Birdwatcher and photographer Benny Scerri has once again managed to capture some avian beauty and shared it with the public. This time, his photos feature of group of ducks, called the Common Shelduck or ‘Kuluvert tas-Salib’ in Maltese.
These brown-black and white birds, with their distinctly orange beaks, are scarce migrants in Malta, as they prefer cooler climates and tend to stick to the more northern areas of Europe. In fact, when they’re spotted it’s usually from September throughout the winter till March, although there have been records of their young being spotted here during the summer months.
Similar to other ducks, the Common Shelduck typically sweeps its bill in the water in search of algae and other small water invertebrates – and Benny actually managed to capture one in action as it hunts!
Have you spotted any Common Shelducks this season?