strange bird???

[jetty]

hi,new to this forum,the reason i regestered is my father has spotted, and taken pics of a bird he has never seen before in his life and he is 70 years old........he is not an expert on birdwathching but he does know a lot about types of birds etc.......

this bird he spotted was in a beck at skinningrove [north east coast in between redcar and whitby] it was swimming in the beck with a flock of mallards,the bird in question had a body,feet and legs of a duck very simular to the mallards,but it had a beige coloured head and a beak the same as a comerant[longer than a ducks not as wide and it curled downwards at the end] his explanation of the bird was body of a duck with the head of a beige comerant.with a white flash above its hip like a comerant.......he was brought up in the village and has never seen anything like it before in 70 years and was baffled by it...........at 1st he thought it was a greeb but on a closer look said it wasnt.....it had a nonger body.....

does anyone have any idea what it could be

[Jason Claxton]

Um ,Im not quite certain jetty,can you get a picture in? ,have a look at either Goosander or the Red-breasted Merganser,something like that,if not I have a few more suggestions,Cheers Jason

[Jason Green]

Hi Jetty, and welcome to WAB

Try 'Mallard Hybrid' or Shoveler. When he says a Mallard, is it similar to the male or female - both look different colour-wise.

Take care,

Jason

[Jason Claxton]

It could possibly be Smew as well , jetty,another Sawbill ,which is smaller than the Merg and the Goosander.

[FUDGEY]

Id go for Mallard hybrid too espec if it was swimming with them.

[Jason Claxton]

Yeh I'd rule a" manky " mallard out first as well,its the mention of the bill length that puts me off though,a picture would be great, jetty ,if you can get one in.

[Dogghound]

Or a diver? quite afew around here the last few weeks not a million miles away.

[david156]

Bit of a long shot!!

How about a female hooded merganser!!

[dunlin]

Sounds like gooseander or merganser from the beak. Did the bird in question dive under the water or feed off the top like mallard?

[ChrisJB]

Sounds like a female - type goosander.

Regards, Chris