Mistle Thrush #40

This morning we cleared out the cupboards in one of our spare rooms. It took us a couple of hours and we now have three bags for the charity shop, one for the black bin after it is emptied tomorrow morning and a few bits of stuff that I might try on eBay at some stage. It has freed up a whole load of space but I’m sure it will soon be full up of something else :)
I reckon that the charity shops are going to be overrun with bags of stuff when this lockdown ends. Everyone will have been doing mass clear outs! 

After lunch we did some reading and then went for our exercise walk - just down to the post office, a stop in Birchfield gardens to see how the ducklings were doing and a wander back through the estate. Whilst at the little park we spied this lovely Mistle Thrush hopping around. I think it’s only the second time this year I’ve seen one. 
The ducklings from last week seem to be mostly still around - just one or two missing - it was difficult to count them as there is another brood of around 12 on the pond as well. 
We did see some odd behaviour though and I have two questions if anyone knows the answers......I’ll do some googling later as well. 
1. I have never noticed before, but a couple of the drake mallards had blue beaks - are they juveniles or is it winter colours or has it mated with another species like a tufted duck maybe?  (See extra) 
2. Would a drake mallard kill a duckling if it wasn’t it’s own? Several times we saw a drake go for a duckling, one even picked one up in its beak until the female saw and a fight ensued until it dropped it. I’ve never seen this behaviour before, but then I’ve never really stood and watched it for very long before. 

Tonight is games night again - I wonder which games I’ll be learning this week? :)