WIGEON 111 



WIGEON. Mareca penelope (Linnaeus). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, ' Birds of Great Britain,' vol. v, pi. 13 ; 

 Dresser, ' Birds of Europe,' vol. vi, pis. 432, 433 ; Lilford, 

 ' Coloured Figures,' vol. vii, pi. 41. 



Hundreds of Wigeon visit our coasts in late autumn and 

 winter, taking their departure about March, to breed in 

 more northern regions. The majority arrive in October, 

 preceded by a few immature birds which reach us during 

 the latter end of August. I have seen small numbers of 

 immature Wigeon as early as August 14th, feeding with 

 Oyster-catchers and Gulls on the ooze-flats of Dublin Bay. 

 They appeared fatigued and were comparatively tame. 



Though essentially maritime, yet large sheets of fresh 

 water, and less frequently small lakes, rivers and marshes, 

 also afford this species natural habitat. 



Intensely cold and boisterous weather, when inland 

 waters are frozen over, drives vast assemblages of Wigeon 

 to our bays and estuaries. Viewed at a distance with the 

 unaided eye, these Ducks resemble a long, irregular and 

 broken line of black sea-wrack tossing up and down on 

 the angry breakers, or tiny dark specks strewing the sea 

 for many acres round. It would repay the bird-lover to take 

 a ramble along the beach at high water, and study these 

 familiar, yet interesting, sea-fowl. From the cover of a 

 sand-dune, he can see the hardy little creatures pitching 

 about asleep on the waters, despite the approaching hurri- 

 cane. Among them are a few Pintails, Mallards, Scaups, 

 Scoters, Cormorants and Gulls, scarcely able to cope with 

 wind and wave. But in this great multitude of Wigeon, 

 there are many awake and lively. The yellow-headed 

 drakes are speeding across the water in hot pursuit, some 

 are diving to escape, others washing, splashing and sitting 

 up on end flapping their wings. 



Their merry whistle may be heard clearly above the 

 roar of the breakers. Now something has disturbed them ! 

 They stretch their necks and look intently upwards in great 

 excitement. 



What keen sight they possess ! They have been watch- 

 ing for some time what still appears a mere speck in the 

 air. A Peregrine Falcon ! They recognise their foe long 

 before the onlooker can even discern that it is an approach- 

 ing bird. Ere a minute has elapsed the Falcon is directly 

 overhead. A magnificent sight ! One great swoop to the 



