Without being too personal that certainly is one almighty beak! That said, it is a really effective feeding tool.
The Shoveller does what it says on the label, shovelling its food up by taking in large amounts of water and filtering out through the sides of that large beak and digesting what is left. Often, you will see little lines of them with the leader disturbing the water and the ones behind in its 'slip stream' benefiting from the stirred up water.
Another duck that is far more common in winter than summer with inward migration into Dorset where you will find them mainly on fresh water, especially in areas where there are reed beds or marshy areas. They particularly like scrapes on nature reserves and the North Hide at Radipole Lake is usually good for a dozen or so.
From a distance their mainly white colouring with rusty sides usually make them clearly identifiable.
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Do you take photographs of Dorset and its nature? If so then please consider becoming a contributor to the new Nature of Dorset website which I have created and hope to develop in to the ultimate guide to what wildlife you can see in Dorset and where you can see it.
Go to www.natureofdorset.co.uk and then go to the 'Visitors Guide' to find out more.
The Shoveller does what it says on the label, shovelling its food up by taking in large amounts of water and filtering out through the sides of that large beak and digesting what is left. Often, you will see little lines of them with the leader disturbing the water and the ones behind in its 'slip stream' benefiting from the stirred up water.
Another duck that is far more common in winter than summer with inward migration into Dorset where you will find them mainly on fresh water, especially in areas where there are reed beds or marshy areas. They particularly like scrapes on nature reserves and the North Hide at Radipole Lake is usually good for a dozen or so.
From a distance their mainly white colouring with rusty sides usually make them clearly identifiable.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Do you take photographs of Dorset and its nature? If so then please consider becoming a contributor to the new Nature of Dorset website which I have created and hope to develop in to the ultimate guide to what wildlife you can see in Dorset and where you can see it.
Go to www.natureofdorset.co.uk and then go to the 'Visitors Guide' to find out more.
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