Mandarin Drake.

The day broke clear and bright.  We headed on down the Staffs & Worcs Canal towards Gailey and Calf Heath.  The Chemical Works always annoys me.  There are signs saying no mooring for 200 yards.  200yards is actaully nearer 4 or 500.  The other thing is the towpath belongs to Canal & River Trust only they can say No Mooring!  If it is a CRT restriction they should be CRT signs if it is the chemical works they have no right to insist on such a restriction.  Being fair nobody would want to moor there but it still rankles with me.

We continued on down to the winding hole beyond Deepmore Bridge turned and headed back north.  On the way we passed this fine fellow resplendant in new breeding plumage.  Mandarins aren't native to the UK but every so often you see the occasional one among the mottley collection of ducks.  For obvious reasons it is the Drake which is noticed the duck being typically dowdy as most female waterfowl are.

We moored for the night at the "rebar perch" hoping for shots of the Kingfisher.  Nothing was seen before dark so we will see what the morning brings before we head back to the marina.