SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Shoveler (Anas clypeata) drake taking off from water, Caithness, Scotland, UK.May

Nick Upton / Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata / Spatula clypeata) group flying over a frozen pool in marshland, Gloucestershire, UK, February.

David Pattyn / Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) drake / male, Valkenhorst Nature Reserve, Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, April

Pedro Narra / Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) female. Sado Estuary, Portugal. December

Pedro Narra / Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata). Sado Estuary, Portugal. December

Nick Upton / Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) group resting on water surface, Rutland Water, Rutland, UK, November.

Roger Powell / Small flock of Northern Shovellers (Anas clypeata) in flight during pursuit courtship. Druridge Pools, Druridge Bay, Northumberland, England, UK. March.

Nick Upton / Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) duck entering the water to forage in a partially flooded marsh, Greylake RSPB reserve, Somerset Levels, UK, February.

David Tipling / Shovelers (Anas clypeata) in flight, Cley Marshes NWT Reserve, Norfolk, England, UK. February

David Tipling / Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) male, Cley Norfolk, England, UK. May

Oliver Hellowell / Wigeon (Anas penelope) and a few Northern shovelers (Anas clypeata) taking off from Greylake RSPB reserve in Somerset, England, UK. January.

Loic Poidevin / Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) male, flying. Marais Breton, Vendee, Pays-de-la-Loire, France. April.