Egyptian Goose

Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus).  This is the father of the 8 surviving Egyptian goslings on the large lake. 

Photo taken in Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-05-17.

Young Canada Goose

A young Canada goose (Branta canadensis).  Photo taken beside the large lake, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-05-01.

Mallard Duckling

The mallard duckling that Zoe and I saw being attacked by a heron, appears to have survived.  I took the above photo this morning on the bank of the large lake near where the attacks took place.  The heron was nowhere to be seen.

The Grey Heron as a Predator of Mallard Chicks

This morning, Zoe and I saw this grey heron making several attempts to catch the mallard chick shown in this photograph.  The male mallard would chase the heron off whenever it came near, but the female and the chick seemed to have no sense of danger and repeatedly swam past the heron as if they didn't notice it.  I can now quite understand how initial broods of 11 or more chicks can be whittled down to one or two within just a few days.  The Egyptian geese are much better parents: they still have all 9 of their goslings.

Photo taken in by the large lake, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-04-19.

Egyptian Goslings Again

One of today's photos of the Egyptian goslings that hatched out a couple of days ago.  There are still 9 of them, but the mallard brood that started out as 11 is now only 5.