Sitting ducks: How a mother bird made her lazy brood of ducklings walk the plank



A mother duck was captured tipping her brood into the water after her five chicks attempted to take a rest on a floating plank of wood.

The adorable ducklings delighted onlookers at Tymon Park in Dublin last week when one cheekily hopped onto the driftwood, prompting his siblings to follow suit.



But their mother was less than impressed at their antics, and on spotting them aboard their makeshift raft, used her beak to flip it over, tipping the fluffy youngsters into the water.



Cheeky duckling: The plucky youngster hops onto a floating plank of wood for a rest

Local wildlife photographer Paul Hughes, 38, had visited the park pond to see what he could spot, getting more than he bargained for.

'I've photographed a lot of bird-life in the area and I've never seen ducklings as lazy as these before.'



The mother of the ducks - Divers - had been keeping a close watch on her five chicks wary of predators looking for an easy lunch.

Ducks out of water: The brave chick is quickly joined by his siblings on the makeshift raft

Walking the plank: The mother duck spots her lazy brood aboard the plank and flips them into the water

Water wings: The mother bird has her ducklings back in the pond where they belong