Teal are such handsome little ducks. The males especially so, with their chestnut heads, green eye patches and pale yellow tails framed in black. 
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Hundreds of these dapper little ducks congregate at Chapel Pill during the winter. These three females were sunning themselves on the mud banks high up in the creek. While way, way below on the lower mud slopes, teal zigzagged out of the creek. The female may not have such a colourful wardrobe as the male but still shares the green wing bars.
Although at times these green flashes are well hidden beneath layers of feathers so can be hard to see.
Here two drakes were soaking up the sun while the third was half hidden in the shadows.
But another drake was in the bottom of the creek in what little water remained on the low tide. 
Teal spring up almost vertically and are fast flyers. The collective noun for teal is very aptly a “spring” of teal. 
It is in flight when the green wing bars edged with white are most visible. The colour is always especially vivid on a sunny day. I do so enjoy watching the teal at Chapel Pill.
For more teal posts see:
Iridescent teal and the Vecht Trader
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