Duck ID

cscook

Saw these (plenty of them) down in Clare at the weekend. The white bill with a black tip looks very like a female tufted duck but they seem too red, and they were all the same coloration as far as we could see.







Thanks in advance .

Woodville56

These are male & female Wigeon, - seen quite a few of them weeks ago on Lough Muree , Flaggy Shore , near New Quay in County Clare, loads of them wintering along the coast and inland lakes. Those in your pictures appear to be in eclipse plumage .

Capercaille

cscook wrote: »

Saw these (plenty of them) down in Clare at the weekend. The white bill with a black tip looks very like a female tufted duck but they seem too red, and they were all the same coloration as far as we could see.







Thanks in advance .

Eurasian wigeon

Cork boy 55

Great website fof ID Ireland birds
http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/Default.aspx?tabid=159


Wigeon

Anas penelope

Rualacha

Status: Common winter visitor to wetlands throughout Ireland from September and April

Conservation Concern: Amber-listed in Ireland as the majority winter at less than ten sites. The European population is regarded as Secure.

Identification: Medium sized, with large rounded head, small bill and pointed tail. Male - head and neck chestnut, with creamy-yellow crown and forehead. Breast pinkish-grey, and the rest of the body is grey and white with black stern. Female rufous brown or greyish with various mottling. Speculum dull, dark.

Similar Species: Other duck species.

Call: Loud whistling note.

Diet: Wigeon graze on coastal seagrass and algae, particularly on Zostera spp. and Enteromorpha spp., and also feed regularly on grasslands and cereal crops.

Breeding: Breed on shallow freshwater marshes, or under tussocks adjacent to lakes and lagoons, or on lake islands.

Wintering: Widespread - they occur on coastal marshes, freshwater and brackish lagoons, estuaries, bays. Many on inland wetlands, lakes, rivers and turloughs. The Icelandic breeding component of this population winters mostly in Ireland and western Britain, though some continue on to parts of continental Europe.

Where to See: Lough Foyle in County Derry, Little Brosna Callows in County Offaly, Castlemaine Harbour & Rossbehy in County Kerry, Shannon & Fergus Estuary in County Clare and Tacumshin Lake in County Wexford are among the top sites (5,000-9,000 birds).

cscook

Thanks, all. Thought wigeon was likely but if it's eclipse plumage that might explain why the field guide in the cottage we were staying in wasn't too helpful.

Kess73

Lots of Wigeon on and around Lough Derg at present too.

Half-cocked

And the big white thing in the first photo is a swan, probably a mute swan;)