Mandarin Duck Aix sponsa was high on the wanted list of bird-watching friend Len Tolhurst visiting from Australia. With this in mind we visited Swiss Gardens (map ref. TL146446) on 3 June 2003. On the north bank of the ornamental lake we found a sleeping male Mandarin, which sadly remained in this comatose state throughout our stay so we were unable to fully appreciate his beautiful plumes.
Later, at the east end of the pond, we came across a female Mandarin accompanied by five downy young, each about ¼ (one quarter) adult size. In the still and muggy conditions there were large numbers of midges (sorry I am not an entomologist, so cannot be more precise) low over the surface of the pond. While the female Mandarin swam sedately across the pond, all five ducklings were actively feeding on these midges, snapping at those flying close and stretching their necks to reach those slightly further away. Occasionally, the ducklings would rush across the water leaving quite a wake, then jump clear to ‘flycatch’ a passing insect. This behaviour continued for the ten plus minutes we were on the bank of the lake and was delightful to watch – the ducklings really seemed to be enjoying themselves. I cannot recall seeing any waterfowl behaving in this way before.
Swiss Gardens has recently been a regular site for this species according to observations listed on the BedsBirds email group (BedsBirds@yahoogroups.com) and I had seen a pair there on New Year’s Day 2003. There were no records from this site in 2000 (Brind 2001) and only one winter record in 2001 (Brind 2002). The latest Bedfordshire atlas only records ‘probable breeding’ for this tetrad (Dazley & Trodd 1994). Is this the first confirmed breeding for this site?
Brind, R. (ed). 2001. The Bedfordshire Bird Report 2000. The Bedfordshire Natuarlist. 55(2):10.
Brind, R. (ed). 2002. The Bedfordshire Bird Report 2001. The Bedfordshire Natuarlist. 56(2):12.
Dazley & P.Trodd. 1994.
Later, at the east end of the pond, we came across a female Mandarin accompanied by five downy young, each about ¼ (one quarter) adult size. In the still and muggy conditions there were large numbers of midges (sorry I am not an entomologist, so cannot be more precise) low over the surface of the pond. While the female Mandarin swam sedately across the pond, all five ducklings were actively feeding on these midges, snapping at those flying close and stretching their necks to reach those slightly further away. Occasionally, the ducklings would rush across the water leaving quite a wake, then jump clear to ‘flycatch’ a passing insect. This behaviour continued for the ten plus minutes we were on the bank of the lake and was delightful to watch – the ducklings really seemed to be enjoying themselves. I cannot recall seeing any waterfowl behaving in this way before.
Swiss Gardens has recently been a regular site for this species according to observations listed on the BedsBirds email group (BedsBirds@yahoogroups.com) and I had seen a pair there on New Year’s Day 2003. There were no records from this site in 2000 (Brind 2001) and only one winter record in 2001 (Brind 2002). The latest Bedfordshire atlas only records ‘probable breeding’ for this tetrad (Dazley & Trodd 1994). Is this the first confirmed breeding for this site?
Brind, R. (ed). 2001. The Bedfordshire Bird Report 2000. The Bedfordshire Natuarlist. 55(2):10.
Brind, R. (ed). 2002. The Bedfordshire Bird Report 2001. The Bedfordshire Natuarlist. 56(2):12.
Dazley & P.Trodd. 1994.
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