Above. Water Fringe, Nymphoides Peltata. Photographed on Monday, 4th April this example burst into life in my garden pond last week. This species can become invasive in swamps, lakes and slow moving rivers.

Below. Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (at least, I think it is). Unlike the yellow swan, this is a genuine photograph I took on Sunday morning, 3rd April of what I think is a Mandarin duck (left one of the two) on the River Wye. Until Sunday, I had never spotted this variety of Duck in Ross. The photograph is not particularly good as the duck was a long way off and the weather was a little grey at the time of taking. I will look out for more and try to get a closer shot during the coming weeks.