Pochard

I went down to the Hotel lake today and saw a flotilla of about twelve Pochard. Amongst the usual crowd of Mallard, Coots and Moorhens, the Pochard stood out. This can be particularly said of the males with their beautiful red/brown heads in contrast to their silvery grey backs.
It was a lovely autumnal day with blue skies and a crisp atmosphere, the new ducks are a further indication that winter is on its way. These individuals have probably flown in from Russia and are likely spend the winter here. They feed mainly on small fish and crustacea and will probably find plenty of food in the lake.
Beside the lake is a flooded wood and the tangled mass of trees and their branches provides excellent cover for Mallard who seem to delight in dabbling amongst these dark shaded places.