Duck identity - can anyone help please?

[juliab]

We are fortunate to have a variety of wildlife visit our garden throughout the year, including various ducks. Since spring various mallard pairs have been seen foraging under our bird feeders including a very dark sleek brown female with white bib and her traditional mallard male in tow. Taking a look through your Gallery I can't find anything that looks like her although from members comments could she be a mallard cross. We are all keen to find out what type of duck she is, can anyone help please?

Pictures were taken this weekend and a month ago

[Alan]

Hi juliab, and welcome to the forum.

Yes you're right the ducks are domestic crosses, most are derived from Mallards. There should be some pics in the Gallery of them.

Alan

[juliab]

Thanks Alan

I have a very young avid bird watcher here that will be happy to hear confirmation - he's searched all his duck and bird books to no avail. The duck was just so beautiful and watchful over the little ones who all now look like her. Many of the ducks locally seem to lose there broods, foxes I guess? but this one showed us six a month ago and brought back five yesterday - its great.

Thanks again
Julia