Leeds. Ducks in England

Today we look at English and other ducks, as a topic during walking tours of places.

1. Spotting ducks.  They are treated well in England, when they are not destined for the pot. A focus is good for tranquil walks. Duck spotting is tranquil, leads to unexpected plumage, requires stops, photos, and look-ups later. It also leads to appreciation of habitats. The English are kind to their web-footed friends in protected habitats. In the US, we are limited in populated areas, it seems, to protecting only mallards and Canada geese, and signs to please do not feed. England offers ducks everywhere, in Kensington Gardens, London; at castles, back roads, on grounds.
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Leeds Castle, England. Mallard ducks




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To identify ducks, visit http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/bekindto. Increase the volume. Remember the song about your web-footed friends and somebody's mother.
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Muscovy Duck, Leeds Castle, England

















The one with the red on top of the beak looks like a Muscovy, see http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/poultry/ducks/index.


2.  Ducks in literature.

• Ping: "Things are kind of cramped on the boat in the Yangtze River where Ping the duck lives with his parents, siblings and 42 cousins. That makes it all the more exciting when one day Ping wanders off all by himself." That sentence from Kidsreads: at "The Story About Ping." #45.
• Make Way for Ducklings:  There was a duckling-caused traffic jam in the Boston Gardens - "Make Way for Ducklings" at same list (Kidsreads.com, above) #5. 
•  Plenty of ducks, see Dab Dab from Dr. Doolittle, and many more, at http://modernfarmer.com/2015/06/literary-ducks/

3.  Aria ducks.
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Stop, find a bench, talk about old books, rest your feet. Sing softly, about Little Ducky Duddle, at http://www.pipergrove.com/Lyrics_123.?
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 Sing that one at #11. Etc.
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