Mallards (Anas Platyrhynchos)

Did you Know ?  I didn't before I looked up the habits of ducks including mallards that they have oil glands on their backs near the tail. They spread the oil over their feathers with their bills. The duck oil keeps the bird warm and dry so that it can stay afloat and is able to fly. I expect many of you will know this already but I was watching this mallard as he kept going to his tail and then pushing his beak around in his feathers and I wondered why, as he was doing this for quite a while. He is now waddling back towards the pond.