Witnessed a tragedy, and heart warming event on the river today. A mother duck with 7 ducklings was attacked by half a dozen Drakes and fatally injured.
Was unable to get to her as the tide was high and she sadly died a little later. Her ducklings were in the middle of the river and were attacked by some Herring gulls, one was taken as the others dived to escape, they made it to the riverside wall.
Miraculously, the only other mother duck in the area with 2 larger ducklings of her own turned up, and the 6 orphaned ducklings paddled out to meet her.
This mothers 2 ducklings are about 10 days old and I doubted she would have anything to do with a newly hatched brood. I have seen broody ducks take on other ducklings before... but usual because they are only a couple of days between the broods.
Incredibly she let them tag along, and led them to the injured Mum who could not respond, it was heartbreaking. The ducklings then moved away with their new adopted parents, the drake was close by and stayed with the adoptive Mum.
This evening all the ducklings were kept warm under their new mum, a heart-warming end to a tragic day!
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