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Ducking and Diving
The Tides Reach Hotel at South Sands, Salcombe, Devon features a fresh water pond some 40 yards from the high tide mark. The pond is constantly refreshed by a small stream and is home to 54 Chinesse carp and 30 or so Mallard drakes and ducks.
In May, the majority of the ducks were upstream, privately hatching their broods. The drakes, their allotted task fulfilled, were lazing around the pond, although the odd one was still wooing and hoping to win. The pond to the sea side is sheltered by a wall and a 10ft high hedge; to the north stands the hotel, abnd the remainder is screened by trees some 30ft high. All attempts to land on the pond into the standard off-shore breeze are tricky, requiring a high approach over the trees, followed by a rapid descent into the turbulence created by the protective hedge, on to a target that is less than 50yds long.
On the day in question, the off-shore breeze had given way to a force 7 gale, which meant that most of the drakes wisely remained grounded. The ducks were otherwise involved. However, in mid-morning, a drake appeared over the trees and was seen to be flying hard into the gale. He dropped like a stone into the shelter of the trees, reduced his now considerable forward momentum wwith some dextrous wing work, and landed winthin a yard of the front edge of the pond, veering hard left as he did so to avoid hitting the bank. The safe landing was most skillfully done, but it was a damn near thing.
Moments later, an attempt by a duck was much less masterly and at the very last second she overshot, to be followed immediately by a second duck that suffered a similar fate. Each made two more approaches, trying different techniques, but never managing to beat the tricky wind conditions and always overshooting in good time to clear the hedge. Throughout, the drake looked on anxiously, getting progressively more agitated. After the sixth overshoot, the drake launched himslef into the air.
Some two minutes later, a Vic-formation of thee appeared, with the drake leading the two ducks. The approach was good considering the condition and the drake wqould surely have made it safely; perhaps he was stronger, perhaps his wing area greater, perhaps his power to decelerate was better, but as the round out approached his ladies started to go high on the critical flight path and were in danger of crash landing. The drake saw their problem immediately and he elected to overshoot the formation, guiding it to a safe landing in the sea immediatley on the wrong side of the hedge.
Five minutes later, the drake waddled into view, followed by the two ducks. Squawking loudly, they padded across the road, round the trees and along the footpath into the pond. The drake was still very much in command of his small harem, with his swagger and general manner indicating that he was giving a very thorough debrief. Here was a sound lesson for all who fly. In extreme conditions, there had been no dying accidents.
There are obviously some days when a safe approach is impossible. On such days, an alternative safe recovery must be found. We could all learn about flying from that.