A new duck?


On one of our recent walks, Paddy and I spotted a couple of ducks in among the mallards on the lake. Paddy wasn't very interested as they weren't cats, but I was curious to know what they were.
Prolonged investigation did not solve the problem until a friend suggested that they were probably " male mallard variant plumage probably caused by crossing with escaped domesticated mallard breed; this variant seems to crop up everywhere spasmodically, probably a recessive gene that exhibits in phenotype every few generations. "
So that's that, then. Pity really, as I was getting quite excited at the thought of being the discoverer of a new species and having it named after me. "Jenny's Duck" - has a certain ring to it, don't you think?

8 comments:

Silverback said...

Your friend must be the life and soul at a party if he speaks like that !

As you know, I don't know a Mallard from a Flying Scotsman so I can be of no help....again.

And who doesn't like Ken Dodd ?!

Mick's Page 2. said...

Hi Jenny.

Your recent walks with ‘Paddy’ - Ducks, reminds me of the time that daughter No -1 and I visited the `Police Head Quarters of the Somerset and Devon , Taunton and taking her dog [Smudge] for it’s relieving walk when it made off into the middle distance on their sports ground to chase a flock of birds. Little did we know then that the flock of birds were Mallards Ducks, a much prised possessions of a local conversationalist green life enthusiast. Smudge, having despatched three of the birds did come back on recall, surfice to say covered with feathers from her mouth looking very pleased with herself. I can report that Son in Law did pass his Sergeants to Inspectors examination. All right but had to to do some explaining why ‘his’ dog’ killed three Mallard Ducks. Keep on posting about Paddys progress please. - Mick

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Yes "Jenny's Duck" does have a charming ring to it. Such ducks would undoubtedly be extremely polite and thoughtful. They would also be able to counsel other ducks - especially those who later turned out to be swans or those who happened to see "crispy duck" on Chinese takeaway menus.

Jennytc said...

Or those who were being bullied as 'ugly ducklings', YP.
Mick, I enjoyed your story but I don't think we would be very popular round here if Paddy did that with the local cat population!
Ian, liaten and repeat after me - 'A Flying Scotsman is a TRAIN' (Oh all-right, a steam engine.)

Ellee Seymour said...

You need to visit the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust at Welney, close to where I live, to brush up on your ornithology. I'm not too hot on it either. I would be happy to take you if you are ever in the area.

Anonymous said...

"Jenny's Quackers" has an even better ring to it ha ha ! ;oP CraigyBaby !

Jennytc said...

thanks, Ellee.

Jennytc said...

Do you think so, Craig???

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