The incredible photographs were taken after the huge bird swooped on one of the little chicks and plucked it from the surface of the water.

The female mallard was then seen launching an attack on the gull, fighting the predator off mid-air.

Incredibly, the mother managed to fend off the gull, prising her baby away from the animal's beak and leaving the bird to fly off without its prey.

The photographs were taken in a private reserve in Cambridgeshire by Terry McKenna, a 73-year-old former local radio presenter from Peterborough.

He said: 'It was quite a dramatic moment. Above all, I was hoping the brave mother rescued her chick and made sure it was unharmed.

'Spring is a very dangerous time for young birds, especially when predatory birds have their young to feed.

'I've watched gulls take mallard chicks on many occasions but I've never seen a parent successfully rescue a youngster from a predator.

'I had, I felt, watched a rare episode of natural wildlife behaviour and one which had a happy ending for the victims.'

Mr McKenna has had an interest in animal photography from a young age but, after discovering his camera wasn't up to a high standard, he used to sketch on his pad.

He said: 'I've always been interested in wildlife. 

'Even as youngster I would wander alone through nearby woods & fields watching birds and animals.

'I would carry a drawing pad & pencil with me and sketch what I saw.

'Later on I started using modest film cameras but it became easier to develop my interest with the arrival of digital cameras.

'Ever since, I've visited nature reserves where I live and they've provided me with opportunities to photograph wildlife in all its many aspects.'

Mr McKenna took the pictures on his current camera - a Canon 7D MKll with a 400mm lens.

(dailystar.co.uk)