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TBOSG Smew - Mergellus albellus
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Smew is the smallest of the mergansers (sawbills) and it is likely that the name stems from an old variant of the word small. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries writers sometimes used smew or smee adjectively in a compound name such as Smew Merganser. Some historical names for Smew include; Smee Duck, White Nun, Magpie Diver, Weasel Duck and Small Herring Bar. |
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Earliest: January 11th 2003 off New Passage. Latest: February 14th 1991 off New Passage. Highest Count: Five on February 13th 1991 off New Passage. |
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There have been ten Smew reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are; |
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2006: (1) |
On January 29th a female was watched off Aust Warth late morning, it quickly floated off down river later to be seen off New Passage. |
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2003: (2) |
A female was found on January 11th off New Passage; A male was reported on February 8th off New Passage. |
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Smew off New Passage. January 2003. © Paul Bowerman. |
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1991: (5) |
Five, all males were seen on February 13th off New Passage with four lingering into February 14th. |
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1855: (2) |
A male was ‘obtained' on February 12th at Dyrham Park. This occurrence constitutes the first report of this species in S. Gloucestershire; A male was 'obtained at or near Oldbury-on-Severn sometime in c.1855 though no date is available. |
