Mallard X Gadwall?

[Gord]

Ran into this hen and four young on Whelpton Rd in Agassiz last week. The ducklings look like young mallards but the hen looked a little off. She could be a far removed hybrid from a barnyard duck or perhaps is a direct cross between a Mallard and a Gadwall. If a Mallard was the father of the ducklings, that would explain how they look like Mallards at this point.

Any thoughts? I was not able to watch for long as she went into the grass.

(I did hear the Least Flycatcher when I went down Whorley Rd too )

[Wetlander]

Gord, great you heard the flycatcher!!!
Obviously you're more experienced at IDs than myself, but I can tell you that Gadwalls are fairly common around here for a good part of the year.