A good time for ducks

I think WJ has probably already noted we are in the best time for ducks, with an influx from foreign shores and most of the males putting on their fine winter wear. So, here are a few photos I've collected recently.

Male Shovelers can probably challenge for one of the brightest birds.

Not only did we have a pair of Pochard on a local park but they actually wanted their photos taken, posing right in front of me for once.

Amazing red eyes on the males.

However I do like the more restrained colourings of the female

 She was even more happy to pose

Of course, it takes time to look your best

At another local park, I actually got a male Goosander showing its green head - it's amazing how often it just looks black and you can't see the eye!

I did say, if the sun came out, I'd try for the Velvet Scoter again, after all, I might never get such a good view again. Well, it was still there and even more remarkably it did get brighter over the weekend. 

I don't think it came quite as close as before, but it wasn't too far away and I certainly can't complain about the view it gave me when I eventually found it. I walked all the way around and then found it right back at the starting point!

That about wraps it up for my collection of recent ducks