(no subject)
Apr. 22nd, 2008 02:59 pmThe great crested grebes have chicks! They're too big to be newly hatched but still small enough to climb on their parents, at least when the parents are staying still. I watched them for a little while - two were staying close to one parent and the other was adventuring further out into the water, peeping like mad.
Lots of tiny fluffy mallard ducklings around now. One duck had thirteen, all swimming around in different directions, looking as if they were powered by clockwork.
I think I saw a female gadwall, as well. I find them difficult to tell apart from female mallards, especially as there's a lot of variation in the local mallard population, but the male gadwall certainly seemed to think she was with him, thankyouverymuch, especially when the odd mallard drake got a bit close.
Lots of tiny fluffy mallard ducklings around now. One duck had thirteen, all swimming around in different directions, looking as if they were powered by clockwork.
I think I saw a female gadwall, as well. I find them difficult to tell apart from female mallards, especially as there's a lot of variation in the local mallard population, but the male gadwall certainly seemed to think she was with him, thankyouverymuch, especially when the odd mallard drake got a bit close.