and the last to leave.
Mergus cucullatus [Hooded Merganser].