Many of the ducks are in eclipse plumage. Ducks moult all their flight feathers at once, and so for a month are unable to fly and are very vulnerable to predators. So the males moult and replace their bright body feathers by duller brown ones, much like the females. They will display this eclipse plumage for a few weeks or months depending on the species of duck, before another second moult occurs when the male will once again grow back his full colours. One way of distinguishing the species is to look for the speculum (coloured patch on wings) so the Teal in first images is showing the green speculum while the Mallard has just a glimpse of the blue speculum. No problem with identifying the Shovellers with their beak and the black-bottomed Gadwall.
Showing posts with label Shoveller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shoveller. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Paxton Pits Changeable Light
Yesterday afternoon, I spent an hour watching the Herons and Cormorants busy collecting nesting material and various other water birds while the light changed from bright sunshine to heavy rain and then a rainbow.
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Wicken Fen NT
The RPS Nature group outing to Wicken Fen was very well supported this year. The forecast rain stayed away though it was very muddy underfoot. Birds were few and far between over most of the Reserve though the Stonechats on Burwell and Bakers Fens and the Shovellers and Coots on West Mere did their best to provide some action. The most obliging was the Cormorant that had chosen a very graphic perch for its portrait. Great to see Coltsfoot flowers breaking through over many areas of the Fens.
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
RSPB Titchwell Marsh Birds
Here a selection of distant and closer shots at Titchwell - not all in the best direction for the light but gives a flavour of the variety and sheer numbers of geese (Pink-footed and Brent), ducks (Shelduck,Shoveller, Teal and Widgeon) and waders (Golden Plover) there in the winter plus distant view of Marsh Harriers as in the first shot.
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Paxton Kingfishers etc
I spent an hour at Paxton Pits today after a morning work party and was rewarded with views of at least two Kingfishers - neither of them the same as last weeks which was a female. Lovely light and reflections for the water birds - Coot, Dabchick, Shoveller, GC Grebe, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Raven and Heron
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)

























































