Common Shelduck flight (1 Viewer)

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....

• Jan 5, 2018

• #1

Not really studied the flight of a shelduck before, so when I saw one fly fairly low over the garden with an incredibly rapid flapping action it threw me. 99.9% sure that I have a new garden tick. Never seen one in East Cheshire before so could just do with clarification of rapid flight of this species. Thanks in advance

 

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Cinereous

Well-known member

• Jan 5, 2018

• #2

I'm not sure what the question is... I live near Slimbridge... so I'm seeing a lot of Shelduck at the moment.. Yes they are rapid flyers and they are seen flying low regularly.. They tend to have very short rapid wing beats.. I wouldn't describe it as flapping.. The most identifying characteristic is simply their striking colouration..

 

Bananafishbones

Incoherently Rambling .....

• Jan 5, 2018

• #3

Cinereous said:

I'm not sure what the question is... I live near Slimbridge... so I'm seeing a lot of Shelduck at the moment.. Yes they are rapid flyers and they are seen flying low regularly.. They tend to have very short rapid wing beats.. I wouldn't describe it as flapping.. The most identifying characteristic is simply their striking colouration..

Click to expand...

Cheers, you have described the wing beat better than I did, and answered my question as well. Never seen one in this area before so just wanted clarification on its "wing beats". I was happy with the visual I'd as it flew over.

Thanks for your reply

 

CARERY

Well-known member

• Jan 5, 2018

• #4

'incredibly rapid flapping action' sounds more like a Goosander to me, male looks rather similar to Common Shelduck. In Shelduck you should have seen dark breastband and dark belly.
If you like check here:

Shelduck: http://birds-in-flight.net/?p=735
Goosander: http://birds-in-flight.net/?p=6921

 

Last edited: Jan 5, 2018

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Dean Nicholson

Cloacal Protuberant.

• Jan 5, 2018

• #5

I also thought Goosander when i read the OP.... lots moving about at the moment too.