Ruddy Shelduck #59

We'd not been to Spike Island for a while so after lunch and seeing that there was still some sun left in the day, we headed over there. The canal is now being pumped full of water at high tide and the boats are now floating again. I think it will take a while for the wildlife to return, but the swans already seem to be finding their way back - there are already nearly 20 adults with numerous cygnets from this year. 
Around the corner on the west bank side were two ruddy shelducks - not a very common duck, but one we see fairly often on the River Mersey at Spike Island. They are sometimes classed as a pest as most of the breeding pairs in the UK have escaped from private collections and established themselves as wild, but can be quite aggressive and a threat to native waterfowl. 

Had a nice evening with Mum whilst husband was out playing games.