As we head towards winter, there’s a gathering of some waterfowl on the more protected situation on urban ponds and lakes. Over the summer, there’s usually a tiny number of tufted ducks on the lake at West Park: perhaps a pair, possibly as many as four or five. In a few weeks, there will probably be around twenty or thirty.
These four are pioneers of that move. Two were busy feeding, constantly diving under the water. The other two were just resting on the water, doing very little other than keeping a wary eye out for trouble, occasionally stretching for a quick drink of the water.
All four are males. There will have been females, and perhaps some other males, hidden by the island.