Garganey also nest in large numbers on the lagoons of Daimiel in La Mancha.
Marbled Duck (Querquedula angustirostris).—This is one of the most abundant of the Spanish-breeding ducks, nesting both in the marisma and along the various channels of the Guadalquivir. Their nests, substantially built of twigs of samphire, dead reeds, and grass, lined with down, are carefully concealed among covert, usually on dry ground. Some are approached by a sort of tunnel. Exceptionally we have seen a nest built a foot high in the branches of a samphire bush with a clear space beneath, and overhanging shallow water. The eggs, laid at the end of May, vary from twelve to fourteen, and in one instance twenty—possibly the produce of two females. We find these the most difficult of all the ducks to rear in confinement. Probably their food is quite different, anyway they are very bad eating.
Marbled ducks are unknown at Daimiel.
Shovelers (Spatula clypeata) only breed exceptionally and in wet seasons; we found one nest at Las Nuevas in 1908. Though abundant in winter, does not breed at Daimiel.
Ferruginous Ducks (Fuligula nyroca), like all the diving tribe, breed only on deep and permanent lakes, such as those of Medina and Daimiel, where they abound all summer. None nest in the marisma, which in summer is largely dry. Nests, mid-May; eggs, nine or ten.
Pochard (Fuligula ferina).—Though we have not found it ourselves, one of our fowlers (Machachado) tells us that pochards breed on the lakes, and even more in Las Nuevas, laying but few eggs—five to seven.
Red-crested Pochard (Fuligula rufila).—This is the characteristic breeding-duck at Daimiel in La Mancha, as well as on the Albufera of Valencia, at both of which points it abounds. Yet curiously it is all but unknown on the Bætican marismas. Among the thousands of ducks we have shot therein, but a single example of the red-crested pochard figures—a female killed January 19, 1903.
Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata).—None remain, though abundant in winter.
White-faced Duck (Erismatura leucocephala).—This species, known as Bamboléta or Malvasía, arrives in spring and breeds commonly on every deep pool and reed-girt lagoon in Andalucia.
Shelducks (Tadorna cornuta), we are assured (though this we have not proved), breed in the marisma in hollows (hoyos)—such as the cavernous footprints made by cattle in the soft mud in winter. Common in dry winters.