Psilos Wildfowl Photography |
Garganey (Anas querquedula) |
Smaller than a Mallard, the Garganey is a scarce
and very secretive breeding duck in the UK. It is a dabbling duck with
the male being easily recognisable from its striking white stripe above
the eye. This duck breeds anywhere there is dense vegetation particularly
in water meadows, flooded grasslands,ditches and reedy marshy pools.
In the UK it is mostly found in central and southern England. Its diet
consists of aquatic vegetation and insects. Breeding birds arrive from
March and return from July. Small numbers of non-breeding birds visit
on passage migration in spring and autumn. |
 |
The photo below shows the female. Males
in non breeding plumage also look like the female. |
 |
