An account of a first record of the Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Linnaeus, 1758 (Aves: Anseriformes: Anatidae) in Bhutan

Abstract

PunatsangChhu in Wangduephodrang 27.486°N 89.899°E (1,273m) is one of the largest rivers and an important zone in Bhutan for resident and migrant water birds. It is the expanse where the diverse birds are seen on a stretch between 27.462°N 89.901°E and 27.579°N 89.867°E (Tobgay 2017). Large numbers of winter migratory water birds in Bhutan have been found in this location (Spierenburg 2005). Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula was first sighted on Saturday, 5th of January, 2019 along PunatsangChhu 27.512657’N 89.887610’E at the elevation of 1142meter above sea level in the morning but couldn’t capture photo and more over mistreated it to be some other common water birds. However, until on 8th of January, 2019, it was a success to have photographed while it was foraging alone at the sand extraction sites at around 12:30 hours in the evening. The duck was observed diving simultaneously under water foraging at the time of sighting. It was then photographed with the help of DSLR camera and kit lens 55–300 mm until it flew away to other side of the river.

Keywords

• avifauna
• bird diversity
• goldeneye
• punatsang chhu
• threatened