Orkneys 17 (1 Viewer)

[Mike Tom]

Taken in July this year. I think one duck is a tufted duck, by colouring and eye. Is the duck with the chick a pintal , as it seems very light in colour, or is it a mallard. The bird of prey I am hoping is a Hen harrier as I spent a long time waiting for one ! The goose is not a great picture but is this a Grey Lag goose and if so how do you know from this, presumably the inderbelly. Thank you.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

1. Hen Harrier
2. Tufted Duck
3. Greylag Geese
4. Mallard

 

[SteveClifton]

Agree with your IDs. The geese are Greylags (can see the striking pale grey fore-wings, even from this angle) and the last is possibly a female Gadwall with chick. Another photo might clinch it...

Edit: cross-posted with Andrew. Mallard is the other possibility for #4 but the less robust build still makes me favour Gadwall.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Agree with your IDs. The geese are Greylags (can see the striking pale grey fore-wings, even from this angle) and the last is possibly a female Gadwall with chick.

Edit: cross-posted with Andrew. Mallard is the other possibility for #4 but the less robust build still makes me favour Gadwall.

I would expect to see some orange on the bill for a female Gadwall. The bill colouration seems much better for Mallard to me, being a bit more grey and yellowish in tone. I'm not sure it's possible to judge the robustness from this picture.

 

[SteveClifton]

I would expect to see some orange on the bill for a female Gadwall. The bill colouration seems much better for Mallard to me, being a bit more grey and yellowish in tone. I'm not sure it's possible to judge the robustness from this picture.

It's just an impression Andrew, and you could well be correct with Mallard. Another picture might sort it...