More than a dozen mallards were seen floating in water-filled ditches, sunning themselves or searching for food along County Road 24 this week. The waterfowl typically forms pairs in the fall, when the female lays eggs at the start of nesting season which is around the beginning of spring. Then, the female or hen, is is left by the male, or drake, who joins up with other males to await the moulting period, which normally begins in June. Very few ducks this week were spotted alone.