hi everybody and can anyone help?

[manmountain55]

hi everybody,

I'm manmountain55 and have just joined the site. I have two questions which you may be able to help with.

the first is, are there any guided bird walks this week in staffs/derbys/shrops or cheshire?

the second is a a question of recognition, saw a bird at trentham gardens on saturday, it was about the same length ( and roughly the same shape as a goose in flight) as a duck with very slender kneck, white under feathers possible fawn light brown upper feathers and flew at a much faster pace than either a goose or a duck. neither the rspb guys nor myself had any idea. help please .......

regards,
Andrew

[Picidae]

Hi there Andrew

It would be difficult to identify your bird without some more information. Perhaps if you could describe the flight pattern a bit more. Also whether you noticed the bill (if so, did it look long or short etc).

Ducks can fly very fast at times so this in itself wouldn't necessarily rule out a duck species. We can certainly rule out any birds of prey on your description though.

Many ducks are pale/appear white from below and the larger ones have a goose like shape. Was there any reason (other than flying faster) you didn't think it was a duck or a goose particularly?

Also what kind of place/habitat is Trentham Gardens? Are there exotic/captive bred wildfowl in the area?

I could come up with a few suggestions but they would be wild guesses at the moment!

[Phoebe]

Hi Andrew, welcome to WaB!

[ron1863]

Hi mamountain55 and a warm welcome to WAB.
I have no idea regarding the duck as I am not too hot on wildfowl but someone will have an idea and help you.
You should google the walks, any info should be easily found there.

[G HUNT 2]

Hi Andrew welcome to W.A.B.Sounds like poss. juv. Cormorant to me.

[jaykay]

Hi Andrew, welcome to WAB, they're a really friendly, helpful lot here.

[squishy]

maybe shelduck or the smaller teal?

welcome to WAB