Best Parents in the World !

At last I managed to get our resident Paradise Shelduck Family in one frame. 13 babies and Mum and Dad - and they are all looking at the camera except one babe and Mum ! That's Dad stretching his wings. They are exemplary parents - all the family are escorted sandwhiched inbetween the parents on sea and land. Dad has a recci before they set off - he sits up on a fence post to make sure everything is safe before they venture from a pond in a paddock. The babes are six weeks old - they will all stay together until autumn when the youngsters are éncouraged'' to leave . Last year this pair successfully raised 12 - it was wonderful to have them all flying around in a flock making lots of noise - here's hoping they all make it through the holiday season........