Fluffy brood spotted paddling downstream for a swimming lesson
This duck turned heads when she was spotted paddling downstream shepherding no less than 24 ducklings.
The proud mallard is rushed off her webbed feet after becoming adopted mother to another dozen offspring after having 12 of her own.
The fluffy brood were spotted gliding peacefully along the River Tone in Taunton, Somerset in the summer sunshine this week.
Flippin' quackers: A mother mallard with her 24 chicks who were out and about enjoying the summer sunshine in Taunton, Somerset
The mother duck kept a watchful eye on her adorable family who stayed close to her side as they found their way on the water.
She will spend the next eight weeks raising the staggering brood before they are old enough to fend for themselves.
Experts believe a reluctant mum left her clutch of eggs near the duck's nest in a bid to make her believe she had laid them herself.
Tony Whitehead, RSPB officer for the South West, said mallards often cared for the offspring of other birds.
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He said: 'It is extremely unlikely for the duck to have 24 of her own babies. Each clutch is usually around 12 ducklings, so this is likely to be eggs from another duck.
'Because ducks can't count they have no idea how many eggs are in their nest, so this mallard wouldn't have noticed that the number had doubled.
'They can feed themselves as soon as they leave the nest but like to stay close to mum for a while.
'Mallards quite often raise ducklings that aren't their own and sometimes even look after the offspring of other species.
'This is known as brood parasitism and mallards are known to be targets for teal, pintail and shoveler.
'It makes sense because one duck can look after two sets of eggs, while their mother goes to raise another set.'
Once ducklings have hatched their mother leads them to water - even if it is a couple of miles away. This journey is seen as the most perilous journey of a duck's life.
Once in the water they can feed themselves but still rely on their mother for warmth.
The mother duck will also protect her ducklings from attacks by other mallards.
It can take 50 to 60 days before they can fly and become independent.
This duck turned heads when she was spotted paddling downstream shepherding no less than 24 ducklings.
The proud mallard is rushed off her webbed feet after becoming adopted mother to another dozen offspring after having 12 of her own.
The fluffy brood were spotted gliding peacefully along the River Tone in Taunton, Somerset in the summer sunshine this week.
Flippin' quackers: A mother mallard with her 24 chicks who were out and about enjoying the summer sunshine in Taunton, Somerset
The mother duck kept a watchful eye on her adorable family who stayed close to her side as they found their way on the water.
She will spend the next eight weeks raising the staggering brood before they are old enough to fend for themselves.
Experts believe a reluctant mum left her clutch of eggs near the duck's nest in a bid to make her believe she had laid them herself.
Tony Whitehead, RSPB officer for the South West, said mallards often cared for the offspring of other birds.
More...
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He said: 'It is extremely unlikely for the duck to have 24 of her own babies. Each clutch is usually around 12 ducklings, so this is likely to be eggs from another duck.
'Because ducks can't count they have no idea how many eggs are in their nest, so this mallard wouldn't have noticed that the number had doubled.
'They can feed themselves as soon as they leave the nest but like to stay close to mum for a while.
'Mallards quite often raise ducklings that aren't their own and sometimes even look after the offspring of other species.
'This is known as brood parasitism and mallards are known to be targets for teal, pintail and shoveler.
'It makes sense because one duck can look after two sets of eggs, while their mother goes to raise another set.'
Once ducklings have hatched their mother leads them to water - even if it is a couple of miles away. This journey is seen as the most perilous journey of a duck's life.
Once in the water they can feed themselves but still rely on their mother for warmth.
The mother duck will also protect her ducklings from attacks by other mallards.
It can take 50 to 60 days before they can fly and become independent.
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