Wigeon

Another common duck on the shores of Dorset in winter is the Wigeon. Breeding in the far north a good number come this far south, arriving from October onwards before heading back north again in March and April.

Wigeon are lovely little ducks, multicoloured with a yellow forehead on a maroon head but, from a distance, it is the white in the wing and tail that show up.

The males make a gentle whistling noise which is nothing like a traditional duck 'quack'. Quite often you will hear them before you see them.

Always in large flocks, more often on fresh water than saline and frequently seen grazing on land you will find Wigeon on the Fleet, in Poole Harbour and Christchurch Harbour as well as other places like Radipole and Lodmore.

Photographs

Records

Recent Records: 

Date	Site	Quantity	Comment	Name
17/01/2012	Arne Nature Reserve		Fair number about	PeterOrchard
08/01/2012	Brownsea Island		Several around today	PeterOrchard
06/01/2012	Bestwall Marsh and Swineham	70	On the gravel pit	PeterOrchard
16/12/2011	Upton Country Park		Large numbers - 1000+	PeterOrchard
09/12/2011	Holton Lee	500	Noted today	PeterOrchard
06/12/2011	Middlebere Farm		Several around today	PeterOrchard
03/02/2011	Durlston Country Park	4	Out at sea	Anonymous
19/11/2010	Middlebere Farm	600	Low tide and feeding on the mud flats	PeterOrchard
26/02/2010	Rodden Hive and Herbury Gore Nature Reserve	1200	Rodden Hive	PeterOrchard
27/10/2007	Holmebridge	2	Counted today	PeterOrchard