Ruddy Duck

I went down to the nature reserve today for my constitutional. On one of the ponds was a Ruddy duck. They were introduced into this country about 60 years ago from America. From here, it is said that, they made forays into Europe, particularly Spain, where they developed a fondness for mating with the rare Spanish white headed duck.

Following complaints from Spanish conservationists about inter breeding the government here agreed in 1999 to start a cull. To date 6500 have been culled at a cost of £5,000,000, or nearly £800 per duck. It seems they are quite difficult to shoot because they keep diving, the little blighters!

Another £200,000 has been set aside to see off the remaining couple of hundred. Other European countries have given up trying to eradicate them for financial and logistical reasons. There are calls in this country to abandon the cull.

I would show you a photograph of the one I spotted today but it was quite far away and my lens was not powerful enough to get a clear shot of it.