THE BIRDS OF THE LEA VALLEY RESERVOIRS. 197
when summer is advanced, many make their appearance.
The largest number recorded is sixty. It is possible that these
birds may come from the Thames during the course of the
annual upping.
The Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna (L.)
An occasional winter visitor; one, January 8th, 1907; one,
from September 29th to October 21st, 1929; one from August
29th to October 7th, and six on September 9th, 1933.
The Mallard, Anas platyrhyncha platyrhyncha L.
It is, as a species, a common resident. Several broods are
reared annually, but there is no evidence to show what happens
to the mature birds during winter. The Mallard becomes very
much more numerous as a winter resident, when some hundreds
may be present. An increase in the numbers is noticeable
from July, but this is partially accounted for by passage and
there is a reduction of the numbers before the appearance of
the winter birds. An increase takes place from early October
and is maintained until the end of March. The present writer
observed on the Banbury Reservoir on December 30th, 1933,
an abnormally coloured female. The plumage of the head and
neck was normal; the remainder above water was generally
pale cinnamon with a few darker feathers in the wing.
The Teal, Anas crecca crecca L.
It is a common winter resident. Flocks of varying sizes
up to seventy have been seen. The large King George Reservoir
is now the favoured haunt of the Teal, but before the con-
struction of this basin the birds were generally seen on the
Racecourse. The Teal has been observed in the months of
August, September, December, February and April.
The Wigeon, Anas penelope L.
It is a winter resident, confining itself almost entirely to the
large King George Reservoir. The numbers are never large.
The earliest date is September 12th, 1925, but the ducks may
have been on passage.
The Pintail, Anas acuta acuta L.
A rare winter visitor. A female or male in eclipse on
September 12th, 1925, and a male on December 5th, 1925.
The Shoveller, Spatula clypeata (L.).
It is an irregular winter visitor in very small numbers, six