When I drove by the 'mini marsh' on Monday I saw baby ducklings! Naturally, I didn't have my camera with me. I took my camera on Tuesday, but no ducklings. However Wednesday morning I caught a break. There was a momma mallard (most probably and not the blue-winged teal as I had originally thought - my friend, Lynne, in NJ corrected me. Will never be a birder because I have a terrible time identifying what I see!) with three little kids. When I saw the ducklings on Monday I thought there were a few more babies, but it might have been a different duck and brood. Mallards though usually lay 8 to 13 eggs, so either this mom has lost some babies, all the eggs didn't hatch, or possibly she was a first-time mom and didn't lay as many eggs?? Either way, the babies are the cutest! Here's the proud momma...
and her kids.
At first momma was a little protective, but then she decided I didn't mean any harm. In fact at one point I walked over to where the geese were and she (and the ducklings) followed me. She was probably looking for a handout, but I was thrilled to get the pictures and have her feel so comfortable around me.
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