A vibrantly coloured duck, rarely seen inland, was spotted swimming in a lake in Rickmansworth at the weekend.

The colourful wood duck was observed on a corner of Bury Lake at Rickmansworth Aquadrome on Sunday.

The duck is one of the most recognizable birds in North America - and birdwatchers are likely to see them on the coasts of Scotland, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

But it's quite rare to see one inland.

The duck in Rickmansworth could be easily distinguished from its fellow birds with its beige and purple plumage, distinctive white flare down the neck, and colourful beak.

Harrow Times:

It can be easily identified as a male Wood duck because of the red eyes and green head - females are less colourful with a white ring around the eye.

Wood ducks are a tree nesting species and prefer nesting over water. The duck detected in Rickmansworth may have escaped from a flock.

Harrow Times:

Three Rivers district councillor Chris Lloyd said: "There is a possibility that the male wood duck seen at the Aquadrome could be wild or it may have escaped from a collection.

They are popular birds for wildfowl collections, it is most likely that this is a captive-bred bird has managed to escape."