With mallard aforethought

This duck appears to be 'behaving inappropriately' to another duck, as modern parlance would put it...

Shortly afterwards, the hen duck flew off, closely followed by the importunate one.

When they returned - it was a free feast after all - the mallard had lost all interest. Presumably having had his oats he was now interested only in the wheat, barley and rye.

While I was watching, my eye was caught by a movement in the Lam brook.

It was an otter.

It was too fast, and too shy or wily, hugging the bank overhung with undergrowth too closely, to capture it in pixels, but I shall keep an eye out for it in future.