March 2011 part 2

4th Sunny day and a trip to the bridge on the river. A male mallard was having a wash flapping his wings about.

Mallard or wild duck (Anus platyrhyrichas)
Amazing green colour on head of male. females are duller in colour. Lays 8-14 pale green eggs. They eat almost anything.
A gang of noisy sparrows hid amongst the brambles and longtailed tits fluttered around.

                               "A troop of birds on laughing wings,
                                 Came tumbling in loops and strings,
                                        See! See! See! Their leader cried.
                                                        Anthony Rye