After yesterdays North American exotic to a duck much more at home in the UK but equally as attractive.

The Drake Goldeneye, a regular winter visitor to the reserve is a stunning looking bird that breeds in Northern Europe, North America and across Asia.

First nesting birds in the UK were observed in Scotland in 1970, I say nesting, in fact their nests are in  holes in trees about three meters above the ground. In Scotland a programme of erecting specifically built  boxes on trees close to the water has enjoyed considerable success.

For me it is always a pleasure to see the first arrivals of the year.