Canada Goose, goslings, and Mallard duckling
With heavy rains forecasted for the next few days, I wanted to get a little birding in before the deluge. There was light drizzle here in Crozet, so I drove to Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro on the west side of the Blue Ridge. It was fairly cloudy, but with only an occasional light drizzle as I hiked there. I didn't see many birds, and the best bird at first was a quick look at a Swainson's Thrush.
When I got to the South River, I saw a birding behavior that was new to me. A Mallard duckling was walking on the other side of the river with two Canada Geese and their goslings.
Canada Goose, goslings, and Mallard duckling
A month ago, I had seen an adult male and an adult female Mallard and their four ducklings in the same area.
Female Mallard and ducklings (4/20/18)
The two adult geese jumped into the river, and the duckling quickly followed.
Canada Goose and Mallard duckling
All of the goslings then lined up on the bank, and one by one, jumped into the river.
Goslings
The duckling and goslings then swam along with the two adult geese.
Goslings and Mallard duckling
Canada Goose, goslings, and Mallard duckling
At one point, two adult male Mallards swam by, and were softly quacking as they passed by the duckling, as if to call the duckling to join them. But the adult Canada Geese stayed between the two Mallards and their goslings and duckling, as if they were telling the Mallards to move on without the duckling, and they did. Although I can't be sure that the adult Canada Geese were raising the Mallard duckling, it sure appeared to be so.
Mallard