Pintails at work

London Wetland Centre today - walking back round from the Peacock Tower hide after seeing nothing special and I spotted a Pintail under the walkway. 'Stop! I exclaimed to show E before we scared them off. But it was just a plastic decoy duck that I had spotted through the fencing. She laughed for hours afterwards.

At least I got the ID right - even it was a manmade duck.

However round the other side of the reserve I caught this lovely pair. 

The other shot is of a squad of shovelers who were paddling around in formation. I completely missed it when they had a perfect circle, v=but the were beak-to-tailing around quite a lot.

... and who can resist a captive Smew.