DUCKS


prey, then strains out the water before crushing it in its gizzard. At this time of year, tuſted ducks are joined by goldeneye arriving from northern Europe. Tey rarely leave the water and small groups can sometimes be seen diving simultaneously for crustaceans, molluscs and insect larvae. Only the red trail goes beyond the oyster


farm and lagoons to pass the gravel pools at the southernmost reaches of the nature reserve. Bay Hide is a great place to sit and watch goldeneye, wigeon and red-breasted merganser. Te later is a member of the sawbill group of diving ducks, which are known for having finely-serrated edges to their long, narrow bill, enabling them to catch and hold slippery fish. Fishing birds oſten swim with their head under the water before submerging completely to catch their prey.


2 . Eskmeals Dunes


Te sweeping Esk Estuary is a busy feeding ground, especially as the tide goes out to reveal an expanse of mud that’s teeming with worms, bivalves and snails – all food for foraging birds. Mussels can be found atached to hard surfaces, providing a favourite meal for eider and goldeneye. On the saltmarsh, wigeon can be seen grazing on the grasses and plants, much like a goose, but perhaps they’re at their most impressive in flight. Look out for hundreds of individuals flying in formation as they move along the estuary, their irregular flight lines and the males’ bright green wing-patches providing visual clues, whilst the males’ noisy ‘pjiew pjiew’ whistle further aids identification.


2 Windermere Lake .


Eskmeals Dunes


Hodbarrow (RSPB)


Great places to see ducks Our inland water bodies and coast all provide opportunities to see a variety of ducks. Here are some highlights...


Grune Point


Tacka Beck


Siddick Pond Bassenthwaite Lake


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South Walney


DID YOU KNOW? South Walney is also home to the Walney Bird Observatory, an accredited member of the British Trust for Ornithology since 1965, and is responsible for bird monitoring.


3 . Tacka Beck


Providing flood relief for Penrith, Tacka Beck Nature Reserve has a diversity of habitats. Te flood basin has helped to raise the water table, creating areas of wet grassland on either side of the beck, that’s ideal habitat for ducks. Our most familiar dabbling duck, the mallard, can be seen throughout the year, and in autumn numbers of teal begin to increase with the arrival of relatives from overseas escaping the harsher weather of Siberia and the Baltic.


For more information and details about the nature reserves, visitwww.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves Cumbrian Wildlife | November 2025 11


© HAZEL JONES


© ALAN RIGHT


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