Australasian Shoveler

Description:

Quite a small duck, the female very plain mottled grey and black with a wide olive beak. The male much more prominent with white on the tail feathers and a deep rust colour on the sides. His beak is black and has a white stripe across the top.

Habitat:

Seen in a drainage ditch on a rural farm.

Notes:

Not a fabulous spotting for most probably, but this is a completely new species to me. I grew up here and have never seen one before. Apparently they are common (of course!) but not to me, so a very special spotting today. I thought at first it was just the male, then I realised that hiding amongst the grey ducks is the female also, so a pair.. very exciting. :)