Writtle Duck Pond (Updated)

[LN Strike Eagle]

Walked to Writtle a few weeks ago, and having got there was rather annoyed to have left my DSLR at home. A nice weekend forecast with nothing else to do (no airshows, North Weald main runway closed to host a scale model event), I thought I might try again to photograph the ducks with the proper camera. Quite enjoying the walks at the moment too, nice to find these quiet spaces and it's all good exercise for my knee.

















A wider view of the pond on my iPhone from the visit earlier this month:



And some iPhone snaps of the scenery on the walking route:







Might have to return soon for another go. It was quite good fun, but I think I'll probably need some treats to bribe the ducks into co-operation.

[aceyone]

Very nice set,who can resist ducklings ?

[FarnboroJohn]

The first drake is an interesting shot because although the body plumage is only getting into eclipse (plain brown instead of Mallard drake grey and metallic green) the wings are absolutely shot, pretty much all the flight feathers are gone and the bird is almost certainly flightless until the new ones grow. This doesn't take very long though it presumably costs the birds a lot of energy very quickly.

Nice one.

[AlexC]

Very nice one!

Most years we have a pair of mallards trying to set up home in our garden, and on our garden pond which is most unsuitable, and we reluctantly have to persuade them to move on. The pair this year were very persistent and kept coming back, but eventually they got the message.

[LN Strike Eagle]

Another visit to the duck pond, and the ducklings have been reduced in number from seven down to just three (assuming it's the same family).

Anyone know what this is? It was absolutely huge.











This is the mother:

[Tuckat]

Nice relaxing set of images, thanks for sharing. I think the big fella is a Muscovy Duck, but then I'm still a beginner in bird ID

[Blackbird]

It looks like a Muscovy duck to me too. Customary excellent photos Dan .

Andy

[LN Strike Eagle]

Thank you both. I also came to the same conclusion after some Googling.

I imagine the youngsters will be quite a bit larger now, as it's been two weeks since my last visit.