Single Pochard Drake

An unusual appearance in my area, I saw this Pochard on one of my local lakes during a cold spell in early 2023. I find colder weather brings out the more unusual birds, making laying flat on a piece of tarp all the more worth it! We were actually treated to the presence of two Pochard drakes that day, with the other just out of shot. Pochards have a UK conservation status of red, with few breeding pairs and a moderate amount of wintering birds.