Sad day

We live near to a river and have regular visits from ducks. Many of them were born in or near to our garden and regularly come back to us (it might be all the food we put out for them! )

One duck, a large, pure white male, used to come every summer, during mating time. He clearly knew there were plenty of females about.

About 5 or 6 years ago, he decided to stay and make this his home. He's a big fella and always at the front of the queue for feeding. He would happily eat out of my hand (in fact, he liked it, because that way he got more!) and would let me give his beak a friendly shake.

Over the last year or so he developed a limp (we put it down to age and arthritus) but it certainly didn't stop him coming - dashing up to the house at feeding time. He would try to climb onto our door step, but was too big and lame to manage it. We called him Mr White.

Anyway, he didn't come this morning and I assumed he'd wandered off, down river, which he sometimes did. But he still hadn't arrived by the afternoon, so I had a walk down to the river to have a look for him.

I found him dead, on the water. I think he must have died in his sleep. He was damaged where his head hung in the water - I assume from fish / insects - but otherwise intact.

We buried him at the bottom of the garden.

He will be greatly missed........