Do Mallards eat fish????

[Peano]

Hello all,

I know this may seems a daft question but I was on Doxey Marshes, Stafford, last weekend and saw a male Mallard playing with a fish and attempting (in my view) to swallow it!!!

Unfortunately I could not stay long so did not see the end of this entertainment, but I did take a few photos, I will post one of the best when my main computer is up and running (defunct at the moment!).

Has anybody any ideas?

I am also new to this site so hello again to everyone.

[digi]

Hi and welcome to the forum, Mallards eat shellfish, seeds and insects mainly.

Digi

[Helen]

Hello Peano and welcome to the forum

Regards

[nightshade]

hi peano I have seen them apparently eating tadpoles and little ,fingernail size,frogs I suppose opportunism comes into it

[Rich_]

At the end of the days fishing I remove the sardine I have had on my hooks for bait and leave it in the margins where it is usually picked up by a blackheaded gull or heron whilst I'm packing up. Sometimes though the mallards will take them greedily, instead of ignoring them as they mostly do,may be coincidence, but I have noticed it more at this time of year and spring time. Could be some vitamin or mineral they need more of coming up to breeding, time or just that times are harder the colder months.

[Oy]

My local Mallards are quite partial to spam butties!

[Peano]

Hello to all and thanks for your replies.
I wish that my other computer was working so that I could up-load the photo. The fish that this mallard was 'playing' with and attempting to down was quite a biggish fish. Unfortunately I am not a fisherman so I couldn't say whether it was a stickleback or a trout but my guess is that it was about 3" or a little longer.
The observation that malllards seem to indulge in 'fishy' products at this time of year is interesting - perhaps there is a need for vitamins or some other nourishment that they do not get from their usual diet.
Thanks again for all your comments and I shall hopefully be able to post the photo(s) by Wednesday (technician arriving tomorrow with new parts).
Peano

[pheonix]

i have witnissed mallards eating fish on a days fishing trip, i acnt remember what time of year it was but i would definatly put it down to opportunisism