A RARE species of duck has brought twitchers flocking to Sale Water Park during October.

Birdwatchers have travelled to the Broad Ees Dole Nature Reserve from all over Greater Manchester to see the garganey bird.

The species, described by the RSPB as a ‘scarce and very secretive’, visits England in the summer and migrates to Africa in winter.

It was first spotted by James Walsh of the Manchester Ship Canal World Heritage Group.

“This is a rare species. I’m not sure anyone has ever seen one at Sale Water Park before,” he said.

“I saw it on October 6. I was the first person to see it and there have been dozens of birdwatchers who’ve come in search of it since then.

“The bird is smaller than a mallard and slightly bigger than a teal. The male is most easily recognised with a broad white stripe over the eye. In flight it shows a pale blue forewing.”

James saw the drake garingey in ‘eclipse’ plumage – when the bird moults in late summer and early autumn and looks very similar to the female of the species.

He’s also caught a glimpse of a hybrid duck that’s currently defying classification. Hybrid ducks are created when two birds of different species mate.

“This is a mystery duck,” added James. “It’s quite a complicated one and so far no-one has been able to identify it.”

Sale Water Park is a favourite site with birdwatchers and it’s not the first time a crowd has gathered to watch a rare species at the site.

The nature reserve is noted for several visits from egrets – white herons that are generally associated with Europe, but are on the increase in England.

In 1989, Sale Water Park hosted the first ever little egret for Greater Manchester, and, at the time, it was so rare in England that birdwatchers travelled from all over the country to see it on May Bank Holiday.

The Mersey Valley has attracted many rare duck species including sightings of North American ring-necked and wood ducks.

European species including ferruginous duck and red-crested Pochard have also been sighted, as well as marine species such as the common scoter and greater scaup.

For more details on bird watching in Sale and the Mersey Valley, visit merseyvalley.org.uk