Thursday 24 January 2013

Lovely weather for ducks

Smew, Mergellus albellus
Yesterday afternoon I decided to visit Arundel Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust for an hour. I hadn’t visited for over 10 years, and the changes during that time are amazing. There is a huge viewing lounge overlooking a lake where you can enjoy the cafe’s offerings. We are now WWT members and I suspect we will visit a lot in future. There was moisture in the air and the snow-threatening clouds resulted in poor light for photography. However, I was so close the wildfowl that it was possible to get some reasonable photos of some of the exotic ducks. I have had some fun and challenges identifying most of them.
Bewick's Swan, Cygnus columbianus 
Bewick's Swan, Cygnus columbianus 
Bewick's Swan, Cygnus columbianus &
White-faced Whistling Ducks, Dendrocygna viduata
Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola having a scratch 
Chiloe Wigeon, Anas sibilatrix
Ringed Teal, Callonetta leucophrys, female
Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus, female 
Common Scoters, Melanitta Nigra
Garganey, Anas querquedula
Barrow's Goldeneye, Bucephala islandica
Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus 
Red Shovelers, Anas Platalea 
Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina
Rosybill Pochard, Netta peposaca
Ringed Teal, Callonetta leucophrys
Treecreeper, Carthia familiaris
White-faced Whistling Ducks, Dendrocygna viduata
White-faced Whistling Ducks, Dendrocygna viduata
White-headed Duck, Oxyura leucocephala
White-headed Duck, Oxyura leucocephala 
White-headed Duck, Oxyura leucocephala
Wood Duck, Aix sponsa
Marbled Teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris
Ringed Teal, Callonetta leucophrys, female

2 comments:

  1. Hi Colin,
    Quite a coincidence! We were also there this week,for the first time in many years, and also photographed the male Smew. As for identification, the excellent illustrative guide panels spread around the WWT should help, all produced by the skilled hand of my older brother!
    BWs, Neil

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Neil, the first time I just enjoyed the reserve and didn't worry about what I was shooting. I went back yesterday and photographed all the guide panels for birds I had not identified. I have just looked at the panels and see Mark's signature on each - brilliant work, what an artist

    ReplyDelete

Please select 'Name/URL' from 'Comment as' drop down box and add your name, thanks.