Red Breasted Merganser With Tag

[dbozkurt]

Sorry another question...you can tell it was quite good weather up here been let loose with Camera!!

I think the picture below is a Female Red Breasted Merganser, but it appears to have a blue tag around its beak. Can anybody else see that and does anyone know what it means or who tagged.

Thanks again Debs

PS bit grainy as had to crop to get image up as was quite a distance away

[aeshna5]

Yes,I can see it. I wonder if it could be some sort of debris that's caught on the bill from fishing? Good shot of bird!

[Fourwings]

I've never heard of beak ringing but I'm certainly no authority on the subject. I'm sure someone here will be able to answer your question though.

Well spotted though, very interesting

[Oscar2006]

Same reply as Fourwings, I am not aware of anything that needs to be muzzled apart from every third Staffy/Rotty/Akita/Mastiff

I guess this is some sort of plastic that the bird has somehow picked up, and may be the cause of it's demise!