Thursday 17 November 2016

The Ducks of Langford - The Shoveller

This duck is apparently common, but until a couple of weeks ago I'd never seen one, and is obviously extremely peculiar.

It's a sort of Barbara Streisand of the duck world.

They typically feed by ducking their heads just under the water, and shaking their heads from side to side straining their food out from the water - I saw a single drake doing this on London Road Pond a couple of weeks ago - occasionally forming large rafts of shoveller working the water, their massed action stirring up more food.

This handsome fellow at Langford was more interested in cruising serenely about; unlike many wild duck species, this one was quite happy to come close to shore and let you get a good look!

I'm glad my nose isn't like that.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 17.11.16






7 comments:

  1. They really are bizarre-looking creatures, aren't they?

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  2. Pretty things, although I can't get excited about ducks generally :o)

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  3. Thanks for commenting! I think they are pretty cool, not at all shy!

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  4. They may be common but I have never seen one :)
    Funny looking duck...........

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  5. Well ... I like its colouring!

    All the best Jan

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  6. Poor old shoveller getting bad reviews!

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  7. Stunning the Shoveler, I love him.

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