Aix Delight

A busy few days has seen me processing a lot of the recent holiday images, so it was nice to find an excuse to pop out this morning for quick look at the drake mandarin that was found at Killingworth Lake yesterday. My timing was near perfection, with this dapper duck swimming close to the shore - what a stunning species! Other observers reported that the mandarin had been in the south-east corner of the large pool for approximately twenty minutes prior to my arrival, and no sooner had I rattled off some photographs when bird headed back out to feed with the small group of goosander that are wintering on the lake.

Mandarin is a feral breeder in the UK, and occurrences in Northumberland are probably best treated with precaution. However, this timid bird was still a delight. Also present with the regular coot, canada geese and mute swan were goldeneye, tufted duck and a single drake scaup.