Wildfowlfest

Three new species of wildfowl today! Unfortunately, due to the wonderful array of species kept (at least until allowed to escape) in captivity nowadays, all lurk under the 'Cloud of unknown origin'. A smart male Mandarin on the Monmouth-Brecon Canal was fully-winged and quite skittish and goes straight on the list as category C (somebody check its legs for rings mind). The Whooper Swan at the Newport Wetlands is also on the list, though it will come straight back off if the bleedin' thing summers on the reserve. Finally, I'm umming and arring over the status of Barnacle Goose in the county. One or two notable members of the Gwent birding glitterati suggest they all derive from the category E birds in Cardiff but what if one or two are from the category C birds at Slimbridge/Frampton? Not on the list at present, but who knows how desperate I'll get come December 31st.