Rare hoodie’s first anniversary at Radipole Lake

It was this time last year when a rare hooded merganser set up home at Radipole Lake in Weymouth and to celebrate the RSPB is having a party.

Over the past year, the merganser has become a familiar sight to visitors of Radipole Lake and even had a starring appearance with Bill Oddie on the BBC’s Autumnwatch.

Dan Bartlett from the RSPB says “ We aren’t sure where he came from but we are very pleased to have him here. He is quite a character and over the last year he has gained a lot of admirers, but sadly not amongst the female ducks. What we say to people is appreciate him for what he is, which is something out of the ordinary.”

Hooded mergansers are ducks of the coastal Pacific and Atlantic fringes of North America but are rarely found over here and there is some debate as to whether this bird is a wild bird or an escapee from a wildfowl collection given the rarity of vagrant hooded mergansers in these isles.

Whether genuinely wild or not they are unquestionably beautiful birds with their distinctive black and white fan shaped crest and impressive to watch especially when they are diving for fish.

Join the RSPB’s celebrations on Tuesday 9 June at Radipole Lake visitor centre from 10am-4pm, take part in a duck quiz and feast on duck shaped cakes provided by the Seargent Bun Bakery. For more information contact Radipole Lake Visitor Centre on 01305 778313.