Ruddy Shellducks

[Khandro]

Walking my dog along the riverbank - The Neckar, in south Germany - first thing this morning, I saw a pair on the river - unmistakable and beautiful. I've never seen them before and according to the books they shouldn't be quite so far north. The book says they have been introduced into the UK though, has anyone ever seen them?

[Tilly2]

I haven't seen ruddy ones, just common ones. They are nice too.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm not aware of any introductions. They are an occasional rare visitor though.

[cupid04]

Do you mean shellduck or ruddy duck...

[Old_Geezer]

Shelduck, I think.

[Prudie]

googling suggests they are in the UK as ornamentals, Slimbridge has them for example.

[Baldric]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruddy_shelduck

[sandyRoe]

Language, Timothy, language...

[aelmpvw]

i also thought khandro had been annoyed by a wildfowl

[Khandro]

They are smashing lookers, chestnut and beige. Along this stretch of the river we are so lucky, everything from Swans to dippers, but I've never seen anything like these, mind you, they look a little out of place, I can imagine them well in India.

[Khandro]

I see from Baldric's link they have only one 'l' - and only one partner. I wonder if there could be a nest nearby, that would be very thrilling.

[Chipchopper]

I've seen ruddy ducks and I've seen shellducks but I've never seen ruddy shellducks.
There again I've seen a fruit fly but never seen an elephant fly ;-)