Common Teal

Anas crecca

After the gig last night, we paused by the mouth of the Ribble for a quick birdwatch.
First time of photographing pintails, who are very handsome fellows; also loads of pink-footed geese, greylags and barnacles. In the distance Meles spotted what appeared to be some kind of egret!?
Although I have blipped teal before, they were rather relaxed round the hides, so I decided to put up another photo (some more here). Just a shame that the sun was on the other side, so it doesn't show the gleaming eye-stripe too well (from which the colour "teal" gets its name).