Duck, A Gumtree

There wasn't a single duck on the lake yesterday morning. Today a large, noisy and flighty flock of mallards had gathered. The drake in my pic looks quite pleased with himself flying in the snow past the gum tree.

As we went to cross the wobbly green bridge at Fishers Green this afternoon I spotted a magpie on a muntjac buck's back. I've photographed this behaviour from a hide before but not from out in the open. It's not uncommon. The bird might have been after ticks or just using the deer as a vantage point. (Extras)