So often, one of the few birds I see is a Mallard. Both male (as in my photo) and female are beautiful ducks, with the male being more colourful. The iridescent head feathers really glow in the sunshine, showing green and sometimes purple. This male was swimming in a small inlet at Carburn Park on 1 May 2014.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallard

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/mallard/id