Crossword Genius

Domestic fowl spaniel observed by English lake (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cockerel

'domestic fowl' is the definition.
(I know that cockerel is a type of cock)

'spaniel observed by english lake' is the wordplay.
'spaniel' becomes 'cocker spaniel' (cocker spaniel is a kind of spaniel).
'observed by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'lake' becomes 'L' (geographical abbreviation).
'cocker'+'e'+'l'='COCKEREL'

(Other definitions for cockerel that I've seen before include "Given bird" , "Young rooster" , "Farmyard bird" , "Young domestic male fowl" , "He's liable to crow" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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