Wildfowl flock? Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, December 15 2023 (1 Viewer)

[Earnest lad]

During a recent trip to the above venue, I managed to take a photo of an unidentified overflying flock of birds. Upon arrival back home I was able to look at the photo, with a view to ascertaining if possible the species of bird in the photo.
However, my effort to clinch the species has been in vain. Therefore I request the help here please in case someone can tell what the birds are.
Regrettably, not a lot of detail seems to be on view in the image, in spite of the high number of birds.
As far as I can tell, these birds seem to be some kind of wildfowl. I think I can see a duck-like bill on one or two of the birds. Still I could be mistaken.
Thanks in advance.

 

[mummymonkey]

Look plovery to me.

 

[Butty]

Non-mallard dabbling ducks.

 

[lou salomon]

pintail and I think shoveler. but temptation is big to see them as incoming ruffs

 

[mummymonkey]

pintail and I think shoveler. but temptation is big to see them as incoming ruffs

Yes it depends which direction you think they are going A rabbit or duck illusion.

 

[01101001]

My first impression was some Aythya sp. (two examples below). Why not Pochard or Ferruginous Duck (dark wingtip, white underwing, white belly, brownish head and breast, white blaze next to the bill in some)?

 

[THE_FERN]

My first impression was some Aythya sp. (two examples below). Why not Pochard or Ferruginous Duck (dark wingtip, white underwing, white belly, brownish head and breast, white blaze next to the bill in some)?

Some at least look like pochard

 

[Muppit17]

I struggle with the options put forward as I do with the ID to be honest.
I think the is a single species here ( could be wrong)
I also think there are both sexes present -pale headed birds being females and males dark headed.
If Pintail - the normally elongated tail & neck is missing
If Pochard (which are v scarce in the Red Sea) surely we would see the black breast (probably) and the black back end on the males (definitely). So although the females could fit the males don't.
Same points for Fudge duck.

Shovelers don't fit the 'males'

The vent area on the 'males' also rules out Mallard, Wigeon, most Aythyas and even Teal.

The most common migrant duck I have seen along the coast around here is Garganey. The date seems very late to even consider them but they almost fit.

 

[dantheman]

I wondered Marbled Duck, but I presume that would be a decent sized flock. But a number do fit Garganey ... do they 'winter' there?

 

[Earnest lad]

I wondered Marbled Duck, but I presume that would be a decent sized flock. But a number do fit Garganey ... do they 'winter' there?

According to the Birdsoftheworld.org distribution map for this species, they do indeed winter there. The Sinai peninsula seems to be right on the northern extremity of the wintering range.

Garganey - Spatula querquedula - Birds of the World

Species accounts for all the birds of the world.

birdsoftheworld.org

 

[Earnest lad]

Look plovery to me.

Thank you for your contribution: however I feel confident a duck-type bill is visible in quite a few of the birds of this flock.

 

[Earnest lad]

Non-mallard dabbling ducks.

Thank you. I am confident you are correct and am strongly leaning toward Garganey after reading the comments

 

[Earnest lad]

Some at least look like pochard

Thank you for the suggestion. I can see what you mean. I wonder if this is a mixed flock comprising different species?

 

[Earnest lad]

pintail and I think shoveler. but temptation is big to see them as incoming ruffs

Thank you so much. I get that LOL. I appreciate this suggestion. I have so far, Garganey, Marbled Duck, Ferruginous Duck, Shoveler, and Pintail.

 

[Earnest lad]

My first impression was some Aythya sp. (two examples below). Why not Pochard or Ferruginous Duck (dark wingtip, white underwing, white belly, brownish head and breast, white blaze next to the bill in some)?

Thank you for your very helpful contribution. I can see what you mean by Ferruginous duck, with the white belly : I did see one Ferruginous duck on a lake during my visit, so I would not be at all surprised if at least some were this species. On the other hand, many of the birds in the flock do seem to have rather pale heads, although some at least seem to show a dark head. Admittedly the photo is, I think, possibly over-exposed

 

[Earnest lad]

I struggle with the options put forward as I do with the ID to be honest.
I think the is a single species here ( could be wrong)
I also think there are both sexes present -pale headed birds being females and males dark headed.
If Pintail - the normally elongated tail & neck is missing
If Pochard (which are v scarce in the Red Sea) surely we would see the black breast (probably) and the black back end on the males (definitely). So although the females could fit the males don't.
Same points for Fudge duck.

Shovelers don't fit the 'males'

The vent area on the 'males' also rules out Mallard, Wigeon, most Aythyas and even Teal.

The most common migrant duck I have seen along the coast around here is Garganey. The date seems very late to even consider them but they almost fit.

Whilst here, I didnt see any Garganey, Wigeon Mallard, on the water. Only Teal and Ferruginous Duck. On the other hand trip reports from this area seem to feature Garganey a lot. Also according to "Birds of the World.org" Sinai is within the wintering area. I do appreciate your answer

 

[Earnest lad]

In conclusion: I have checked and of all the species suggested (thank you) only Garganey is said to have its wintering within that range (Sinai Peninsula) . All the others mentioned would be "passage migrants" here, and the migration season was past by the date of the sighting.
In view of the above, I respectfully plump for Garganey as a possible, but not a certainty
With kind regards and thanks

 

[Jono L]

They look like Teal to me. The lower circled bird in the screengrab in 0110101001's post shows the black-framed yellow triangle at the rear end of the male quite clearly. Thanks, Jono

 

[kuzeycem]

I'd also agree with Eurasian Teal. Underwings with dark leading edge + uniformly dark heads on the males.

 

[Jos Stratford]

I also, and no problem with midwinter Teal in Egypt - I have seen flocks in the Nile Delta in January.