Drakes

A rather mundane day today - catching up with the supermarket shopping thet I've been putting off for the past week, and then into town for more Christmas shopping. Thank goodness Pete's in the kitchen making some nice mulled wine - that should soothe away the aches and pains that are still bugging me!

Inbetween the chores we managed to get out for a walk. The temperature is above freezing now, but it doesn't feel very different, and there still seems to be little sign of a thaw. The two larger lake at Ferry Meadows each only have one small area of open water, and many of the wildfowl seem to have moved elsewhere. The coots remain and their numbers seem to be increasing - must be well over a hundred now.

I took a few photographs of birds loafing on the ice, but this pair of mallard drakes was my favourite. They're such smart birds, with their iridescent green heads and bright yellow bills, and because they're standing on the ice you get to see their magnificent orange feet!