Collect this page

The Alphington Mallard and ducklings

A happy Alphington family

By Rowena Jay

The nest and eggs

Earlier this year a Mallard Duck chose a large plant container in an Alphington garden in which to lay her eggs. I was very lucky to be given permission to enter the garden at any time to take photographs. I took over 150 photographs and here are just a few of them. Please note that I used a good zoom lens so that I was able to stand well back and not disturb the duck family in any way.

The Alphington Mallard stayed on the nest for 29 days only leaving the eggs when she had to feed. Before vacating the nest she always covered the eggs with nest material.

At last the ducklings hatch

For about 24 hours after the eggs hatched the mother kept the ducklings underneath her in the nest. It must have been rather uncomfortable for her with all the wriggling ducklings but I will swear she had a large smile on her face.

Weather suitable for ducks!

It was not until the following afternoon that the mother decided it was time to lead her ducklings to a small stream that eventually leads to the Alphin Brook. It proved to be a very wet afternoon and I had to balance a large umbrellar on my head to keep my camera dry. I was worried that the mother duck would be frightened of the umbrellar but she was not at all concerned. I think that she had become quite use to me and my camera and strange head gear was no problem. Fortunately, for me she left the nest for a very short time while all the duckling were inside enabling me to take a photograph of the babies.

Time to leave

Upon her return the mother coaxed the ducklings from the nest by quacking and walking round and round the garden container. Eventually, the ducklings one by one or occasionally two by two plucked up courage and clambered over the edge of the garden container and tumbled to the ground. My goodness, ducklings bounce really well! Once the mother had all nine ducklings at her side she led them  into the next-door garden and towards the small stream.

I like to imagine the Alphington Mallard and Ducklings swimming on the Alphin Brook into the Sunset. You never know the Alphington Mallard may return next year to rear another family; I shall be ready with my camera!

More photographs of birds that I often come across in Alphington's Lanes

More photographs of Wildlife on the Exeter Canal