WelshAndy Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Evening all, Recently seen a few mandarin teal around, probably a dozen or so. What's the deal with them, are they wild or would they have escaped from somewhere? I've looked on the rspb website and they are just listed as a non native species. Not the clearest picture but these four drakes were about 30yrds from my garden yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonychez Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 We have mandarin ducks about us , I see them from time to time on a couple of different permissions about 50miles apart. The ones up here are wild but are probably from some escapees many moon ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 I hate to split hairs here but there is no such thing as a mandarin teal. Their name in mandarin duck. Mandarins are not closely related to teal that along with mallard wigeon,pintail and many others forming the largest family of duck- the dabbling ducks. Mandarins belong along with wood ducks , Muscovy duck and maned geese to the perching duck family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 As above, I was thinking mandarin teal? Didn't know the big old Muscovy was a perching duck though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshAndy Posted April 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Thanks wiki-pigeonwatch Can they be shot as they are a non native species? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Thanks wiki-pigeonwatch Can they be shot as they are a non native species? Native or otherwise all birds are protected other than those on the GL or those that are listed for shooting in season (mandarin does not appear on either). Why should you wish to chances are they are all very habituated / tame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshAndy Posted April 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 I'm not stupid! I know the rules for what can be shot and when, it's just there is no information about these. On the rspb website it says they are not allowed to be released into the wild. These are not tame, wild as they come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 I'm not stupid! I know the rules for what can be shot and when, it's just there is no information about these. On the rspb website it says they are not allowed to be released into the wild. These are not tame, wild as they come. I shall explain further then IF ITS NOT LISTED AMONG THE ONES THAT CAN BE SHOT IN SEASON ----- YOU CANT ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshAndy Posted April 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Once again, thanks Just to let you know I think you might have hit your 'caps lock' key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Native or otherwise all birds are protected other than those on the GL or those that are listed for shooting in season (mandarin does not appear on either). Why should you wish to chances are they are all very habituated / tame No I thought I had to make it louder the second time for you to hear because I said it just previous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pestcontrol1 Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 cant shoot them but thet look good and taste even better :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 No I thought I had to make it louder the second time for you to hear because I said it just previous Don't argue with this un WelshAndy, there aint nowt he aint an expert on. Ps rather like the name Mandering Teal, think they should be renamed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdsallpl Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 We have had a pair nesting on a private fishing water in two previous years. Not here though this year. Nesting in a hollow tree only about a foot of the ground, same place both years. So I would think there are more about than realised. Not sure if they have an affect on our resident birds or not. We all know about the ruddy duck but don't think the Mandarin has the same issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 There is quite a substantial population in Berkshire around the gravel pits along the Thames Valley and around Reading. The only possibilities of them hybridizing would be with the Wood Duck, a close relative (Native to the US - I believe there is the odd UK population, anser2 would know more). We have had a pair nesting on a private fishing water in two previous years. Not here though this year. Nesting in a hollow tree only about a foot of the ground, same place both years. So I would think there are more about than realised. Not sure if they have an affect on our resident birds or not. We all know about the ruddy duck but don't think the Mandarin has the same issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 Mandarin have a unique gene code no other duck share ,so any mating with other species will be infertile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 29, 2014 Report Share Posted April 29, 2014 Mandarin have a unique gene code no other duck share ,so any mating with other species will be infertile. in other words can do no little or no harm and with numbers as low as they are.............. Live and let live and they are all said and done pretty little ducks to have around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 There are thought to be about 7,000 in the UK mainly in southern and southwestern England. They are a very shy duck spending much of the day along quiet tree covered streams its difficult to get a good population estimate. There has been some concern with them competeing for nesting tree holes with stock doves and other birds , but as they are rare in their native China I thnk they should remain protected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barls2-9-12 Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 Sense another GL proposal comming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted May 5, 2014 Report Share Posted May 5, 2014 (edited) We had 3 up here in Shetland a week or so ago just along the road from me. I went for a look a couple of times but missed them. Edit to say that the pic is not mine, its stolen. Edited May 5, 2014 by aister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.