2016

SD4314 : Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Mandarin Duck

taken 8 years ago, near to Tarlscough, Lancashire, England

Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Mandarin Duck
Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Mandarin Duck
Amongst the most colourful of the residents at Martin Mere was this Mandarin Duck on the stream in the Oriental area of the reserve.

The mandarin duck (Aix galericulata), or just mandarin, is a perching duck species found in East Asia. It is medium-sized, at 41–49 cm long with a 65–75 cm wingspan. They were introduced to the UK from China and, following escapes from captivity in the 20th century, a large feral population became established in south, central and eastern England; more recently small numbers have bred in Ireland, concentrated in the parks of Dublin.

The male has the most elaborate and ornate plumage with distinctive long orange feathers on the side of the face, orange 'sails' on the back, and pale orange flanks. The female is dull by comparison with a grey head and white stripe behind the eye, brown back and mottled flanks.

LinkExternal link RSPB
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre :: SD4214

WWT Martin Mere is a wetland nature reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). Situated on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain, it is one of nine reserves managed by the WWT, and it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), an SPA (Special Protection Area) and a Ramsar Site LinkExternal link .

The centre takes its name from the mere on the west side of the reserve which has been provided with eleven observation hides. On the east side of the reserve there are a number of pens providing habitats for birds from Africa, Australasia, North America, South America, Siberia, and Asia.

The lake, Martin Mere, was formed at the end of the last Ice Age, when water filled a depression in the glacial drift. Until the late seventeenth century, this lake was the largest body of fresh water in England (5 miles in diameter, 20 miles circumference – three times the size of Windermere). Christopher Saxton's map from 1579 LinkExternal link shows the original giant lake stretching from Rufford in the east, to Churchtown (then known as North Meols) in the west.

Active management of the mere began in 1692 when the first drainage channel was dug, and further attempts to drain it were made in the 1780s, but effective drainage was only achieved in the mid-19th century with the introduction of steam pumping. Farms and market gardens were established on the rich soils of the reclaimed land.

The first 363 acres of the site, known as Holcroft's Farm, were purchased in 1972 through local fundraising and the site was opened to the public in 1975 by Sir Peter Scott, founder of the WWT. Since then the reserve has been extended and is now one of Britain's most important wetland sites, visited by thousands of migrating wildfowl in the autumn and winter. It is also home to 100 species of tame birds, many on the endangered list and part of breeding programmes.

LinkExternal link WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre website
LinkExternal link RSPB Liverpool group
LinkExternal link Wikipedia


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Mandarin Duck Aix Galericulata [2] ·
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SD4314, 101 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
David Dixon   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Monday, 4 April, 2016   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 5 April, 2016
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SD 430 143 [100m precision]
WGS84: 53:37.3328N 2:51.7675W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SD 430 143
View Direction
EAST (about 90 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Supplemental image
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