Goldeneye drake

Fantastic crisp morning with a dusting of fresh snow! So, it was off down to the path beside the Water of Leith for a blipwander with a packet of stale bread.

Saw yesterday's robin again, and many tufted ducks, mallards and loads of blackheaded gulls.

But the star of the show was this goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) in full, smart, breeding plumage. He was a very aggressive little chap, chasing off seagulls and mallards twice his size, even the swans looked a bit wary. One technique was to dive under the water and come up under a rival, pecking at the most sensitive parts. I'd have got out the way, too 8^O