Monogamous Mandarin

Surprised to see this colourful fellow in Wyndley Pool, surrounded by the usual hordes of swans, geese, and other water birds.

Mandarin ducks are native to China, Russia and Japan, but there are now about 7000 of them living wild in Britain. In their native Far East they are in decline due to loss of habitat and hunting, and under government protection. Because they are thought to be monogamous (unlike other ducks), mandarins are a symbol of marital faithfulness.

On a totally different note, the match between Brazil and Chile was a tense watch, and ended 3:2 to Brazil on penalties - we could hardly bear to watch. And the question is - how long can a seleção keep scraping through??