The low winter sun shone across the estuary of the River Devon at Cambus and illuminated the drake goldeneye duck, the soft rays of light catching every nuance of his green iridescent head.
He bobbed on the water, frequently diving under in a rolling fashion to scour the shallow bed of the estuary for food.
Goldeneyes are skittish ducks that often take to the air on whistling wings at the first hint of danger, but this bird was relaxed, mirroring the calm waters of the river.
As I brought the drake into focus through my binoculars, I was immediately struck by his bright yellow eyes which caught the sunlight in a most remarkable way.
It was almost as if the eyes were powered by electricity, their glowing orbs shining out like a torch beam.
These ducks certainly have a most appropriate name and those gleaming eyes an intensity that lingers long in the mind.
Why such striking eyes?
It appears there is no definitive answer, but there are several theories, including the vibrancy of the eye-colour acting as an indicator to the maturity of the bird and thus its suitability as a potential mate.
I ventured down an incline that borders the Scottish Wildlife Trust Cambus Pools reserve where a cluster of blushing bracket fungi growing on a willow trunk caught my eye.
In midwinter, when few other fungi are in evidence, these bright brackets catch any sunlight and stand out starkly from the dark background of the tree trunks to which they are attached.
On my return journey, I spotted a heron resting on a hay bale that had been washed down the river and become trapped above the weir at Cambus.
Herons are wily creatures and one bird in Dollar uses the illumination from streetlights by the burn that runs through the town as an aid for hunting fish at night.
It wouldn’t surprise me if other herons similarly utilise the soft white glow of the full moon for nocturnal forays in areas away from our towns and villages.
The fact that herons exhibit occasional nocturnal traits is illustrated by the fact that they can sometimes be found roosting during the day, and there is a field near Alva where several individuals like to congregate, the birds seemingly finding comfort by being together with their own kind as they gently slumber.
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