Small black duck on pond

[duck]

Hello,

Does anyone know what type of duck the small, black duck on the pond in Dulwich park is? It can dive and swim under water for a minute and is not a mallard or wood duck or shelduck. Answers on a postcard.

[frump]

Coot or Moorhen

[duck]

thank you but no it isn't acoot or a moorhen. it has the shape of a mini-mallard and a black beak not red or white.

[frump]

Little Grebe???

[RosieH]

I like this thread - little grebe just sounds nice doesn't it?

[duck]

have just looked at a pic of a little grebe and that's the closest so far but not quite it - it has black beak and little orange eyes. though yes, little grebe does sound nice.

[Asset]

I think it is a little grebe, I spoke to an RSPCA man in the park last summer who was filming it. First time they have nested there apparently.

[duck]

Really? Maybe tht's right then. Perhaps the orange eyes are just a freak?

[arturo_bandini]

it is a little grebe! i have many a years twitching under my belt and was delighted when i stumbled upon one in my local park! i love birds!

[frump]

Excellent, a Little Grebe it is then, or Dabchick as my Devonshire Grandmother called them

[arturo_bandini]

hmmm quite!i have heard that term banded about some twitching forums!

[frump]

"that term", you make it sound almost smutty, have I committed an ornothological crime?:-$

[arturo_bandini]

why what did u do to it?

[frump]

heheheheh...he was asking for it..

[red devil]

There are a number of tufted ducks on the pond, the males are black and white and the females brown. They have distictive orange eyes like you describe. I've checked out little grebe on the website below and can't recall seeing them, but I stand to be corrected, have a look and let us know what you think you saw...it's easy to tell the difference between coots and moorhens once you remember that a moorhen has the letter R in it's name and a Red beak...

British Ducks

[frump]

Yep, colour of the eyes suggests a Tufted Duck

[red devil]

It'll soon be baby duckling time again...

[LostThePlot]

red devil Wrote:

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>...it's easy to tell the difference between coots and moorhens once you

> remember that a moorhen has the letter R in it's name and a Red beak...

Alternatively....the one with the white head looks bald....as a coot....

[RosieH]

red devil Wrote:

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> It'll soon be baby duckling time again...

I'm so not down with nature. I need to up the cuteness quotient - when is duckling time please?

[jonsuissy]

It's not a rat that has escaped from Sainsburys is it?

[red devil]

Hi Rosie, it was taken last April, the exact date is on the photo..:)