Hybrid ducks

Stayed at the beach house overnight, rather than drive back late when tired after the dinner. As per usual, I still woke early, although too late for the sunrise. Decided to take a walk to the water and see who was there.

Herons, of course, one Kawau paka (little pied shag), a few black swans, and these ducks.

The native duck, known as parera or the grey duck, has interbred with the introduced mallards, and there are many levels of hybridisation and few pure parera . Also pure mallards are uncommon. I am confident that this group of ducks, while almost certainly hybrids, have a preponderance of parera genes, from their appearance.

I have included a couple of extras. One of herons in the shallows, and the other of an aluminum run about at anchor.

Returned to Auckland early so as to do some more work with C and the boys on the garden, the deck and so on? Dinner here with friends this evening.