Blenheim breeding ducks

 

It's nice to have some breeding ducks at Blenheim that aren't the resident mallards. Gadwall is a good breeding record for Blenheim and Oxfordshire generally. There are two family parties, each with 3 ducklings. One family did begin with at least 4 ducklings. Tufted duck is another good breeding record for Blenheim, hopefully these 4 survive to adulthood. They are at least in an area of the lakes less frequently visited by the resident lesser black-backed gulls that take a good number of mallard ducklings. 

Above is the younger family, originally seen with 4 young. And below is the older family. Subtly beautiful ducks.

Only one brood of tufted ducks so far. There are not many adults at Blenheim at the moment, but maybe some more young will emerge soon.