When I went to Needham Lake for photos on that cold and foggy morning back in February, the only birds I saw were swans and ducks.............. Common Mallards (Anser platyrhynchos)
Two males and a female just like the illustration in that book that I've used on the blog several times
One thing the book tells me is that only the species including mallards actually quack and the mallard has the loudest quack of all. Never knew that. I also didn't know that the famous L.N.E.R steam train named Mallard that broke all sorts of speed records in the 1930's took it's blue colouring from the flash of blue on the wing of the male duck.
Well, you learn something new every day!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
And the wonderful David McCallum on NCIS plays Dr Mallard, nicknamed Ducky.
ReplyDeleteAnd have you seen the episode where Ziva wonders what Ducky looked like when he was younger, and Gibbs replies " Illya Kuryakin"?
DeleteOf course! Should have given him a mention!
DeleteYes, I loved that episode. I also like the actor that plays the young 'Ducky', he's popped up in a couple of flashback episodes, they've chosen him very well.
DeleteWhat is it about old steam engines that makes us almost teary eyed and steeped in nostalgia? Didn't know Sir Nigel Gresley named his iconic train after a wild duck.
ReplyDeleteYears ago we always went on any steam heritage railways we were near when on holiday - not so interesting on your own
DeleteThey are a beautifully colourful species. In last week's heavy rainstorm we had several swimming down the main road in town, quacking quite loudly.
ReplyDeleteThat would be fun to see - but hopefully not too often
DeleteI like mallards. It's a shame the pike get so many of the ducklings, but I suppose if they didn't, we'd be overrun!
ReplyDeleteThey are hopeless mothers and trail them around all over the place
DeleteLovely birds, aren't they. xx
ReplyDeleteUsed to love feeding the ducks when we were small
DeleteVery interesting that they are the only ones that quack
ReplyDeleteCathy
I had no idea about that until I read the book
DeleteThere's mostly male ducks sat on and around our river at the moment, hopefully the females are all nest sitting.
ReplyDeleteThen they'll probably walk the ducklings all over the place and lose half of them!
DeleteWe aren't allowed to feed the ducks (or wildlife) along the river in my city. There are signs all over now saying not to. Those bread crusts we used to throw in are not good for them...
ReplyDeleteI worry at how much bread is thrown to the ducks here too
DeleteI remember seeing The Mallard (train) in action many years ago.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see it. I've seen the Flying Scotsman in action but not the Mallard
DeleteMallard ducks look are beautiful. I remember seeing ducks on a river by hotel we ate dinner at in Portland, Oregon 2021. They weren't loud but fun to see when we were eating outside. I took photos of them as well. Hotel was close to airport and our car was left there when we flew to Alaska. Cheaper than the airport parking area. We rode on a van to airport. No feeding the ducks in that area.
ReplyDeleteThe ducks at Needham Market get too much bread I think
DeleteI am also very fond of Mallard ducks. There are a few Mallards swimming behind my house where the stream creates a large pool. Every Spring the Mallards produce ducklings. Due to the owls, they do not always survive. I also collect carved wooden Mallard ducks.
ReplyDeleteMallards are very loud, but really gorgeous birds.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Talk about learning something new - I didn't know Mallards quacked louder either!!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter always called ducks “cuck cucks”. I used to love feeding the ducks at Twickenham river bank when I was little too and then we learnt at Wisley gardens when the children were very small that feeding bread to ducks is very bad for them so no more feeding. This spring we have seen all sorts of water birds on the flooded water meadows below us: swans, egrets, crested grebe, even Egyptian ducks which seem to have naturalised around here. Have been on holiday staying on a biodynamic English vineyard which is part of a regenerative organic farm in East Sussex and busy working in the secondhand bookshop and gardening. Finally the ground was warm enough to direct sow yesterday and the asparagus and rhubarb is growing and the English bluebells are in flower in the woodland. It has been a backward spring this year. Today I am mowing wide paths for access around the garden and will leave the rest of the grass to the insects and birds. We have violets, stitchwort, cuckoo flower, lamium, dandelions, celandine, daisies in flower in the grass and it looks as pretty as an embroidery. Blue tits, wrens, robins and blackbirds are all nesting in the garden and the yellow rattle has germinated in the meadow. Yesterday I crept into the meadow at golden hour and watched the goldfinches feasting on the dandelion seed heads, a magical moment as the seedheads were backlit by the setting sun. Oh to be in England now that April’s here! Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteI read that about Mallards too! Who knew? lol. I really enjoy Needham Lake. It's a lovely place to take a walk around.
ReplyDelete