Hi John,
Just a suggestion but do you have a book
that shows the Egyptian Goose? Most of your description, except for the
possible buff coloured ring (how obvious?) around the neck, fits the EG pretty
well. I am not sure how common they are in collections of “ornamental”
waterfowl in Australia but
they are common in waterfowl collections in the UK
and Europe, and I have seen feral birds in England. Of course you could have
one of the “farmyard duck” derivatives of the Mallard. Some of
these can be quite large.
Mark
From: John Brannan [
Sent: Sunday, 3 June 2007 5:46 PM
To: COG
Subject: [canberrabirds] Mystery
duck
Took a stroll with wife and dog
along the Molonglo downstream from the Scrivener dam this afternoon. Generally
a pretty depressing stretch of waterway, though not without its share of
birdlife - lots of finches (R-B, D-B and Gold), G-H Cisticola, Speckled Warblers,
lots of wrens but no robins. However, at the pool where Yarralumla Creek flows
into the Molonglo, we came across a very odd-looking duck. It was a large duck,
verging on goose-sized, with pinkish legs, a generally buff or chestnut brown
body, paler underneath. Whitish neck and throat except for a buff-colored ring
about halfway up the neck. Pale gray head with large brown patches around the
eyes. We saw it (or possibly its mate) swimming shortly after and there was a
very distinct white rectanglular patch on the wing. I can't find anything in
the books that fits it exactly (the Whistling-ducks are closest), which
suggests that it's an escapee or a cross-breed of some sort, but I thought the
markings looked too clear and well defined for a mongrel. If anyone happens to
be in that neighbourhood in the next few days, I'd appreciate a second opinion.
John Brannan
--
36 Challinor Cres., Florey, Canberra ACT 2615, Australia
Ph.: (+612) 6258 6038 Fax: (+612) 6258 6238
