The Mullagh, Lough Beg, Northern Ireland

Ring necked duck 2 (male and female)

Whooper swan 2

Common sandpiper 1

Pochard 4

Tufted duck 50

Great crested grebe 30

Little grebe 30 inc pairs with chicks
Common tern 10
Buzzard 1

Year: 266 (ring necked duck)

Having missed the bird of the year in St. Helens (so far??) I was delighted to at last catch up with this pair of ring necked ducks, and what a great place to see them. Going into eclipse, but still great birds and very wary. Even better this was my first female ring necked duck.
 

Nothing wrong with the female ring necked duck (right), it's quite unlike any tufted duck I've seen, but I was a bit unsure about the male (left). However the bill is good, and further research has revealed that eclipse drakes often have this tuft like appearance.