Teal

Delighted to see a group of eight Teal at the Loch today, I don’t remember seeing them there before. There were three females and five males. The males are the beautifully coloured ones with the chestnut head, blue/green eye patch and grey body. The females are brown coloured and look similar to, but a bit smaller than, a mallard. According to my RSPB book, most Teal are migratory with birds from Iceland, Northern Europe and Russia reaching Scotland in the Autumn and leaving again in March. A very welcome arrival, if only I had a longer lens, it is on my Christmas list!