Shellducks

[Manxman]

We have a couple of pairs of Shellducks that nest annually around the harbour. So far there is no sign of them nesting. They have been paired up for a while now too. Both pairs are always having disputes over territory.

 

The male is the larger bird with the very red beak and the female is sitting, very attractive birds.

 

 

Edited April 26, 2013 by Manxman

[Vagabond]

Nice picture John

 

We are looking forward to a week at Laxey and Maughold (we come over once or twice a year) in early May, visiting Daughters Nos 2 and 3 , enjoying the scenery and birdlife, and perhaps catching a brockan or two.

[Manxman]

We moved from the island to Drummore when I retired, four years ago this month........................ hmm time flies when your having fun. The bass fishing is far better here although it's twenty eight miles north of where I caught the majority of bass on the NW coast of the island.

I'll be back over there in June for the TT racing, and off to Ireland for the Northwest 200 in May.

We'll start getting the boat ready for after the NW200 as the mackerel and tope should be here by the middle of May.

 

Brockan? Bloghan, Gilpin, Coalfish?

Edited April 26, 2013 by Manxman

[Vagabond]

Yep, time flies

 

Brockan is what I have heard the coalfish called on St Mary's pier. Call at the scallop cleaning station at the foot of the pier - collect a bucketload of "queenie" trimmings, fish at the end, and its a coalie a chuck - some years they are three and four pounders, other years a pounder is a good one. Especially good when they bring the trimmings to the pierhead at the end of the day and chuck in a tubful.

 

Did you ever fish there ?

[Phone]

Bird folks,

 

Have I ever seen a Shelduck in North America? Really cool looking duck. Kinda like a Canvasback(sp).

 

Phone

(you guys can get back to fishing now)

[Vagabond]

Have I ever seen a Shelduck in North America? Really cool looking duck.

Only in a zoo or private collection, or possibly escaped from either.

 

However, several European ducks are circumpolar, like Northern Shoveller, Common Pochard, Northern Pintail, Mallard etc

[ayjay]

Really cool looking duck. Kinda like a Canvasback(sp).

 

Phone

Canvasback resembles Pochard much more than Shelduck.

[Phone]

ayjay,

 

Just going from an old man's memory. Actually, in our flyway we don't get many Canvasback ducks either. I think they have red eyes rather than red bills(?).

 

Phone

[ayjay]

Here you go Phone, Pochard first, then Canvasback, (courtesy of google) and one of mine, a juvenile Shelduck.