Shelduck

As it’s Thursday and we’re off on our weekly visit to G’s mum, we stop off at The Spinnies once again. Each time we go, there’s that frisson of excitement that we might just see a kingfisher, but yet again today we’re disappointed. 

Last week when we were here, the little egrets had started nesting in the trees; today not a single one’s in evidence - we wonder whether the brisk breeze blowing off the sea may be a factor. 

There’s little to be seen but for a couple of mallards, but then two shelducks arrive. Now usually, I give these large ducks limited attention. They’re always waddling around the Conwy mudflats, dredging sludge for food. In fairness, I’ve never really looked at them in any detail. 

But here, reflections and dappled sunshine bring out the shelduck colours - the brilliant white and iridescent black, the orange and the ruddy brown. We even get a glimpse of the brilliant green wing strip when they finally take off from the water and depart. 

I’ve been pretty good at selecting blips over the last week or so, but today it’s really difficult. I’m not at all sure whether I’ve selected the ‘best’, but the others are in extras.