The stream by the boardwalk in Summerside was busy earlier this month. A pair of mallards, male and female, were busy feeding in the stream near the entrance to the bay.
The two were inseparable, as they swam the length of the stream to the bridge. My husband and I wondered if they were the same pair who appeared in the stream last spring after the ice melted.
On a recent visit to the gazebo which overlooks the stream, one of the ducks was chased by a muskrat.
After a minute or two, the duck turned and chased the muskrat which swam away as the duck turned. We watched for a few minutes at the two animals at play. I took numerous photos but didn’t manage to take a focussed shot.
Another day, the mallards had friends come to visit.
Six black ducks shared the stream with the mallards, without any concern for territory or conflict. Since both species are dabbling ducks, there were times when eight heads disappeared below water.
Synchronized dabbling!