Common pochard and small populations are sometimes observed on the River Thames. Large numbers stay overwinter in Great Britain, after the birds retreat from Russia and Scandinavia. These are gregarious birds, forming large flocks in winter, often mixed with other diving ducks such as the tufted duck, with which they are known to hybridise. These birds feed mainly by diving or dabbling. They eat aquatic plants with some molluscs, aquatic insects and small fish. They often feed at night, and will up-end for food as well as the more characteristic diving. In number of countries the population of Common Pochard is decreasing
Fitcher's Bird as sign of disobedience"). Among Grimm's fairy tales, the forbidden door features here and in "Mary's Child" (AT 710), as have been remarked in the notes to that tale. Some European variants of the ballad "Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight", Child ballad 4, closely resemble this tale. Fitcher's Bird "Fitcher's Bird" (German: "Fitchers Vogel") is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, tale number 46. It is Aarne-Thompson type 311, the heroine rescues herself and her sisters. Another tale of this type is "How the Devil Married Three Sisters". The Brothers Grimm noted its close similarity to