Mandarins

When the sun popped out from behind the clouds mid-morning we made a snap decision to go out and I fancied going to Yarrow Valley. On the way, the rain started and we wondered whether it was a mistake, but thankfully it was just a shower. 
On arrival we immediately came across this pair of beautiful Mandarin Ducks. We spent a few minutes watching them, the male was actually quite a bully, pecking and chasing off anyone who came close to them. They looked so lovely in the sunshine. 
Just as we were about to leave a kingfisher shot past and landed very briefly in a tree across the water, and I managed one shot as it flew off(extra). We also saw a pair of Goosanders and the usual little birds - some more in extras, just to use them up :)
Whilst we were there we had a call from my brother who had heard that my uncle (Mum's only remaining sibling) had died of a heart attack yesterday which came as quite a shock. We dropped in on Mum on the way home of course.