Preening birds, Pensthorpe, England, July (1 Viewer)

S

Shirl

Well-known member

• Oct 23, 2008

• #1

Hi again,

In my first photo below I'm curious to now all the birds that are preening on this Island at Pensthorpe. I can see what I think are Black-headed gulls and a moorhen. What are the ducks - can anybody help?

I was also wondering who was swimming behind the White Cheeked Pintail in my second photo - they look very similar.

Thanks,
Shirl

 

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  Black-headed gulls, Moorhen and duck (crop).jpg

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  White Cheeked Pintail and friend, Pensthorpe.jpg

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nickderry

C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais.

• Oct 23, 2008

• #2

the ones with the black-headed gulls look like mandarins, though I can't tell them from wood ducks with this picture. It's a male mallard behind the white-cheeked pintail, it's in its moulting 'eclipse' plumage.

 

S

Shirl

Well-known member

• Oct 23, 2008

• #3

Hi again NIck,

Thanks for your help again. I had no idea ducks had different plumage throughout the year. I had no idea that they moulted either and what is meant by 'eclipse' - is it just a term?

Sorry, I should have thought to add a cropped pic for the ducks. Here's one now with it lightened a little too.

Thanks again,
Shirl

 

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  Ducks for ID.jpg

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Gomphus

Well-known member

• Oct 23, 2008

• #4

Eclipse is a plumage moult aquired by male ducks at the end of the breeding season, where the bright breeding plumage is replaced by a more dull, often female like stage. It is thought that this occurs as the flight feathers are replaced so as to provide camouflage during the period they are flightless. It is generally a short lived appearance and the males soon begin to replace the bright breeding plumages but its a nice confusion stage for birders!

Cheers

 

bitterntwisted

Graham Howard Shortt

• Oct 23, 2008

• #5

nickderry said:

the ones with the black-headed gulls look like mandarins, though I can't tell them from wood ducks with this picture.

Click to expand...

I find these hard. I also think they are Mandarins on jizz, but can't judge the eye-stripe very well even on the blow-up. Here's a blog post on telling Wood Duck and Mandarin apart... http://ocbirderca.blogspot.com/2007/10/wood-duck-or-mandarin-duck.html

Graham

 

S

Shirl

Well-known member

• Oct 23, 2008

• #6

Thanks everyone :t:

Wood duck or Mandarin is close enough - I appreciate your help especially when my photo isn't really clear. I will be using this pic more for the story rather than 'look at this bird' but I thought it would be an added touch if I could ID them.

Thanks for the info on the eclipse, Gomphus, this is all new stuff to me and I appreciate the info and may include reference to this in my posting (which will have to be beg of next week now).

Thanks again,
Shirl :-D