Gadwall

Two from a flock of six Gadwall (Anas strepera), with adult male in foreground

The Gadwall (Anas strepera) is an irregular winter visitor to the Canary Islands (La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura). This is only my second record of the species on La Palma, the first dating from four years ago, when one bird arrived at the end of October 2010, and was joined by four more around December 12.

The present group was discovered late this evening (Nov 6), in fading light, in an irrigation pond in Las Martelas (Los Llanos de Aridane). All photos were taken at ISO 800 - the first two with a wire mesh fence between me and the subject - and are the best I could do in the circumstances.

All six ducks together, adult male second from right