Duck Soup ingredients- (vi) a chinois of Shoveler

Their sieve-like bill makes the Shoveler the most specialist feeder of the dabbling duck, with planktonic crustaceans a mainstay. On the Medway they take mainly hydrobia and some salicornia seed. Through necessity feeding takes place on calm (usually fresh) waters, but is also routine on mudflats, especially on the wettest interstitial mud where prey numbers can be much higher than found in open water- why the Shoveler will often feed close to the footpath at low tide in Rainham Creek towards Rainham Docks East, or just offshore from the Twinney Saltings.

Interestingly, Shoveler often loaf within their feeding zone, unlike most other Anas species which prefer distinct separate areas for loafing.

When disturbed, the majority of birds in the western half make for Friars Saltings or Nor. To the east the Twinney flock tuck into Millfordhope/Slayhills, less often into Funton.

As winter progresses, small numbers spread out and take up with ducks at the other main loafing areas.

In the past very few used the estuary as a feeding area. Now, peaks are usually noted during early winter, after which time poor weather (strong winds on open waters) can see decreased numbers (often reflected by increases elsewhere around the North Kent Marshes). Freezing conditions see birds deserting shallow waters first for the estuary flats, all evidencing why large counts alone might not reflect true carrying capacities.

The main autumn loafing areas are marked on the following map (yellow), together with the two main mid-winter concentrations.

From personal experience, the present five year average peak from WeBS (192) is an understatement of the wintering population. Over the covering/high tide, esturine Shoveler tend to tuck up tightly in cord grass; watch a mudflat loafing/feeding group through the covering cycle and numbers will always be higher when the mud is uncovered. WeBS are high tide counts. A good example why birders on many estuaries around the country carry out co-ordinated low tide counts much more often than the BTO LTC six year survey. Another species where more ad hoc counts by birders can help provide a more detailed picture.