Coscoroba swan (Coscoroba coscoroba) from South America
It seems a long time ago now, but on Boxing Day we visited the WWT Wetlands Centre in Llanelli, where we are members. The weather was glorious and as usual we enjoyed feeding this collection of wildfowl brought from all over the world.
Philippine duck (Anas luzonica)
White-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) – I’m not positive which variety, but I think these may be native to Greenland
Male red-crested pochard (Netta rufina) of Eastern Europe and Asia
Female red-crested pochard (Netta rufina)
Even the Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) came out of their shed to get some sun – with young grey ones at the back…
Ne-nes ( Hawaiian geese, Branta sandvicensis) are always eager to be fed…
A ne-ne close up and personal…
Australian black swan (Cygnus atratus) with an itch…
The sun shone like diamonds through these catkins…
Golden branches…
Common coot (Fulica atra) – one of our own natives
Barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) – which has various populations in Greenland, Norway and Siberia
Always ugly but fascinating, the Australian Cape Barren goose (Coreopsis novae-hollandiae)
Primitive – but it’s not nice to say so – the magpie goose of New Guinea and Australia (Anseranas semipalmata)
Another oddity, the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) of Latin America
I think this may be a sharp-winged teal (Anas flavirostris oxyptera) from the Andes
Ringed teal (Calonetta leucophrys) of South America
Puna teal (Anas versicolor puna) – also from South America
Chiloe wigeon (Anas sibilatrix) from Chile
I think these may be Argentine red shovelers (Anas platalea)
Wetland reeds look like pampas grass – or maybe it is pampas grass, as this is the South American part of the WWT grounds…
Ruddy-headed goose (Cloephaga rubidiceps) from the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego
Australian wood duck or maned goose (Chenonetta jubata)
Red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) hails from Siberia
Black-necked swan (Cygnus melanocoryphrus) from South America
Common shelducks (Tadorna tadorna) – European natives
View from a hide at WWT Llanelli…
It was such a lovely day that we also walked in the wilder Millennium Wetlands, but I’ll leave that for another post…
The Squirrelbasket 
What a variety! Specially like the close-up photo of the ne-ne. I’m not a bird person but, round here, those who know are excited that there’s a glossy ibis arrived at the wetland reserve, great northern divers in Portland Harbour and Kitiwakes around. (These last are common an hour’s east on the train but not here.)
Brilliant! I love the sound of kittiwakes. But I think you’ve had some very rough weather down there lately! Maybe that’s what brought the birds.
Best wishes 🙂
Fantastic photos. Flamingos are such a cliche because of the plastic ones, but real flamingos are anything but. Wow!
Thank you, Mrs D.
You have plastic flamingos?
Have you ever see this video of flamingos doing their mating dance? You can see where the word flamenco comes from!
All the best 🙂
Of course I do not have plastic flamingos! I did see the real ones in Mexico a long time ago. Fantastic video: thanks for posting.
Sorry, hope that exclamation mark wasn’t a reprimand! I was joking…
And I’m impressed you have seen real flamingos in Mexico.
All the best
🙂
No offence taken, but plastic flamingos are a bit of a joke themselves.
Awhhh…
Thank you for your kindly comment!
Best wishes 🙂
Awwwww…there is a special place in my heart for waterfowl….. Michelle
I’ve noticed on your blog!
All the best – Spring is on its way (eventually) 🙂