Nottinghamshire Dabbling Ducks

The Mandarin Duck has occurred in Nottinghamshire annually since 1977. It now breeds regularly, mainly in the Dukeries. The population probably numbers a few dozen in Nottinghamshire, but can be hard to find especially in the summer as its preferred habitat is secluded ponds and streams, especially those with overhanging bushes and shrubs such as rhododendrons.

The Mandarin is a native of eastern Russia, China and Japan, and because the male is such an attractive duck, it is a popular in wildlife collections.

Large numbers of Wigeon gather at Holme Pierrepont and the surrounding areas in winter. These can reach over 1,000 birds at times. Smaller numbers can also found in other locations in Nottinghamshire with suitable feeding meadows nearby. The Wigeon prefers to graze on grass, rather than upend in the water like the Mallard.

Usually all the birds have disappeared by early April, with only a few remaining for the summer.

Sterland & Whitaker (List of the Birds of Nottinghamshire{1879}) say that this was a common duck in the winter in Nottinghamshire on the larger lakes such as Thoresby.

A fairly common duck especially in winter. Numbers can reach a few hundred on such Dukeries lakes as Welbeck and Carburton. The Lound pits and Holme Pierrepont pits also hold similar numbers. Prefers shallow water with luxuriant vegetation as shown at Attenborough where it prefers the Delta area to the main pond.

Sterland & Whitaker say in "List of the Birds of Nottinghamshire {1879}" that is was very rare in the 1850s, with only Newstead Abbey Lakes having Gadwall regularly in the winter.

Even in the 1970s, when it started to bred regularly in the Dukeries it was uncommon, with, for example, no double figure number of birds reported in the Trent Valley Bird Report for 1970.

One of Nottinghamshires smallest ducks and one of the prettiest.

Very common in winter, large numbers at some places such as Langford Lowfields, but very widely distributed in winter as it can occupy a small area of water, as long as there is some cover, very happily. It is a very mobile bird and can rapidly occupy transient flooded land.

The Teal was common in the winter in the mid–nineteenth century according to Sterland. Then as now, a few remained to breed in the summer so its status in Nottinghamshire has not changed much since then.

Must be the most common duck in Nottinghamshire, found from the smallest pond to the largest gravel pit. Sterland (List of the Birds of Nottinghamshire{1879}) also considered it as an abundant species in the mid to late nineteenth century.

Used to be found in flocks of hundreds in the winter, but has declined for reasons unknown. For instance in the 1970 Trent Valley Annual Report for 1970, 5041 birds from c24 sites were counted in November 1970, in the 2005 Nottingham Birdwatchers Report 2,507 were counted in November 2005 from 15 sites. The Mallard is a difficult bird to survey as it is so widespread with lots of small numbers of birds on many waters as noted above. It is now on the Nottinghamshire BoCC.

The ♂ Shoveler is a very distinctive duck in winter with its white breast and chestnut flanks, the ♀ is more restrained in her plumage.

The Shoveler is a filter feeder as looking at its spatulate bill shows, a flock of Shovelers will sometimes form a tight circle when feeding.

A reasonably common winter visitor and occasional breeder. Flocks of tens of birds are present in winter at such places as Attenborough, Netherfield, Holme Pierrepont and Lound. Flocks of a hundred or so are rare, but numbers are generally higher than in the 1960/1970s.