The Teal is a winter visitor to the UK, but an uncommon bird for Croome. The one below was my first sighting and he did spend most of the time fast asleep! The male Teal is a colourful duck, having a grey body, with a green panel on its brown head. This one was seen in November and hasn't quite got to its full winter plumage, the grey sides are a bit patchy and the green on his head is a bit dull. The female is quite plain, like many female ducks (which is good camouflage for nesting). Both have a green patch in the wing, which can be dazzling when it catches the sun.

The Teal is one of the smallest ducks found in the UK, only 34-38cm in length. You can see just how small they are from the photo below, showing a Mallard passing by (and not waking him up).

Below is the female Teal. She lacks the green flash on her head but still has the bright green feathers on her wing, which you can just see here. She was feeding around the edge of the lake.

In the following February, another Teal visited Croome (or was it the same one?). You can see he is much smarter, with tidy grey feathers and a bright green flash on his head. he is also much more awake!

Teals, like many ducks are timid and easily disturbed. A passer by on the opposite bank of the river soon sent this one winging its way down the the far end of the river.