Manners maketh Mallard

[tcvarlh]

Hopwood, Bittel res. The fish ponds by St Mike's. About 11:30 ish today. Stopped for a coffee sat watching the Carp, I'd walked past a pair of Mallards sunbathing. I was lost in reverie seeing the Carp rolling when I heard a soft 'unk' and turned to see the Duck sat quietly next to my jacket. I rummaged and found some of my lunchtime bread (chappatti, no yeast) and flicked a portion to her. The Drake came alongside and begged for a bite too. He was more cautious than she. She was downright cheeky taking bits off my hand and getting so close I was able to stroke her. This was a wild Mallard, but self tamed. She almost told me it was time to eat Boy so break out the grub. Nature Red in Tooth and Claw ? Not Doris Duck, she had her knife, fork and manners with her.

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[KentYeti]

A lovely encounter.

I guess the bird, although wild, had got very used to people being in that area.

Experienced something similar with wild vervet monkies in South Africa once.

On a long distance road trip we stopped somewhere a long way from habitation where there was a pull off from the main road and a decent view. Obviously not the first to do that by any means. As a small group of the monkies turned up, a couple of which then went into the open boot of the car, which we were standing next to. And they helped themselves to biscuits from a packet that was only just open!

Moments like that, and yours today, really do stick in the memory for a very long time.