Ox-Head

Bucephalus was the favourite war-horse of Alexander the Great and the name means 'Ox-Head'.

So does this duck look like an ox? or a horse?

No, but the scientific name of this duck is Bucephala clangula - the Goldeneye, a winter visitor to the UK.

This particular individual has the fully developed white cheek patches of an adult male but still shows some juvenile dark feathers on its flank.

There were three or four goldeneyes on Kinghorn Loch but this is the only one that came close enough for a decent photograph. There were none to be seen last week so they must have just arrived. Winter must be on its way.