Earlswood Lakes.

Having had to pay a visit to the dentist early on Monday morning I had decided that I would have to have a relaxing non birding day to try and calm my nerves down (What a wimp).However as I was in the area visiting a garden centre I could not resist having a look for the Mandarin duck reported again yesterday at Earlswood Lakes.

I was not confident of seeing it as I'd failed on my last two visits earlier in the month.It looked like another failure as I couldn't spot it on the water of Windmill lake until I scanned the bank along the causeway and saw this.

I'd seen one before but that was a long way off on a river so I was pleased to get some close shots.It was in an awkward spot requiring me to hang out over the fencing but what a colourful chap.