The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) declares Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire to be the birthplace of modern conservation. That may well be true. All I can say is that Slimbridge seems to be brilliant for birding. I’ve never been myself (yet) but Charlie has mentioned Slimbridge more than once. Now, one of our readers has turned to us for some help identifying some peculiar waterfowl he photographed there. When I say us, I mean YOU of course. I’ve placed two of the three. Can you make a clean sweep? Feel free to lean heavily on widely-respected waterfowl resources!
All photos copyright Mike Fuller
Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.
1. Manky Mallard
2. Manky Mallard
3. Manky Mallard
The last one looks a bit like a turkey in that posture.
Is 3 not some sort of domestic muscovy; a manky muscovy if you will?
1. Dendrocygna arborea
2. Manky Mallard
3. Manky Muscovy
Nick, you nailed it. Nicely done, folks.
can’t believe I didn’t recognise West Indian Whistling Duck. Urgh.
Hello, Hope you enjoyed your trip to Slimbridge. I’ve checked with our reserve warden and they are:
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Hybrid Mallard
Muscovy Duck