What have you seen

Saw quite a lot of Egrets yesterday on our way to Villefranche and Herons on the way back, they seem to be fairly established around the area which is great to see.

We have been watching some nest box activity today, we think it's a pair of Linnets, intriguing, so will keep an eye out for further developments. We also had a Bullfinch on a feeder right by our kitchen window, another unusual event as we rarely see Bullfinches although the winter honeysuckle flowers and buds seems to tempt them. It's been very frosty and cold but the bird activity is increasing each day, good to hear them singing.

Can't say its ringing any bells with me Nellie. Sorry.

'Tis a puzzle if you don't know!! Thanks all the same.😊

I've been cogitating.

2 possibilities. Depends how far away they were. One obvious one is Shelduck which does have brown shoulder strap and brownish rump but is very distinctive in all other markings. The other might be Egyptian Goose, which can look like a large duck from a distance. Quite a "Brown" marked goose. Have a look online, otherwise I'm out of suggestions.

Don't think it was either of those, as I am sure I would have recognised either. I might try BTO, or perhaps OP!!😁

They were the only two that struck me as possibilities as well. Can't imagine that NTH would have been unable to ID either of those.

I had a look through all of my bird books but couldn't come up with any ideas, I even checked the section for rare visitors without any luck.  I wonder if anyone in the area where you saw them has a collection of ornamental wildfowl, making these two escapee's.

Good idea Impy.

There's the Wildfowl centre at Martinmere by Southport and I know Ruddy Ducks have turned up at various lakes in Cheshire from there. Otherwise it might just be Nellies old age catching up with him and he needs new lenses in his glasses.

Ringed teal, maybe?
Just a guess, and the photo isn’t mine, of course, lifted from a website. 
🙂