Taking The Kids For A Spin

I’m not sure whether it’s the same duck, but a mallard attempts to nest in the shrubs by our pond every year. It’s mostly unsuccessful – last year the nest was abandoned, and earlier this year, something (a marauding crow?) took the eggs. However, this year, the mallard had a second attempt and has hatched six ducklings. The first we were aware of this was a couple of days ago, when she took them out for a spin on the pond.  Until then, we hadn’t realised that she had returned to the nest and had been brooding a second batch of eggs. She and the ducklings now seem to spend most of the time in the nest hidden in the shrub. Just as well, otherwise our dog Watson would be disturbing them.