The first pair of mandarin ducks visit us
Every Spring mandarin ducks visit our garden. Usually it starts with one pair and then, after several days, another pair turns up until we have up to seven pairs and a few spares. Last year, for the first time, a wood duck joined them to add even more colour to our local wildfowl visitors.
The male begins to raise his crest in courtship
We've had several fleeting visits from another pair this week but they were still partially in moult and rather sad looking specimens. They were also very nervous whereas this pair were intrepid and attacked the mallards in order to take over the plank. I have a feeling that they'll be back on a regular basis from now on and, no doubt, bring some of their friends!
It's been another lovely day after a rather grey start and tomorrow promises to be sunny all day. It was 18C on the garden deck this afternoon! I think we'll take our boat out for a short trip up river tomorrow.
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