We had a stroll around the National Trust's Longshaw Estate on a chilly January morning. At least for once, it wasn't raining. We wanted to see the Mandarin ducks again on the estate pond.
When we arrived, we found the males fighting over the females. It's that time of year again!
You wouldn't think something so beautiful had it in them. It was odd seeing this side to them.
Mandarin ducks were a symbol of lasting love in ancient China. In reality, the male only stays with the female until the chick's are born. Next season, they will couple up with a different female. Source
After a few spats, calm was restored on the pond.
Here, there's miles of countryside walks on the trails, ponds, wildlife to see, a cafe, and a visitor centre that all makes an interesting day out.
