The Pochard (Aythya ferina) is a diving duck that visits the UK in large numbers (approximately 30,000 pairs) in winter. It is a much less common breeding birds, with less that 800 pairs nesting in the UK.
It will not surprise people to know that I took these pictures in the winter! These pictures were taken at the WWT Welney Reserve in Norfolk.
In winter male Pochards are very distinctive with their bright reddish-brown head, a black breast and tail and a pale grey body. Most of the pictures I took were of the male duck, but when I look at some of the 'wide angle' or group shots I took I can find very few females. I'm not sure it this is a known behaviour or just a coincidence of the day.
Pochard are about about 46 cm long and weigh about 930 grams - making the smaller and lighter than a Mallard.
I'm not 100% certain that the odd duck out in this set of pictures is a female or a younger bird. Oh well.
As ever, to join in with WBW click on the clink below. cheers SM
What a handsome chocolate duck! Thank you Aloha!
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeletePosh, the Pochard... YAM xx
That beak is distinctive. Beauties!
ReplyDeleteIt’s a very handsome duck bearing a great resemblance to our Canvasback.
ReplyDeleteI love the markings on its back Stewart. I am sure you saw the Jabiru bird among all the other birds. Thanks for hosting and commenting. Have a great week ahead.
ReplyDeleteGreat Pochard pics! Male looks stunning!
ReplyDeleteThe weather here has been foul here and all sorts of strange things going on.
ReplyDeleteWe do though have a lot of baby Blackbirds Blue Tits and Great Tits around. The Jay pops in most days and we had a young woodpecker visit the other day. Not so welcome but thankfully it only zapped a dove of which we have too many was a Sparrowhawk, I did get some good photos of it, but I am so far behind with blogging it will be a while before it gets posted.
Love your photos . Keep well Diane
Nice looking ducks.
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