Mother Ducks

Some people think Mother ducks are poor at looking after their ducklings. In my experience this is certainly not the case. I have seen them attack every kind of bird that threatens their young. I recall some years ago when Popeye our resident Cob decided to get too close to a brood in the middle of the river, the mother duck was having none of it and flew at him whacking him on the neck !

Only two days ago I saw the same thing again - only this time the threat was the Heron. If they get close support from their partners they are more successful at rearing a brood, but this is the exception.