A duck who has made a home in a puddle next to a bus stop is making quite the splash online.
Arnold the Daybrook Duck was first spotted by Owen Baxter on January 11 and now has a fan page, with followers regularly posting pictures of the Muscovy duck.
The bird was spotted hanging around near its puddle on Mansfield Road in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, in the suburb of Daybrook.
However experts have now announced that ‘Arnold’ is in fact a she, and so could potentially be bringing ducklings to The Vale bus stop come spring.
Arnold the Daybrook Duck was first spotted by Owen Baxter on January 11 and now has his own fan page, with followers regularly posting pictures of the Muscovy duck
Mr Baxter, a 43-year-old art and design technician at Nottingham Trent University, who set up the fanpage last week, said: ‘She is there almost every day around 8 or 9am.
‘I called her Arnold because she is at the stop where all the buses to Arnold go.
‘We are getting through winter, everybody is feeling a bit down, it is nice having something a bit different.
‘She brightens the morning and makes you feel a bit more cheerful. Hopefully this group brings a few people a smile.’
Sheila Wright, curator of biology at the country house Wollaton Hall, identified Arnold as a female feral duck, and believes she might have come from the nearby lake at Arnot Hill Park.
The bird was spotted hanging around near its puddle on Mansfield Road in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, in the suburb of Daybrook
However experts have now announced that ‘Arnold’ is in fact a she, and so could potentially be bringing ducklings to The Vale bus stop come spring
She added: ‘They are very common at duck ponds, along with feral Mallards.
‘The domestic Muscovy Duck breed has its origins in the wild Muscovy Duck which is native to Mexico and parts of Central and South America.’
Tim Sexton, manager at Attenborough Nature Reserve, said: ‘There was a resident Muscovy duck at Attenborough for many years who became affectionately known by the visitors as either Pasqual, Magnusina or Bryan – despite being also female!
‘It is not unknown for Muscovy ducks to hybridise with Mallards, producing Mulards – which are infertile.
‘So there could still be the patter of tiny webbed feet in the near future, even if Arnold doesn’t find a male Muscovy to mate with.’