Hooded Merganser on Blythburgh estuary

On Thursday 15th November, I drove down to Blythburgh and taking the footpath north of the river heading west, I was joined by Phil H and to quote Chris S I spotted "the rakishly handsome" male Hooded Merganser which stood on distant mudflats south of the river. On the left leg sadly was a big orange ring which would indicate that this was an escaped bird rather than a transatlantic vagrant. After 10 minutes watching it, it promptly flew off and flew east in a circle arc but it flew to estuary at 9.30am when lost to view as it landed on the Blythburgh estuary. On the estuary itself, at very low tide the Merganser couldn't be seen despite extensive searching. However 12 Grey Plover seen. Despite checking North denies, Ness Point and Hamilton Dock nothing else of note seen.