Musk Duck

 MUSK DUCK Biziura lobata

Musk ducks are not commonly sighted on the Hospital Reservoir in Kilmore. This fellow hs been around for a few days.

Musk ducks can be identified quite easily. They swim very low in the water. At first sight, with their heads held high, they look like a branch floating about. Often the male will give himself away by a loud plonking sound as he splashes the water with his  feet or wings.

 

 

This is a male bird, a drake. It has a heavy, leathery looking protuberance which hangs down below the rather broad bill.  

There was no sign of a female bird on the reservoir. The female is smaller and a little paler in colour, without the hanging bill of the male.