Sunday, February 22, 2009

Sunday - Todmorden

Nice clean male Goldeneye on Longfield Pond. Also about 20 Canada and a few Mallard - some males being very protective of their females.

By the way - I was away on the east cost last week and saw some ducks on the sea at Filey that stumped me - Good sized duck but not an Eider shape - Dark all over - except for a white chest - remined me of one those mallard/domestic crosses but 100 yard offshore was an unlikely habitat - any ideas ?
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3 comments:

Nick Carter said...

Immature male Eider can show a wide variety of plumages and despite not being typical Eider shape the fact that they were on the sea and looking as you describe makes me think they were probably young male Eider.

4:02 pm
Phil Wood said...

Whilst thinking Nick is probably right, I would point out that Mallard certainly do take to the sea, and a strange sight it is! I saw some in North Wales some years ago, but I suspect these are more likely to be truly wild winter visitors than the domesticated birds you have in mind.
Incidentally, it is nice to see your reports from Longfield Dam, as it was my regular "patch", and I really must get up there some time.

9:48 am
Mark said...

Thanks Nick and Phil - I did see other eider - so it probably was but it did not not have the profile ! Like Phil I have seen sea Mallard - Cemaes Bay on Anglesey is famous for them. Another odd "sea" duck is the flocks of wigeon at Salby Mills outfall by Scarborough Sea life Centre (Free car parking in North Yorks till March!!)

9:02 pm

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