i')2o. BuRKiTT, — Bird-Notes from Co. Fermanagh. yi 



BIRD-NOTES FROM CO. FERMANAGH. 

 by jas. p. burkitt, b.a., b.e. 



The Gadwall. 



The Gadwall is, I think, considered quite a rarity, but the 

 following would indicate that it is more common than is 

 generally supposed (as Howard Saunders suggests). 



My first acquaintance with this duck was in the spring of 

 1918, when I saw ten in a lake near the south shore of 

 Donegal Bay. Some of those birds remained till after 3rd 

 May. Happening to be there again on 4th April, 1919, I 

 saw three Gadwall. On a bay of Lough Erne I saw three on 

 i8th January, 1919, and eight on 29th November, 1919, and 

 nineteen on 14th February, 1920. On a smaller lake near 

 Enniskillen I saw two pair on iith March, 1920. These 

 latter being near my house, I could watch them, and did so 

 till 24th March, when a boat was put on the lake and drove 

 them off. I was unable to continue observations of the 

 Lough Erne site, and so I cannot tell how late the Gadwall 

 stayed this spring. I do not conceive that these birds have 

 recently begun to come about here, but rather that it is 

 only recently I have learnt to " spot " them ; with their 

 graceful neck and long, gracefully curved back, and Widgeon 

 method of feeding, not to mention details. 



The above-mentioned nineteen was the greatest number I 

 have seen together. About twelve of that lot were males. 

 Some of the Gadwall seen in February seemed to be paired, 

 and all those seen in March were distinctly paired. 



The Gadwall appears not to be a shy duck, from all 

 my observations. For example, the nineteen lot were among 

 a lot of Coot, with other kinds of duck all about ; and when 

 I showed myself and tried to rise the Gadwall, all other 

 duck, and even the Coot, cleared off, leaving the Gadwall 

 not much concerned. 



Observers need not look for the white wing spot on the 

 male, for I find he hardl}^ ever shows it till late spring, 

 unless when preening or when some covering feathers 

 are blown up by the wind. But the females nearly always 

 show it. 



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