Mystery duck...!

[bassist]

If its another mallard ...........i give up..!Have a rough idea ...!

[alanjns]

My guess is Ruddy duck based on the white patch on the side of the head. Can't make out the colour of the bill though and my guides show the body to be a bit darker than on your duck.

Cheers,

Alan

[bassist]

But knowing me its probably a mallard..!hehe other side of the river...! Its not safe trying to id.....! i feel all shakey......hehe

[alanjns]

Now I'm doubting myself

My guides show the up turned tail, like in your pic, on the ruddy duck, not Red crested Pochard - but you're right - the markings look better for RC Pochard as opposed to Ruddy, but again darker than in your pic.

Cheers,

Alan

PS - Just had another look and I think there is a redish tip to the bill - so I reckon you are right Bassist - Ruddy duck indeed!!

[clydebirder]

It's a strange looking bird indeed, it's definately part Red-crested Pochard. Looks like some Mallard influence there too, the tail is too long for RC Pochard and has white sides, the dark markings around base of tail also suggest Mallard so most likely a Red-crested Pochard x Mallard hybrid

cheers, John

[bassist]

only took 3.......!

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by alanjns

Now I'm doubting myself

My guides show the up turned tail, like in your pic, on the ruddy duck, not Red crested Pochard - but you're right - the markings look better for RC Pochard as opposed to Ruddy, but again darker than in your pic.

Cheers,

Alan

PS - Just had another look and I think there is a redish tip to the bill - so I reckon you are right Bassist - Ruddy duck indeed!!

Hi Alan Ruddy Ducks are more compact birds and sit lower in the water, they have an all dark bill and a cheek stripe on a duskier face than the bird in bassist's picture, they also dont have the blackish markings at the base of the tail and the white sides to the tail.

Below is an image of a female Ruddy Duck I took at Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve near Glasgow:


cheers, John

[bassist]

I put this pic in the id section of the bird forum site,got 2 replies.One said it was a female red crested pochard,and the other a guy from the states agreed with you ....it being a pochard/mallard hybrid,he thought it was a male coming into eclipse mode though....whatever that means..?

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by bassist

I put this pic in the id section of the bird forum site,got 2 replies.One said it was a female red crested pochard,and the other a guy from the states agreed with you ....it being a pochard/mallard hybrid,he thought it was a male coming into eclipse mode though....whatever that means..?

At the end of the summer male ducks have a wing and body moult, they go in to a drab female like plumage which is called eclipse, it's a bit early for it to be a male that far in to eclipse though, the bill would also be brighter if it was an adult male. It could be a juvenile male which is more likely if it is indeed a male

cheers, John

Below is a photo I took last year of a male Mallard in eclipse plumge, note it retains the bright male bill.