Northern Shoveler

Above: Male
Below: Female

These ducks can be found most months in the UK but they are more numerous and much easier to see in autumn and winter. They are never as numerous as some other ducks that winter in the North West but they are easy to spot and often easy to photograph.

Males have a bright green head (although I have some pictures where in certain light it looks dark blue), white breast, rich orange/chestnut flanks and a dark back and tail. In flight the wings have blue/green patches on the trailing edge. The beak is the most outstanding feature and gives the bird it's name. It really is like a shovel and the bird uses it to feed at or close to the water's surface.

Females are entirely mottled brown and could be easily confused with females of a number of other species were it not for the fact that they too have the large shovel beak, making identification easy.

In the North West there are lots of places that you can go to find these birds. They are regular in winter (and often all year) at Leighton Moss RSPB, Martin Mere WWT, Marshside RSPB, Pennington flash, Woolston Eyes and are likely at any substantial body of inland water.

For me, the best photographs of Shoveler are to be had at Marshside, from Nell's Hide. Occasionally this area can dry up but not in the winter and when flooded holds large numbers of waders and wildfowl. There are always a few shovelers around at such times and they frequently swim close to the hide. You do get them close to Sandgrounders hide at Marshside too, although your chances are higher at Nell's hide. Don't forget that on sunny days, these hides face east so morning is not the best time to go for photography when it's sunny. Rainy or cloudy days can be great at any time.