Velvet Scoter from Eyebrook Reservoir earlier in the year.,

Normally associated with coastal regions this bird, largest of the three scoters,  is a fairly rare bird to find on an inland waterway.

It is thought that approximately three thousand Velvet Scoters winter around the UK coastline mostly on the eastern seaboard.

Still, a corking looking bird with beautiful pale blue eyes and a pronounced white eye marking.

My first image of one but quite heavily cropped.