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.

Snowdrops

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

I am told that a flowering snowdrop is a sign of Winter drawing to an end and the beginnings of Spring. Since this is my first winter I had no idea about snowdrops, or how cold snow was, or how to tell Spring was on its way, but I love how we can look at nature and be told of what is to come by what it is showing us. I won't forget about snowdrops now, even though I took this picture in early January which seems a little bit early to signify the onset of Spring. In Kenya we have rain lilies that spring up after a good down pour of rain. We usually assume it means there is more rain to come and are glad when we see them following dry spells.

Snowdrops are herbaceous plants which means their stems, leaves and flowers die down at the end of their growing period and their bulbs remain alive under ground. For snowdrops this is over the winter months. Usually, snowdrops increase in number through bulb division as there are not too many insects around during the cold months but can be insect pollinated if visited by any.

The flowers are easily mistaken to be completely white as they hang face-down, and are rarely overturned. If you are curious enough, turn one over and you will see dashes of green on the petals as well as yellow anthers enclosed in the center.

These flowers are beautiful and apparently have a honey-like scent in the warmer days - this I am yet to experience! They feel quite tough and rubbery - this enables the plant to push through the cold and sometimes frozen ground so it can flower once more.

Narcissus

Daffodil - Narcissus barnum

This beautiful flower is a Narcissus barnum or more commonly it is called a daffodil. Once again my slight Greek genes started tingling at the name Narcissus. In Greek mythology Narcissus was the son of a God and a nymph and was known for his astounding good looks. One day he caught sight of his own reflection in a river and fell in love with it. There he sat and wasted away until death overcame him and in his place a single daffodil grew bent over the water as though still looking at its reflection. Through this story the meaning of narcissism was explained to me.

Daffodils are commonly found growing along a waters edge and rely on insects for their pollination. This means you have to have a fairly healthy ecosystem to sustain the flowers - a great sign for UEA!

The bulbs of these plants somewhat resemble those of a leek or onion but should not be eaten as they can cause poisoning. During Winter the flowers and stem die down but the bulb persists underground, pulled deeper by its contractile roots. Here it lies dormant until the Springtime, when favourable conditions enable the plant to flower once again.

It seems a bit early in the year for them to be flowering! Despite the size of my jacket it must have been a mild Winter.