Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina

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:
2024: Castle Howard, all year, female
2023: small lake adjacent to the Atlas Fountain at Castle Howard, 11th November. 2 female

2019: Wheldrake Ings, 15th November. male
2019: Aughton Ings, 3rd November. four drakes

2018: Wheldrake Ings, 19th April. male
2018: North Duffield Carrs, 24th & 25th February. a leucistic female, considered to be a likely escapee.
2017: Castle Howard Lake, 28th December. male
2017: Aughton Ings, 13th March. a pair
2016: Wheldrake Ings, 24th October. adult female
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.