This week the lake seems to be full of Shovelers, which I discovered are sometimes known as ‘Neighbour’s mallard’.
The reason being that they are not regarded as one of the tastier game birds and so according to some should be given away to a neighbour or someone else less discerning.
However for me shovelers are actually well named. They are surface feeing ducks with huge bills which do look a bit like shovels are used by them to shovel up food from and near the surface of lakes .
At this time of year males have dark green heads, with white breasts and chestnut flanks. Females are mottled brown. In flight birds you get to see light blue and green patches on their wings.
However, as with many other duck species, the males moult their colourful feathers when the breeding season is over and go into what is known as 'eclipse' plumage - a mottled brown similar to the female. It is believed that having served its purpose in attracting a mate the less striking plumage helps to camouflage them from predators.
The UK is home to more than 20 per cent of the NW European population and they breed in southern and eastern England, especially around the Ouse Washes, the Humber and the North Kent Marshes. There are fewer in Scotland and western parts of England.
Clearly they have some form of group communication as large numbers seemed to congregate where I assume there was plentiful food.
There were of course other birds around and two that caught my eye and were in turn caught by camera were some ring necked parakeets
and I’m delighted to say another sighting of ‘Woody’ – the American Wood duck
Another duck which was around in large number was the Tufted Duck - one that is always around and probably suffers from a variation on that old adage 'familiarity breeds - not contempt - but perhaps a lack of interest ' They don't deserve that treatment and in fact do deserve attention as they are handsome ducks with their wonderful little tufts.
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