Common Coot

Fulica atra

Appearance:
Medium-sized water bird
Black plumage
Prominent white frontal shield and beak
Red eyes
Lobed flaps of skin on toes
Juvenile:
   Paler than adult
   Whitish breast
   No facial shield

Like their cousin the Moorhen, Coots are a common sight on the park lakes and canals around London.  They are an odd looking bird, especially their feet which I've always found just a little bit frightening.  And, going by the picture below, it appears my concerns were not unfounded!

Learn more about the Coot.

Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula 

Appearance:
Medium-sized diving duck 
White flanks, breast and belly 
White patches on secondaries 
Yellow eyes 
Male: 
     Dark iridescent-green head
     Black back, wings and tail 
     Round white patch on face below eye 
     White scapulars with black striping 
     Black bill 
Female: 
     Chocolate brown head 
     Gray back, wings and tail 
     Yellow tip on black bill 

 


I don't know about you but I find these feet rather funny looking. The contrast between the orange feet and black webbing make the toes stand out in a way that I've never noticed before. Very odd!
 

Learn more about the Goldeneye. 

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis

Appearance:
Medium-sized goose
Creamy-white face
Black head, neck and upper breast
White belly
Silver-gray wings and back with black and white bars 
Black tail
White rump patch 

 Just me and the geese enjoying another sunny day at the park.

Learn more about the Barnacle Goose

 

Gadwall

Anas strepera

female (on left) / male (on right)

Appearance:
Medium-sized dabbling duck
White speculum (wing patch)
White belly
Dark bill
Male: 
     Finely barred grey plumage
     Black rear end
Female:
     Light brown and buff plumage
     Orange-edge to bill

Listen to its call.

This pair were enjoying a sunny April afternoon at the London Wetlands when I snapped this picture.  Again, if you haven't been there yet, I would highly recommend it.  It's a treat to find a nature reserve in the middle of the city.

Learn more about the Gadwall.  

Shoveler

Anas clypeata

Appearance:
Dabbler duck

Large, spoon-shaped bill

Male:               

    Green head
    White chest
    Rusty sides

    Black bill

Female :(pictured)

     Mottled brown

     Gray and orange bill

Listen to its call.

I love these ducks. They are so odd looking with their huge bill.  I saw this one in Regent's Park last week.  There was only the one though; no male in sight.

Stretching after bathing

Comb-like projections on bill used to strain food from the water.  

Learn more about the Shoveler.

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

Appearance:
Medium to large aquatic bird
Largest member of the grebe family
Long neck and head
Long bill 
White face with a black line from the base of the bill to the eye
Red eye
Dark olive-green feet
Breeding plumage:
    Chestnut feathers on side of head
    Black crown and head crest
    Dark brown wings
    White underparts
    White patches on wings
Non-breeding plumage:
    No crest or tippets
    Dark crown bordered by a white face 
    White extends down the foreneck and chest
Juvenile:
     Striped black and white head and neck

I took these photos in September 2014 on one of our visits to London.  I believe they were taken in Regent's Park, as that is my regular stomping ground.  

Learn more about the Great Crest Grebe. 

Smew

Mergus albellus

Appearance:
Small, compact diving duck
Short, hook-tipped, serrated bill
White wing patches
Male:
   White with black mask
    Black markings on back and breast
    White crest lined with black
    Pale-gray flanks and belly   

male

Female & Juveniles: 
   Grey with reddish-brown head
   White cheeks

female

I saw this pair at the London Wetlands in early April.  Despite being rather petite, they stood out as a result of the male's dazzling breeding plumage.  Magnificient!

Learn more about the Smew. 

Pochard

Aythya ferina

Male

Female

Appearance:
Medium-sized diving duck
Triangular head shape
Male:
   Long, dark bill with grey band
   Reddish-brown head and neck
   Black breast and tail
   Grey body
   Dark bill with pale grey saddle
   Red eyes
Female:
   Brown head and body
   Dark bill with narrow grey band

I photographed this handsome couplr in Regent's Park along with a Red-crested Pochard (photo below).  The Common Pochard breeds here and is considered a wild bird as it does not derive from captive stock.  However, although the Red-crested Pochard also breeds in the park, it cannot be counted as a wild bird at this location.

Red-crested Pochard

Learn more about the Common Pochard. 
  

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiacus

Appearance:
Large waterbird
Reddish-brown to grey-brown upper parts
Buff-coloured underparts
Pale buff head and neck
Reddish-brown patch around eye and at base of bill
Orange eyes
Pink bill with black tip, nostrils and edges
Reddish-brown collar 
Brown chest patch
White wing patch
Black tail
Cinnamon-coloured undertail coverts
Pink legs and feet
Male:
     Green secondaries

Although called the Egyptian Goose, this bird isn't really a goose. It is most closely related to the Shelduck, which incidentally isn't a duck at all but a cross between a goose and a duck. Who knew?


Learn more about the Egyptian Goose.

Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula

male

female

Appearance:
Medium-sized diving duck
Grey-blue bill
Yellow eye
Male:
   Black with white flanks
   Long, black head tuft (less prominent in non-breeding plumage)
Female:
   Brown with paler flanks
Juvenile:
     Similar in appearance to female
     Colour less vibrant
     Tuft less pronounced

Although similar in appearance to the Scaup, which I am familiar with, the long head tuft on the male made this fellow immediately stand out.  He is just one of the many ducks that frequent the Boating Lake in Regent's Park.

Learn more about the Tufted Duck.

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Appearance:
Small water bird
Short, pointed black bill
Fluffy, whitish rear end 
Breeding plumage: (above)
   Dark back
   Rufous-coloured cheeks and sides of the neck
   Yellow gap at base of bill
Non-breeding plumage:
   Brownish-grey back
   Pale buff on lower quarters
Juvenile
   Yellow bill with a small black tip
   Black and white streaks on cheeks and sides of the neck

I saw this little fellow while strolling around Regent's Park yesterday.  It was a gorgeous day and everyone, including the waterfowl, were enjoying the sunshine. 

Learning more about the Little Grebe.