Photo by Andy Molloy
The ducks are emerging from roosts along the Kennebec River.

At dawn Tuesday flock of mallards were dipping in an eddy. One by one, the ducks popped into the air, flew in a circle and descended again among the flock.

The creatures often fly in braces of up to a 50 when rallied. I observed the sord for a few minutes as individual hens shot into the air and, after emitting a few feeding chuckles, dropped back to the river. Odd behavior for birds that tend to congregate and fly with groups.

The light shifted as the sun rose. A large swarm of bugs became apparent as they hatched on the river among the fowl.

Aquatic insects, on or beneath the surface, are a staple of a duck's diet.

Apparently, the Kennebec mallards were attempting to catch flies on the wing.