This article is a step forward on the Ruddy Shelduck situation.
Also see my blog articles "Rare Encounters", "Definitely Maybe" and "The Future's Bright, The Future's Orange".
I've just started looking at Ruddy Shelduck records in Greater Manchester and from the records that I have collated there seems to be a noticeable mid-late summer peak, with smaller numbers in the spring. It would be great to see the full picture with all the records to see if there are any interesting patterns.
One word of caution - Ruddy Shelduck identification isn't that simple, there seem to be some hybrids doing the rounds, especially Ruddy Shelduck x Egyptian Goose hybrids, that closely resemble the real thing. Cape Shelduck is also a possible identification pitfall so it's definitely worth documenting any bird that looks like a Ruddy Shelduck.
https://cms.geese.org/species/1710
Also, some Ruddy Shelducks in Holland have yellow neck bands, so if anyone manages to see one of those, that would be a definite C5 tick.
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BOU recently requested Ruddy Shelduck records from 1990, if you have recorded them on eBird or Birdtrack they have them already. It is likely the species will be elevated to category C5. From the BOU website "C5 Vagrant naturalized species species from established naturalized populations abroad, e.g. possibly some Ruddy Shelducks Tadorna ferruginea occurring in Britain. There are currently no species in category C5."
There was a long thread on this on Birdforum. If I remember correctly they are the equivalent of our category C in the Netherlands and a Dutch ringed bird has been recorded in the UK. There is dispersal in the autumn, all my records have been between August and October with the exception of the Dunham Massey flyover this spring.
There was an influx in the autumn of 1994 and paper written in Birding World 'Rose. P. (1994) The Status of Ruddy Shelduck. Birding World Vol 7 No 11 pp431-433'.
The summary in the BW 1994 annual review
'One of the most understated invasions of 1994 involved this attractive nomadic duck, with (discounting known feral birds) about 50 immigrants being seen between June and October. The largest groups included ten in Cheshire in September and six on the Hayle Estuary (Cornwall) in October. Several countries in northwest Europe witnessed a similar invasion from late summer onwards, and there is every reason to believe that a genuine irruption of wild birds was responsible.'
Unless there is new information I wouldn't add much weight to single birds in spring, considering how many feral ones are around.
Hopefully BOU are also considering elevating Lammergeier to C5 along with Ruddy Shelduck.
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There is a large, growing population of feral birds in Germany/Switzerland (100s birds). Post-breeding these migrate into Netherlands and a number of overshoots appear annually in Britain. In fact, it would be harder to rationalise this annual autumn influx as escaped birds. I think the problem is that BOURC require a single, incontrovertibly proven type specimen as a first for Britain in order to be accepted as Cat C. I have read of a neck ringing program on the continent so until one of these turns up none will be accepted. It is a farcical situation when compared to, say, Egyptian Goose.
Think there is a feral breeding program in Holland, to which I could be completely wrong and thinking of something else . I think some end up in the UK? This doesn't help matters. see link http://www.rivercottagewaterfowl.co.uk/waterfowl/d23-shelducks-ruddy-shelduck
With a drake ruddy shelduck currently at Hope Carr, I just wondered what the latest thinking is regarding this species. My understanding is that the species is not on the British list and therefore obviously can't be a Manchester tick or any other tick! All records are usually considered to be escapes or from feral European populations, but is that it forever? The species will never be accepted as wild until a wild ringed bird turns up?
Seems like one rule for ruddy shelduck, another rule for everything else. There are many birds on the British list which have equally dodgy credentials (Chinese pond heron, dalmation pelican, ring-necked parakeet, Egyptian goose etc. etc.) In fact dalmation pelican breeds in a similar part of the world to ruddy shelduck, yet somehow that makes it on but ruddy shelduck doesn't. Ruddy shelduck is a migratory species which has reached the UK as a wild bird in the past (19th century), but presumably that was when wild populations were higher in western Europe. Tiny birds reach the UK regularly from far further away than south east Europe where ruddy shelduck breeds, for example yellow-browed warbler.
So will we ever be able to tick ruddy shelduck? I already have actually, but you know, legally
-- Edited by colin davies on Thursday 13th of May 2021 03:50:19 PM
