The two mallard hens are still here at Botany Pond, and the new one has been named Dolores, with the last name del Estanque, making her name “Dolores of the Pond”, after the movie star Dolores del Rio.
They just had a huge breakfast, and one of them has been definitively identified as Hazel, the single hen who was here the other day. She brought a friend.
Here is Hazel’s bill (left side) from Saturday:
And here is one of the pair yesterday. It’s clearly Hazel:
They came together, and are clearly friends. They swim together, walk together, eat together, and hang out together. I’m very glad, as each has a friend and ducks are social birds who like company. Here are the two of them after a late lunch yesterday:
. . . and the new duck, Dolores del Estanque:
Let’s hope they hang around for a while. Everybody loves the ducks at the pond save one miscreant, but I won’t go into that.
And one water lily has bloomed, producing a beautiful flower:
😃
Water lilies adding some natural color to the refurbished pond. Nice!
You have a Water Strider on the lily pad.
Nice!
Nice! Beautiful lilies!
Any chance these are the offspring from previous nests at the pond now all grown up and returning? It might explain how they are ‘friends’.
Hazel is certainly not an offspring of this year’s brood, as she’s molting. It’s possible that they come from previous broods, but remember that we had several years without ANY broods at the pond.
Wonderful to have them. 🦆🦆🦆
Hurray! It’s a good day — all is well at Botany Pond!
Beautiful!