Unknown bird drainage ditch Derby uk. (1 Viewer)

[She’ll not av feathers on]

Hi everyone. At the bottom of my road there’s a drainage ditch which is home to mallard and moorhen at this time of year. However when I was walking the shop earlier I noticed this little thing perched on a sheet of discarded Heras fencing🤨 I want to say a juvenile of some sort?? But it wasn’t being attended to by the adult mallards. There were 2 others also in and around the reeds. One of them had markings on its rear of 2 thick white patches separated by a black centre “bar”

Anyone any ideas? Thanks🙂

 

[PYRTLE]

Looks like a standard Moorhen from the images, to me.A bit early for any type of juvenile, certainly not a duck species, nor a rarer Crake.

 

[Butty]

a drainage ditch which is home to . . . moorhen

... including this one. An adult.

 

[She’ll not av feathers on]

I don’t want to sound ungrateful or rude to either of you. And as a novice I know it may seem like disagreeing with you is both😅 but I really don’t think it’s a moorhen. It was just too “bulky” and rather than being jet black this thing was a dark shade of grey with almost a deep blue sort of hue in parts.

Could it be anything else?

 

[Butty]

It was just too “bulky” and rather than being jet black this thing was a dark shade of grey with almost a deep blue sort of hue in parts.

Sounds perfect. And the photo confirms. Note especially narrow white line along flank.

 

[Prestdj]

moorhen and saw 2 juveniles in wakefield over a week ago

 

[Derbyfella]

moorhen

 

[She’ll not av feathers on]

Moorhen it is then😁

Thanks everyone.

 

[She’ll not av feathers on]

Should have consulted my British birds pocket guide before coming on here asking and making a show of myself😅🥹

Clearly a Moorhen! Doofus😅

 

[Mike Crawley]

always remember - there are no stupid questions

 

[PYRTLE]

moorhen and saw 2 juveniles in wakefield over a week ago

That is early for a juvenile given most commence egg laying mid April with an incubation of 22 days ( slightly later the further North of the range ) and juveniles, as opposed to chicks, when they are food independent of the parents. But some pairs do breed earlier in March.

 

[wheatearlp]

Had two juveniles with an adult Moorhen on Tuesday (23/4) in NE Worcestershire.

 

[She’ll not av feathers on]

That is early for a juvenile given most commence egg laying mid April with an incubation of 22 days ( slightly later the further North of the range ) and juveniles, as opposed to chicks, when they are food independent of the parents. But some pairs do breed earlier in March.

The British birds book I have said that what looks like the bird I seen are juveniles as well💁🏻‍♂️

 

[wheatearlp]

Could be, depending on bill colour and 'sharpness' of plumage. However, such a well-grown juvenile is extremely unlikely at this time of year given that they are only likely to have hatched recently and would look more like those in the attached image.