What a surprise!

Our mallard in box 2 was driven off her nest again yesterday so I looked to see how many eggs were left. When I lifted the lid from the box I was astonished to see the drake guarding the nest from the inside. I've never known a drake to take over nest duties before but, apparently, they occasionally swap places to give their partner a break!

 Time for a drink . . .

. . . and some fresh air

It must be hot inside the nest box in this weather and our girl came out for a quick drink.  While she was on the plank she was chased again by the rogue males but her partner remained inside the box to protect the nest.  We can't work out what is happening to the eggs but there was only one left yesterday in spite of the drake's best efforts.

Drake takes over nest duties

The drake spends most of his time sitting right at the entrance to the nest box and occasionally, perhaps for a brief respite from the hot sun, with his head inside!  

 Time for our girl to get back on the nest

After a drink, a stretch of her wings and a quick wheat treat the mallard headed back to incubate her remaining egg.  The drake was still inside the box which made it rather difficult for her and she waited for him to leave the box.  He, however, had other ideas and, after a while, she somehow squeezed into the box with him! 

Move over darling . . .

The drake finally emerges

As he emerged the drake slipped and slid down the plank. He now seems to enjoy using the plank as a slide.

When we went to bed last night the drake was standing guard at the nest entrance and was still there first thing this morning so we hope their one egg is safe. We're not sure whether the female is still able to lay an egg each day after all this time. It's rather touching to see how much effort the pair put in to protecting the nest and we really hope that they are rewarded by hatching at least one duckling!

The two teenage coots reunited

The teenage coots are becoming territorial and are attacking any duck that comes to feed from the plank.  They're still young and are sometimes seen off by the more aggressive ducks but that doesn't stop them from protecting 'their' food source.  One young coot is much bolder than the other but both flee when an adult coot appears.

We're not sure whether the female tufted duck is nesting in the bog garden and I'm reluctant to disturb her if she is.  Her behaviour yesterday would indicate that she might well be protecting a nest, however. She suddenly attacked one of the male red crested pochards who was minding his own business and resting on our floating platform.  They locked beaks and tugged at each other for quite a while until they ended up in the river and began chasing each other in circles, viciously using their wings as weapons.  Tufted ducks are smaller than pochards so it surprised us that the female 'tuftie' had started the fight.