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Fancy a hybrid, Duckie?

Updated: Apr 2, 2022

Dovestones Reservoir 1st April

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I'm not sure if its something to do with the date, but what the heck were these three misfits doing together in amongst all the mallards and Canada geese at Dovestones reservoir today?


This is a different location to my usual sit spot at Charlotte's Pool but still just a walk away from my house and I spotted this threesome together when I arrived at the water's edge. They waddled up quite close to me, then flew off. It was easy to find them later as the white bird was quite conspicuous and the other two were still with her. It seems that these three have definitely hooked up together.


The bird in the foreground could be a Crested blue Swedish bred as a domestic duck. The crest is caused by a genetic mutation which was then encouraged by breeders.

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The other two are also some form of hybridised domestic mallard.



The duck at the back has a reddish brown head and a green bill, possibly some teal in the mix?


It is interesting that they have chummed up.together, obviously recognising that they are each different from the pure mallards around them.

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