Dabbling Ducks at Llanelli Yesterday (1 Viewer)

AlanR

Bird photographer

• Aug 9, 2007

• #1

I am having difficulty identifying some ducks seen yesterday at the Lanelli WWT site.
They were smaller tham Mallards, about Coot sized or a bit smaller, and generally fairly indistinctive grey looking birds. They were, unfortunately, too far away for a good look or for good pictures, but some poor ones are attached.
Their most distinctive point was a white underbelly exposed when they put their heads down into the water (which they seemed to do a lot).
What could they be, please?
Alan
(I would prefer answers that don't say they were young Mallards, please!)

 

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Ian Hamiltan

Well-known member

• Aug 9, 2007

• #2

hi allan
shoveler.

 

AlanR

Bird photographer

• Aug 9, 2007

• #3

Ian Hamiltan said:

hi allan
shoveler.

Click to expand...

Thanks.
I can see the resemblance but all my books seem to indicate dark brown colour underneath the belly.
Obviously Shovelers don't spend all their time shoveling!
Alan

 

Ian Hamiltan

Well-known member

• Aug 9, 2007

• #4

AlanR said:

Thanks.
I can see the resemblance but all my books seem to indicate dark brown colour underneath the belly.
Obviously Shovelers don't spend all their time shoveling!
Alan

Click to expand...

the birds are all in eclypse plumage,like all wildfowl this time of year
they lose there bright colours and the males go that drab brown colour
the same as the females.

 

AlanR

Bird photographer

• Aug 9, 2007

• #5

Ian Hamiltan said:

the birds are all in eclypse plumage,like all wildfowl this time of year
they lose there bright colours and the males go that drab brown colour
the same as the females.

Click to expand...

Thanks.
I saw my first Shovelers two weeks ago and I'm looking forward to seeing males in their full non-eclipse versions.
Alan

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Aug 9, 2007

• #6

The two upending birds don't look like Shovelers. Possibly Gadwall, but a bit hard to tell from these pictures and this angle. White underparts aren't good for Shoveler.

 

D

David Callahan

Well-known member

• Aug 9, 2007

• #7

The bird at the rear of each photo is a Shoveler, but the description of your upending birds as having grey plumage and showing a white belly sounds like Gadwall - did they have a small white speculum (rear wing patch)? Any photos of them not upending?

d

 

AlanR

Bird photographer

• Aug 9, 2007

• #8

thesurplus said:

The bird at the rear of each photo is a Shoveler, but the description of your upending birds as having grey plumage and showing a white belly sounds like Gadwall - did they have a small white speculum (rear wing patch)? Any photos of them not upending?

d

Click to expand...

I am pretty convinced that these are all the same birds. The top/left bird in picture 1 did a dive a bit later and looked like the bottom/right bird.
I don't think there's enough evidence to suggest that they are not all Shovelers.
Alan

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Aug 10, 2007

• #9

AlanR said:

I am pretty convinced that these are all the same birds. The top/left bird in picture 1 did a dive a bit later and looked like the bottom/right bird.
I don't think there's enough evidence to suggest that they are not all Shovelers.
Alan

Click to expand...

But Alan, as you mentioned in your original post and as is clearly visible in the photo, the upending bird(s) show a white belly and vent. This isn't a feature of Shoveler. So there's quite strong evidence that the upending birds were not Shovelers. You also mention that they were grey looking - again not good for Shoveler. It's a bit hard to be sure what those ducks are (Gadwall or perhaps Teal is my best bet) but they're not Shoveler. The one in the background is but I don't think either of the other two are.

 

bitterntwisted

Graham Howard Shortt

• Aug 10, 2007

• #10

Agree with Andrew. Gadwall is the most likely option for the up-ending birds.

Graham

 

timwootton

Well-known member

• Aug 10, 2007

• #11

One more vote for shoveler and gadwall.

 

AlanR

Bird photographer

• Aug 10, 2007

• #12

Thanks for further comments.
I am going to work on the assumption that there was at least one Gadwall there. As I saw Shovelers elsewhere on the same day, all that is at stake is Gadwall on my list for August. I have seen them in May, June and July so August does not seem too unlikely.
Alan