A dual nationality Duck .......

The United Kingdom has its own resident population of Shelduck which is swelled in winter by large numbers of European migrants.

Very attractive ducks the male is easy to identify in spring due to the red knob at the base of its bill and it is slightly larger than the female, otherwise the sexes are similar.

A versatile feeder it upends in deeper water to reach submerged food and is also a siever when found on mudflats.

All in all very smart ducks.

Shelduck sifting food from the mud

Handsome ducks Shelducks, I love seafood but I'm not sure that their diet would suit me, a bit too gritty !