Yes he’s regularly chasing the mallard, no evidence of breeding with them yet (there have been other RCP in previous years, but usually an excess of males)

Juvenile Great Northern Diver still plus Red Crested Pochard seen with a female Mallard!

Interesting to read your observations Mike, thanks.

Scaup is near the axbridge tower again with 47 pochard & 75+ tufties (difficult to tell how dark it is against today’s bright sunshine, especially as the noise of a lorry going to the water treatment works pushed them all further offshore). Red crested also this side for a change, with c.20 shoveler & a grey wagtail

I went to Cheddar Reservoir yesterday and saw the male Scaup.
As per Tim Hutton’s comments below, it appeared to be an adult male but its back was a darker grey than I would have expected.
I wonder if this is natural variation or indicative of a hybrid.

No need to search, this just came up for me:
https://mobile.twitter.com/TimJukes4/status/1616363782812352513

Thanks for that. I haven’t seen the Slimbridge photos but I will have a look.

Well advanced immature would fit your description (have you seen the pics of wild bird at slimbridge changing colour weekly?)

GN Diver again close to Cheddar Tower mid morning.  Also male Greater scaup near Axbridge Tower. Head and body shape and size perfect for scaup but back not as pale as expected. Possibly a trick of the sunlight but thoughts on maturity variation appreciated. Bill tip had less black on than tufties, but green tinge to head only just perceptible.

GN Diver in the centre of the reservoir this morning. Just managed to find it between downpours. Has anyone else noticed the exceptional number of Black Headed Gulls on flooded fields at the moment? There were at least 500 in the last 2 fields approaching Cheddar from Wedmore. It would be interesting to try to cover the whole area during WeBS as well as the usual count sites.

Adult kittiwake near Cheddar Tower at midday before being blown rapidly east!

GN Diver seen this morning, also at least 2 Male RC Pochard, no sign of Goosanders.

GN Diver still present and one Goosander reported.

4-Jan=2023
Grt N Diver still present this morning per social media

The Great Northern Diver still near Cheddar Tower. Also 3 goosander (1 male). RC Pochard with coots on southern end.