The ducklings have grown

Today I ambled across five mallard ducklings with their mother and a small community of adult males and females. They were all sitting on rocks under a footpath on the Bay Trail. Two of the ducklings were occupied with cleaning themselves. I thought it quite amusing as I watched them bump each other around. It didn't look as if the rocks made a very comfortable roosting place for them, but they were making the best of it. A little bit further on there was a pair of mallards swimming along the shore line. When they came to a narrow passage, the male took the lead. I thought it looked quite gallant on the drake's part. Wikipedia notes that the drakes and females do not stay together, but I have seen male-female pairs together on the Bay every time I take a walk. The beautiful color of the drake's head and the lovely purple feathers on the female really catch your eye. I wonder how long before the ducklings begin to take on adult plumage?