Back in Summer 22, we were visited most days when we standing at the Dorset Wildlife Trust gazebo at the entrance to the main track on the DWT reserve by a family of Mallards. Mum would bring the three half grown ducklings right up to our feet in the hope they would get fed. As the Summer wore on, they tended to spend most of their time on the adjacent National Trust track, where presumably they were better fed. Mum and the ducklings were fearless as this Blog Post showed. We did see the Mallards during the following Summer, however, understandably we weren't allowed on the island during the Avian Flu period from mid Jun to mid Aug 23.
Mallard: These Mallards are perfect models to introduce visitors to the reserve to the fun of taking mobile photos at a Mallard's eye level
There was a second female Mallard with a couple of younger ducklings.
Given the behaviour compared to Summer 22, then it feels likely that one or both of the adult females are individuals that visited us back in Summer 22.
Hopefully, we will see these Mallards regularly next Summer.