duck identification

[douggie]

Out walking this morning near a small lake about two miles from the North Wales coast near Conwy I came accross two ducks that I've never seen before. I'll do my best to describe them.

They were a bit smaller and slender than Mallards, black heads bright orange bill. The neck was smoky grey/brown and the plumage underneath was white. The wings were grey and black with white edging. One duck had more brown in the neck plumage. Short tails. Any idea's anyone?

[Lance Morgan]

Originally Posted by douggie

Out walking this morning near a small lake about two miles from the North Wales coast near Conwy I came accross two ducks that I've never seen before. I'll do my best to describe them.

They were a bit smaller and slender than Mallards, black heads bright orange bill. The neck was smoky grey/brown and the plumage underneath was white. The wings were grey and black with white edging. One duck had more brown in the neck plumage. Short tails. Any idea's anyone?

Sounds like a tufty (Tufted).

[Lance Morgan]

bright orange bill
Gadwall or Scoter (but the latter are sea ducks)

Don't know

[andy68]

They wouldn't be Tufted Ducks with bright orange bills. Sounds more like some sort of domestic/hybrid Mallard types.

Andy

[Lance Morgan]

You beat me to it. I was gonna say a mallard cross of some sort next.

[douggie]

It's really got me, thanks for your help. If there still there later I'll try and get a photo. But I think you maybe right with the hybrid theory.

Cheers

[Dunbar]

I wonder if they might be Red-breasted Merganser?

[Gill Catton]

or a rosybill pochard

Then again they're more dark all over as I recall

[Susieanna]

If you think they were mallard like then my best guess would go with domestic or hybrid Mallard or alternatively gadwall?

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Dunbar

I wonder if they might be Red-breasted Merganser?

the more I think about it, the more I think you might be onto something!

(welcome to the forum by the way! )