Orkney birds (1 Viewer)

Mike Tom · Sep 30, 2017

Three form the Orkneys this August. I have never seen so many different birds in an area !.

I think the duck is a female mallard as I think the blue patch is evident on its side ,although I cannot pick a clear stripe over the eye. If not a mallard then a pintail or a gadwall ? The smaller duck is an Eider I am sure, judging by the almost unique shape of its bill. The gull maybe a common gull as it has a black eye , but I also think black backed gulls also have a back eye in the juvenile stage ?

Thank you.

stevethehydra · Sep 30, 2017

First duck is a female Mallard, the eye stripe is visible (but it varies a lot in how distinct it is).

Gulls are hard... this one looks to me like something bigger than a Common, plumage wise it kind of makes me think GBB but the bill looks too small for that, so I'm not sure! I'm sure a proper gull person will come along and tell you what it is soon though!

Second duck is indeed a female Eider, though just as a side note they are actually bigger than Mallards and probably the biggest wild duck you're likely to see in the UK (alongside Shelduck and Goosander, but I'd suspect Eider wins on weight if not length/wingspan). Birds tend to look smaller on the sea than in ponds/rivers though!

(edit: biggest *wild* duck, domestic Mallard and Muscovy types can be bigger)

Mike Tom · Oct 1, 2017

stevethehydra said:
First duck is a female Mallard, the eye stripe is visible (but it varies a lot in how distinct it is).

Gulls are hard... this one looks to me like something bigger than a Common, plumage wise it kind of makes me think GBB but the bill looks too small for that, so I'm not sure! I'm sure a proper gull person will come along and tell you what it is soon though!

Second duck is indeed a female Eider, though just as a side note they are actually bigger than Mallards and probably the biggest wild duck you're likely to see in the UK (alongside Shelduck and Goosander, but I'd suspect Eider wins on weight if not length/wingspan). Birds tend to look smaller on the sea than in ponds/rivers though!

(edit: biggest *wild* duck, domestic Mallard and Muscovy types can be bigger)

Thanks Steve. I will wait for the gull confirmation

lou salomon · Oct 1, 2017

gull is a 2nd calendar year herring gull.

Orkney birds (1 Viewer)

More options

Mike Tom

Well-known member

Attachments

stevethehydra

Well-known member

Mike Tom

Well-known member

lou salomon

the birdonist

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread