Red-crested Pochard

Local status: Rare visitor.

It is likely that most records refer to escapes or naturalised birds as part of the growing UK feral population. Some birds have been considered to be wild, including the female at Wheldrake Ings in November 1982 which appeared following a large movement
of wildfowl along the Yorkshire coast, including other records of this species arriving elsewhere in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. A female raised five (possibly hybrid) young on Welham Pond near Malton in 1983, which remains the only breeding record.

Records:
2023: A female on the small lake adjacent to the Atlas Fountain at Castle Howard on 11th November
2019: In November, four drakes found at Aughton Ings on the 3rd followed by a single drake at Wheldrake Ings on the 15th
2018: A single leucistic female was found at NDC on 24th & 25th February. It was consider by observers to be a likely escapee. An adult male on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on 19th April
2017: A pair on floodwater at Aughton on 13th March and a male at CHL on 28th December.
2016: An adult female on the pool at Wheldrake Ings on 24th October
2012: Wheldrake Ings, 27th and 28th March. Female.
2004: Wheldrake Ings, 4th and 5th September. Bank Island, 9th September. Female.
1999: Wheldrake Ings, 17th July. Male.
1997: Wheldrake Ings, 6th July. Three females, with one the next day.
1996: Newton-on-Derwent, 26th November. Female.
1992: Castle Howard, 30th June. Female.
1991: Bishopthorpe Ings, 25th February. Pair.
1986: Wheldrake Ings, 8th July. Female.
1984: Wharfe Ings, 12th February. Male.
1984: Wheldrake Ings, 12th February. Male.
1984: Bank Island, 11th February. Female.
1984: Stamford Bridge, 4th February to 26th April. Male.
1983: Welham Pond, Malton, 12th June. Female plus five possibly hybrid young.
1982: Wheldrake Ings, 8th to 10th November. Female.
1978: Wheldrake Ings, 11th September.
1966: Aughton Ings, 6th February and 20th March. Male.


Unsubstantiated records:
1993: Wheldrake Ings, March.