SHELDUCK
This striking duck is the size of a small goose, up to 650mm long and has a wingspan of over 1 metre. They have long necks, a reddish-pink bill, pink feet, and a white body with a broad chestnut band separating the belly from the neck. The white belly has a black vertical stipe, and the head is a wonderful dark green. The sexes are similar apart from the reddish-pink bill. The males bill has a prominent knob on the top. The underwings, seen in flight, are white with black tips and back edges. When these ducks upend themselves feeding, you can see their chestnut bums.
Shelduck prefer open, unvegetated areas next to lakes, rivers and estuaries. Here it is a Summer visitor and I have seen them at Koutavos lagoon, Argostoli and of course, Livadi Marsh. When feeding, they tend to stay in the shallows, upending to look for submerged plants and animals. They also sweep their bills from side to side over wet mud to find algae, snails and small crustaceans.
