Desperate

I went down to the River Nith today and there were dozens and dozens of seagulls.  I also came across two mallard duck families, one group both male and female adults and eight chicks, the other a female adult with only two chicks.  I think the seagulls are picking off the chicks for food.  This scene shows a seagull attacking the lone female mallard duck, presumably in order to get her out of the way and take the remaining two chicks.  It was desperate to watch but she fought off the seagull and got the two chicks to safety.  Nature can be brutal.