About a month since my last post and I really wouldn’t have guessed that I’d be writing about ducklings in October, but I am.
It was at my old haunt at Falmer Pond. I was there this morning before work. The heron was about, some greylags were congregating on the water, gulls were circling… and a female duck was taking four tiny ducklings out for a swim. So far as I know this is wildly out of season. Ducklings normally hatch in late spring to early summer, but these are no more than a few days old. They are either a very late 2017 brood… or possibly an early 2018 clutch! Either way, they were an unexpected delight!
These are Indian Runner ducks (or a hybrid variety). They are permanent residents at the pond (the first adults arrived a few years ago, and I think the mother may be a second generation pond inhabitant). The original adults were quite possibly domestic birds that were ‘relocated’ to the pond. With luck the youngster will survive and put on weight before winter.
Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.
Darko
5 Oct 2017This is very unusual, I’ve never seen something like that before. Hopefully they will survive the winter and if they do, they will be some very tough ducks 😀
Magdalena Portmann
5 Oct 2017I like that – tough ducks! in the right sense of tough!
Words
5 Oct 2017With luck the weather will be mild enough for them to put on weight before winter sets in.
Magdalena Portmann
5 Oct 2017Paul, as always, delightful and beautiful pictures!
Words
5 Oct 2017Magdalena, thanks!