Regents Park Wildfowl Collection

[Richard Winston]

Hi all,

Does anyone out there know which of the wildfowl at Regents Park are actually wild, as opposed to captive members of the collection? For instance, is the Goldeneye that was there yesterday (2nd Feb) a wild bird? Likewise with the Pochard, both red-crested and common, the Smew, Eider, Ruddy shelduck, Egyptian goose and Barnacle goose.

Much ta!
Richard.

[Dogghound]

Ive never been and know nothing about it but I can suggest that red crested pochard, Eider, Ruddy shellduck, egyptian goose and barnacle goose are not wild birds. With collections like this its unlikely the others are wild either.

[loripo]

There are a couple of recent threads about the birds in Regents Park which might tell you what you need to know...
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...tml#post586021


and


http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...onry-meet.html

I think one has a link to The Park website with info on the birds.

[aeshna5]

A wild female Smew has been in Regent's Park in recent days, but there are also collection Smew- you'll have to check for an unpinioned bird. The Goldeneye are usually collection birds, but as the species is common on London reservoirs + other lakes in winter, it's always possible a wild bird may turn up.

The Red-crested Pochard are part of a feral population.

[loripo]

Re the Egyptian geese - we have wild ones in Battersea park and on Wandsworth Common. Have seen them flying...

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by loripo

Re the Egyptian geese - we have wild ones in Battersea park and on Wandsworth Common. Have seen them flying...

They have really increased in the London area over the last few years, so almost any lake in the area may hold feral Egyptian Geese. There are plenty in Regent's Park.

[Ukwildlifeo]

As aeshna said, most if not all the red crested pochards are part of the feral naturalised population that is in the London Parks (Ive seen them breeding in Regents Park) and all the egyptian geese are naturalised feral birds, as there are none in the collection. There are plenty of wild wildfowl on the lake and some of which have been attracted down by the collection birds (eg. the smew aeshna mentioned).

[Richard Winston]

Thanks to all for your advice and opinions, although there are a number of differing ideas about what's wild at Regents Park and what isn't. I'm fairly sure now though that the Egyptian geese were wild; also the red-crested and common pochard, which were both seen flying, so not pinioned.

The Park website has a link to the birds of the collection, but unfortunately when I tried it yesterday it wasn't working. I don't know if this is a temporary fault or not.

Thanks for the link to the previous stream which was very useful.

[loripo]

It's regentsparkbirds dot co dot ukto go to direct and it's OK at the moment

[G Attenborough]

Hi, I've been checking out the wildfowl collection at Regent's Park recently and I've learnt a bit about it. The obvious wild birds present on the lakes are Tufted Duck, Pochard (though some of these are also certainly collection birds but are probably free flying, you can tell the tamer ones), Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Greylags and Canada Geese. In addition to this there are free flying populations of Mandarin, Egyptian Geese, Red crested Pochards (these I imagine all breed in London and so therefore I would count them as wild though naturalised). Birds that are obviously wing clipped and not wild are Lesser Scaup, Eider, Smew (apart from THAT female), Bar headed Geese, Wandering Whistling Ducks, White fronted Geese, Pink footed Geese, Ross's Geese, Garganey, Marbled Ducks, Whooper Swan, Ruddy Shelduck, Bufflehead, Goldeneye, Red breasted Geese, Hawaiian Geese, Barnacle Geese and the various other exotic wildfowl. Of course if a wild Goldeneye did turn up it may be difficult to know, though if you check
Regent's Park Birds you will be able to find out as this place is regularly watched and this is a great site to find out more information.
Hope this is of some help. Generally speaking, if it flies, it's probably wild.