Hellvellyn's Views

Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)

Mallard Ducklings (Anas Platyrhynchos)

Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata)

White-Headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)

The eider (Somateria mollissima) is a sea duck, commonly resident around the northern coasts of Europe & North America.

Male Eider.

I was pleasantly surprised to find these mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) duckings swimming on Killingworth lake, protected by their mother. Although there are many mallards on the lake, I hadn't spotted any nests. This clutch of 4 is small for mallards, as they can lay up to 14 eggs, which are always incubated by the mother. Ther father takes no part in their care.

This is the same cluch taken only a week later.

Mandarins (Aix galericulata).

Male Mandarin.

Female Mandarin.

The Happy Couple.

The White-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala) is an endangered species with numbers falling dramatically in recent years. This is believed to be due to a combination of hunting and loss of the ducks' natural habitat. These pictures were taken at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in Washington.

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