DUCK 5/15 - Northern Shoveler

                                                                  Northern Shoveler
 Lifer to start the new year of 2014. Have not been birding since December last year. So when news of some ducks have landed; enticed me to go out again.   Thanks to my young sifu Tou and Davey again. This is a rare migrant bird to see.  Apparently it is only the third record sighting in Peninsula. Considered as rare as the Masked Finfoot le. Glad that  Lean and MSN Selangor was there last weekend to guide me around.

This species is unmistakable due to its large spatulated bill. The breeding drake has an iridescent dark green head, white breast and chestnut belly and flanks. In flight, pale blue forewing feathers are revealed, separated from the green speculum by a white border. In early fall the male will have a white crescent on each side of the face.

In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage seen here, the drake resembles the female. The female is a drab mottled brown like other dabblers, with plumage much like a female Mallard, but easily distinguished by the long broad bill, which is grey tinged with orange on cutting edge and lower mandible. The female's forewing is grey.

They are 48 cm (19 in) long and have a wingspan of 76 cm (30 in).

Here in flight leading  a pair of Garganey after been spooked by fishing enthusiasts. They have to share the pond with human .......................