Taken on 05/06/2016
3.15pm – Sat down for a break at the base of the breakwater that protects the mouth of river Coquet and Amble harbour when three females with ducklings joined shortly after. All happily dozing in the sand when a dog came too close and prompted the females to leave. Followed by some ducklings they swam into big swells and breaking waves at high tide. Unfortunately, the remaining ducklings did not notice anything and stayed where they were. I returned several times over the next hours - only to find them still at the same place, with no sign whatsoever from the females. 6.45pm – This time all abandoned ducklings were gone but I spotted some of them in the water, bravely fighting and struggling as they ran into heavy seas. There was no adult female anywhere near them. 7.15pm - The group got separated and four ducklings returned to the beach, one after another and evidently exhausted. In the meantime a herring gull landed nearby to watch the scene, so I made space in my backpack and collected the returnees. Unfortunately I could not locate the other ducklings, neither in the water nor on the beach. Brave little fellows but I am afraid they did not make it. 7.35pm – I walked over from the beach to a branch of Coquet river and luckily spotted another group of females with plenty of ducklings at similar age as those sitting tight in my backpack. Well into falling tide by now I discharged my cargo and was relieved to see that the four ducklings were instantly adopted by their new aunties.
Equipment
Canon 7D II, 500mm f/4.
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