Sundown Ducks

Driving across the Moor by the River Chess on my way home this evening, I spied a male and female Mallard pair lying on the grass verge at the roadside. Unable to resist the chance to see them up close, I parked the car and grabbed my camera, hoping to get a picture of them snuggled together. However, alerted by the soft jangling of keys in my pocket, they both stood up as I gently approached. After taking a couple of shots of them waddling along the pavement to the river, I noticed several of their juvenile children splashing about at the water's edge. The youngsters weren't nearly as twitchy as their Mum and Dad, and came paddling up t0 me with great curiosity for a brief photo-call before sundown.