Day 055/19. A foreign immigrant.

A male Mandarin Duck on our local small lake today.
They were introduced to the UK from China in the 20th century and have become established following escapes from captivity. Today there are estimated to be a population of around 7,000, a large, feral population established in the southern UK.
The male mandarin has the most elaborate and ornate plumage with distinctive long orange feathers on the side of the face, orange 'sails' on the back, and pale orange flanks.The female is dull by comparison with a grey head and white stripe behind the eye, brown back and mottled flanks.