Taken on 20/03/2009
On the River Avon near my house I found two drake Mallards jealously guarding a section of river bank, a few other drakes were showing an interest but any that came near were strenuously driven off. I managed to get down to the bank and clear the overhanging grass to reveal a very dead female wedged under the bank. The Drakes made frequent returns to the body and once the body was free one would obviously mate or try to mate with it while the other stood guard. I've often heard that during frantic mating sessions the poor female Mallard can be killed or be drowned but I've never heard of the drakes returning to the body - anyone else seen this kind of behaviour?
Equipment
Nikon D60.
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