Mallard Drake ( Anas platyrhynchos )

We headed for the reserve as our first port of call.  The place was so busy we couldn't get a parking place so we went next door to the garden centre for coffee.  After coffee, we tried again and got a parking place.

We set off round the reserve and spent a good while photographing bathing ducks.  We intended to do the long walk by the river, but the path was closed.  I assume that was for safety reasons as the Trent was running very high almost over the banks in places.  So back to the cafe for lunch.  We used their free wifi to put up our blips as there is no phone reception at the caravan.

Then we nipped into Stafford for a look round.  We parked and asked a local how to get to the shops, her reply was "they're just down there, what's left of them".  She wasn't joking the town centre was riddled with closed shops and very few people about.  Lots of open pedestrian areas with nice mature trees but a depressed feeling because of the lack of shops and people.