My first gadwall

[.philmypower.]

Went out last night with Paul 223 on an evening flight, arrived a little late. As we were walking to our location about 4 Canada's flew over nice and low. Gutted but carried on walking, nearly there and another two flew over, oh well. Got set up in position waited about 20 mins when the sky's came alive with the sound of Canada's, all too far away and high but was great too see the birds in such numbers, I can still hear them now.

About 15 mins later a pair of Canada's came right over us, I dropped the right one and Paul's continued on it route. We also had plenty of teal over us, boy these guys are fast, had some mallard flying buy but just out of reach.

I shot at what I thought was a flock of teal dropped one but no time for a second as they were tanking it. When retrieving my bird I discovered it was in fact a gadwall, never shot one of these before so pretty chuffed.

Got some plucking to do today as at home I have a greylag and two teal from Friday, a brace of pheasant from the crown shootand a gadwall from last night, gave the Canada to a friend.

Here's a pic of the little fella.

[chrispti]

Looks more like a wigeon to me......... Well done though

[ayano3]

From the photo it looks like a hen widgeon to me but without seeing its not conclusive. Well done.

[.philmypower.]

Thanks guys to be honest you are more than likely wright, I had to identify this bird in a book once I was home, thought it was a gadwall.

 

[ayano3]

I went by the shape of the head and bill.

[.philmypower.]

Again correct me if I'm wrong but if it was a wigeon shouldn't it have a flash on its wings, this bird doesn't.

Thanks

[chrispti]

I went by the shape of the head and bill.

 

Same hear, but the head looks the colour of a cock wigeon, and the body looks a little big, could just be the picture..

 

Could be a wigeon hybrid.......

Edited January 20, 2013 by chrispti

[Wildfowler12]

That's a wigeon mate, I had a few that looked like that early season. A couple of them didn't have speculum feathers (presumably younger birds). Well done though

 

This is what gadwall look like...

 

 

Of course, you'll always come across some that don't quite look right, I had a dodgy mallard a couple of weeks ago!

Edited January 20, 2013 by Wildfowler12

[Dee Wildfowler]

The photo isn't the best to try to identify the bird but from size and shape it's a hen Wigeon. Also the Gadwall duck has a darkish bill with orange sides while thhis bird a[ppears to have a greyish bill with a black tip. Have a look at the speculum, if it's green its a Wigeon and if its white then its a Gadwall.

 

John

[.philmypower.]

Here's a few more pics. Thanks for all the help.

 

.

[anser2]

There is nodoubt about it being a wigeon. The white laceing on the covert ( shoulder wing feathers ) tells you its an adult female.

Edited January 20, 2013 by anser2

[chrispti]

Hears a cock wigeon....

 

A gadwalls legas are also a yellow colour.

Edited January 20, 2013 by chrispti

[ayano3]

Whatever it is its pretty dead lol

[.philmypower.]

Thanks again guys

Wow the cock widgeon looks beautiful

Are they nice eating, never tried widgeon before.

[wildfowler.250]

Thanks again guys

Wow the cock widgeon looks beautiful

Are they nice eating, never tried widgeon before.

 

It depends what they've been eating. Sometimes get some on the mud that taste rank. But generally they are fine,(especially if they have been hitting fields or ponds at night).

[Fal]

I would say hen Wigeon too, the ones I have had from the marsh taste ok-ish.

 

Hard bird to hit though, so good shooting!!

[.philmypower.]

Thanks, they sure do shift as I said there was a few of them but only got chance for the one shot as they were off.

[Paul223]

well theres a revalation, it's a widygeon . . . . . . . . . . now who sugested that first . . . . . . in the pub car park?

 

 

good shot, lucky bawstward

 

 

i've invited rob next week . . . . . your like my mr jinx!

 

Young J said he'll keep you company

[.philmypower.]

Got a nice little place for next week Paul, not as many geese but plenty of duck.

[Paul223]

let me know where mate i might have a bit of a plan, will txt you

[Varminator]

Based on your current quarry recognition you may be better staying at home with a manual than risking adding a Shelduck to your wildfowling game book. There is something seriously wrong when you cannot differentiate a female wigeon from a female gadwall when it's in your hand

[Yoggy]

Based on your current quarry recognition you may be better staying at home with a manual than risking adding a Shelduck to your wildfowling game book. There is something seriously wrong when you cannot differentiate a female wigeon from a female gadwall when it's in your hand

:good: I see your point, and we should ALL know what we`re shooting at. My club has a recognition test and if you fail we go through each of the quarry meticulously with the member.

To fail to recognice a bird in your hand is a little worrying, however I accept mistakes are and can be made with the less experienced Wildfowlers.

Edited January 22, 2013 by Yoggy

[scolopax]

Bit harsh IMO, when I think back to my novice days I was okay with drakes etc as you saw in the bird books but was often puzzled by the young birds or hens , when I saw my first wigeon shot we were both reasonably confident what it was but not 100%, it was literally the first wigeon I had seen. Likewise female tufts, pochard and scaup, none of them easy, especially in flight! I was in the situation though that where I shot there was not many chances of getting it wrong so long as I knew what shelduck and comorants looked like, apart from them non quarry species all we really saw was mallard, teal, greylag and Canada,s.

[Reabrook]

Bit harsh IMO, when I think back to my novice days I was okay with drakes etc as you saw in the bird books but was often puzzled by the young birds or hens , when I saw my first wigeon shot we were both reasonably confident what it was but not 100%, it was literally the first wigeon I had seen. Likewise female tufts, pochard and scaup, none of them easy, especially in flight! I was in the situation though that where I shot there was not many chances of getting it wrong so long as I knew what shelduck and comorants looked like, apart from them non quarry species all we really saw was mallard, teal, greylag and Canada,s.

 

I'm with Scolopax it is a tad harsh in my opinion. The first cock widgeon I shot was the first I'd ever seen outside of a colour plate in a bird book. The lad I was with had a year or two more experience than me and he was non to sure either.

I suppose the difference being there was no Internet to put it on in those days and though other fowlers might have ribbed us for our inexperience it was soon forgotten. Post a picture on here and it's there for ever for others to cast a judgement.

[Yoggy]

Yes, it may seem a little harsh but nevertheless quarry recognition is a MUST for ALL fowlers. Yes, I`m sure genuine mistakes are made but it was drummed into me as a young lad both by my father and my local club. Not enough clubs take this into consideration when recruiting new members. Our club has to be especially careful as we share our Washes with the RSPB and the warden is about 7 days a week. On two occasions he spotted careless Fowlers shooting a protected species. These young fowlers were then given an extra quarry recognition class!!! I`m pleased to say it hasn`t happened since. Ok the Gadwall/Wigeon senario is a little different I agree but I hope you can see where I`m coming from. It doesn`t take much to pick a book up and learn the colourations,markings, and silouttes of our legal quarry.