Mallard duck

Mallard duck - Anas platyrhynchos

Mallard ducks are well known across the UK. This species of bird, like many others, are sexually dimorphic. The males have an unmistakable plumage with a metallic green head, yellow bill, white collar, brown breast and grey belly which differs greatly from the rather drab brown speckled female. 

Mallards are often seen in pairs through autumn and winter as the male guards the female. The above picture was taken in early January. Come spring, the males leave the females, who begin to lay eggs and rear ducklings, and join with other males to begin their molting stage.

On a walk around the UEA lake I came across one such scenario - a lone female with a small clutch of six ducklings. Usually the clutch size is larger, up to 13 individuals, but seldom will they all survive. 

As I attempted to get some decent footage of the scene with my inadequate mobile phone a pair of dog walkers strolled by, completely unaffected by the sight of cheeping ducklings! I guess I too will become accustomed to the sight of chicks and ducklings as the spring ensues.

Earthworm

Earthworm - Aporrectodea longa

Earthworms are in the sub class Oligochaeta. Oli- (as with oligopoly) is from the Greek 'oligoi' meaning 'few' and chaeta- like 'saeta' is from the Latin for 'bristle'.
Oligochaetes are from the Annelid phyla and comprise of segmented worm like organisms that are covered in small sparse bristles. They use these bristles to create increased friction and traction against the substrate in which they live to aid in locomotion.

There are 27 native species to the UK with a few exotic species having even introduced by mistake. I think the one pictured above is called the black-headed worm Aporrectodea longa, because of its distinct dark colouration and relatively large size.

You may know of earthworms as being a 'good' sight in gardens and allotments. This is because they aerate the soil through the tunnels they create, allowing plant root systems to penetrate and anchor the into the soil well. The spaces can also fill with water aiding in the mineralisation process making important nutrients available to plants. Added to this, earthworms partially digest living and dead plant matter and mix it in with the soil creating a nutrient rich substance known as humus. This humus is so nutritionally valuable to plants that it has led to its cultivation by humans in the form of vermiculture or vermicompost.


At home we would farm the worms by filling a large container filled with decaying matter; the worms would thrive, digesting the material and reproducing. Once all organic matter had been digested to a rich compost we would pour water over the top surface and tap out the nutrient rich liquid from the bottom. This liquid, known as 'tea' was then used as fertilizer by being poured over crops.