Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna). Male. Taken at Slimbridge, Gloucs., on January 17th 2019. Male. Taken at Slimbridge, Gloucs., on January 17th 2019. (© David Hastings) (1/2500th sec at f/10. Click image for larger version) Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna). Female. Taken at Slimbridge, Gloucs., on January 17th 2019. Female. Taken at Slimbridge, Gloucs., on January 17th 2019. (© David Hastings) (1/160th sec at f/8. Click image for larger version) Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna). Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on September 16th 2006. Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on September 16th 2006. (© David Hastings) (Click image for larger version) Description L: 55 - 65 cm; WS: 100 - 120 cm The Shelduck is a mainly white duck, larger than a mallard but smaller than geese. It has a particularly prominent red bill, black-green head, and chestnut and white upperparts. In flight, Shelducks look heavy and have slow-beating wings. The male is larger than the female. The Shelduck is common around the British coastline. It frequents salt marshes and estuaries. It can also be found around inland at reservoirs and gravel workings. As many as 81000 birds spend the winter in the UK. This species has amber status on the UK list. Sightings 08-May-2025 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (20) | 22-Apr-2025 | : | Rushy Common, Oxon | (2) | 05-Mar-2025 | : | Langstone Harbour NR, Hants | (4) |
| 06-Nov-2024 | : | Overy Marshes, Norfolk | (15) | 05-Nov-2024 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | | 05-Aug-2024 | : | Pagham Harbour, W. Sussex | (5) | 02-Aug-2024 | : | Pagham Harbour, W. Sussex | (8) | 17-Jun-2024 | : | Hickling Broad, Norfolk | (2) | 15-Jun-2024 | : | Hickling Broad, Norfolk | (1) | 14-Jun-2024 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (4) | 14-Jun-2024 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (3) | 31-Jan-2024 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | | 01-Jan-2024 | : | Cote, Oxon | (2) |
| 25-Nov-2023 | : | Cote, Oxon | (8) | 14-Nov-2023 | : | Cote, Oxon | (9) | 07-Nov-2023 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | | 22-Jun-2023 | : | Steart Marshes, Somerset | (100+) | 19-Jan-2023 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | |
| 25-Jun-2022 | : | Leighton Moss, Lancashire | (7) | 24-Jun-2022 | : | Leighton Moss, Lancashire | (5) | 20-Jun-2022 | : | Ravenglass, Cumbria | (4) | 25-Apr-2022 | : | Rushy Common, Oxon | (2) | 15-Apr-2022 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1m) |
| 16-Oct-2020 | : | Warham Greens, Norfolk | (1) | 13-Oct-2020 | : | Salthouse, Norfolk | (2) | 08-Feb-2020 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | | 07-Feb-2020 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | (4) | 06-Feb-2020 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | | 05-Feb-2020 | : | Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk | (2) | 04-Feb-2020 | : | Overy Marshes, Norfolk | | 03-Feb-2020 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (10+) | 02-Feb-2020 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | (10) |
| 05-Oct-2019 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | | 04-Oct-2019 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (50+) | 02-Oct-2019 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (40+) | 23-May-2019 | : | Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire | | 23-May-2019 | : | Waulkmill, Aberdeenshire | (6) | 20-May-2019 | : | Grenitote, North Uist | (1) | 17-Jan-2019 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (100+) |
| 28-Jun-2018 | : | Leighton Moss, Lancashire | (4) | 09-Jun-2018 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (13) | 18-Jan-2018 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (20+) |
| 31-Oct-2017 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | 12-Oct-2017 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (12+) | 10-Oct-2017 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (30+) | 09-Oct-2017 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (12+) | 15-Mar-2017 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | (4) | 02-Mar-2017 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | (2) |
| 04-Jul-2016 | : | Leighton Moss, Lancashire | (4) | 03-Jul-2016 | : | Milnthorpe, Cumbria | (7) | 02-Jun-2016 | : | Lymington-Keyhaven NR, Hants | (6) | 01-Jun-2016 | : | Lymington-Keyhaven NR, Hants | (10) | 27-Apr-2016 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | (1m,1f) | 25-Feb-2016 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | (2) | 04-Feb-2016 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | (3) |
| 24-Oct-2015 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | | 23-Oct-2015 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (3) | 22-Oct-2015 | : | Snettisham, Norfolk | | 01-May-2015 | : | Arne, Dorset | (12) | 30-Apr-2015 | : | Arne, Dorset | (13+) | 10-Apr-2015 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | (2) | 25-Mar-2015 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | (6) |
| 01-Aug-2014 | : | Leighton Moss, Lancashire | (1) | 02-Jul-2014 | : | North Cave Wetlands, E. Yorkshire | (1) | 08-May-2014 | : | Newport, Pembrokeshire | (4) | 04-May-2014 | : | Teifi Estuary, Ceredigion | (32+) | 03-Apr-2014 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | (12) | 24-Mar-2014 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | (10) | 20-Mar-2014 | : | Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon | (8) |
| 29-Oct-2013 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | | 26-Jun-2013 | : | Hickling Broad, Norfolk | (5) | 24-Jun-2013 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (8) | 24-Jun-2013 | : | Salthouse, Norfolk | (3) | 20-Apr-2013 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) |
| 27-Jun-2012 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (4) | 26-Jun-2012 | : | Salthouse, Norfolk | (4) | 25-Jun-2012 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (4) | 29-May-2012 | : | Newtown Harbour NNR, Isle of Wight | (16+) |
| 27-Nov-2011 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | | 17-Jul-2011 | : | Lymington-Keyhaven NR, Hants | |
| 12-Apr-2009 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | 07-Feb-2009 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (1) |
| 02-Jun-2008 | : | Seahouses, Northumberland | (20) |
| 16-Sep-2006 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | 03-Sep-2006 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1 juv) | 01-May-2006 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | |
| 14-Aug-2005 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | |
| 13-Jul-1999 | : | Isles of Scilly | |
| 13-Apr-1997 | : | Isles of Scilly | |
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