Mandarin Duck

A non-native species in the UK, these beautiful ducks were introduced from the Far East, where they can still be found. It is believed they were brought to the UK for private collections and subsequently escaped or were released. They can now be found on park lakes and other wetlands with overhanging trees, mainly in South East England, but also in North England, Wales and Scotland.

This was taken on a very windy Mill Pond at Langstone Harbour, Hampshire. I've seen these ducks in places like the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust but this is the first one I've seen in the wild. I'm guessing there was a female around somewhere, but I couldn't see it.

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