In the centre of the lake today I count a group of eight darker brown and blackish ducks, sitting slightly lower on hte water, with what looks to be a kind of white tip on one end, and a white tip on the other. Until recently I might have assumed them to be bluebills out of clear sight at a distance. But I am now more able to join what I see to the concept ‘hardhead!’ and all seems well again. I have never seen this many in the centre of this lake (and still haven’t in the weeks following the writing of this.)