These wildfowl feeding off Tain yesterday were early arrivals of the many which are - hopefully - going to overwinter in the area but the two most numerous duck species we saw last winter are already represented.
Most of the ducks were widgeon, the males with their conker-coloured heads and buff-yellow crests, the females with brown heads, and the slightly scruffy ones being individuals in their 'eclipse' plumage - moulting. They were feeding by....
....'dabbling', that is, upending themselves to reach the muddy bottom, or foraging along the shoreline, though...
....they tended to take off at my approach, showing off the bright white patterns on their wings.
A number of teal were also there, holding themselves slightly aloof from the widgeon, along with....
...the occasional mallard.
The only waders visible were three redshanks, one of which is seen here with two teal.
Having the pleasure of these birds to watch certainly makes the approximately 6-weekly visit to Tain well worthwhile.
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