Ruddy Shelduck
Followers of this blog will know my love for ducks. As soon as I saw this gorgeous ginger specimen, I knew what it was. The curious thing, though, is how did I know it was a Ruddy Shelduck? I must have seen one as a child and identified it using one of my brother’s old bird books. Perhaps it was on a park lake? This one is equally as likely to be feral or an escapee.
I watched it fly in dramatically to a small pool in Orbetello and enjoy a little dabble while being closely followed by a male Mallard, which clearly fancied a bit of hybridisation.
Gorgeous, aren’t they?
More Ducks
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Quackers I spot a group of Mallard Ducks taking off from the water at RSPB Radipole. They're a hundred metres away,… read more
I’m just dabbling There's a Eurasian Teal plodding its way through the mud towards me at RSPB Lodmoor in Weymouth. I love how… read more
Goldeneye We're told there's a pair of Goldeneye when we arrive at RSPB Radipole. I've seen one before from a great… read more
Spatula There is a pair of Northern Shovelers, Spatula clypeata, in The Regent's Park. I sit under a weeping Willow and… read more
Another reason to love Dunters Dunter is the Orcadian name for the Common Eider Duck. I find it hard to believe that Eider Ducks are… read more
Mandarin splashabout I love a Mandarin Duck shot. I decide to lie on the ground and get my camera as low to… read more
When your mates arrive pre-loaded It's an evening out in England and your friends are meeting at yours. The cost of alcohol in pubs and… read more