Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
Canon 600mm f4 for 1/2500th @ iso400
The lone duckling !!
As with every spring the Mallards who cannot find nesting space on the pond invade the gardens in the road to nest. This year was no exception, with various neighbours reporting on "their" ducklings progress. One Mallard had a brood of around 13 ducklings a huge flowing train of peeping ducklings following her about. At some point and for reasons known only to her she left the safety of the pond and went wandering. There was a few various FB posts as traffic was stopped to allow the family across one of the main roads ! Then there was a report of a rescue a couple of roads away of 13 ducklings which had fallen down a grid.
Amid all this and despite a couple of Mallards on the pond having smaller and more manageable broods, there was a lone duckling who spent much of its time under the branches of the oak which hang over the pond. It seemed to be thriving and ventured out to the lily pads from time to time. Lunging at insects and dabbling about from the lily pads.
As an update the Mallards who had smaller broods now have large almost adult size ducks following them about but there is no single bird of that size.
The unfortunate reality is that many of the ducklings become a snack for is the Heron, Gulls, Magpies and Crows.
Even the pair of Canada Geese are not adverse to attacking and killing them.
The lone duckling !!
As with every spring the Mallards who cannot find nesting space on the pond invade the gardens in the road to nest. This year was no exception, with various neighbours reporting on "their" ducklings progress. One Mallard had a brood of around 13 ducklings a huge flowing train of peeping ducklings following her about. At some point and for reasons known only to her she left the safety of the pond and went wandering. There was a few various FB posts as traffic was stopped to allow the family across one of the main roads ! Then there was a report of a rescue a couple of roads away of 13 ducklings which had fallen down a grid.
Amid all this and despite a couple of Mallards on the pond having smaller and more manageable broods, there was a lone duckling who spent much of its time under the branches of the oak which hang over the pond. It seemed to be thriving and ventured out to the lily pads from time to time. Lunging at insects and dabbling about from the lily pads.
As an update the Mallards who had smaller broods now have large almost adult size ducks following them about but there is no single bird of that size.
The unfortunate reality is that many of the ducklings become a snack for is the Heron, Gulls, Magpies and Crows.
Even the pair of Canada Geese are not adverse to attacking and killing them.