Two endangered male ducks have disappointed breeders at a nature reserve by taking a shine to each other.

‘Ben’ and ‘Jerry’ are two of only 600 New Zealand Blue Ducks left worldwide.

Staff at the Wetlands Trust in West Sussex were hoping either or both of the drakes would start courting the Trust’s only other Blue Duck, a female called Cherry, but the pair have both shunned her.

The Chester Chronicle reports that Cherry now swims sadly by herself at the other end of the pond.

“Jerry and Ben just haven’t stopped flirting,” says spokeswoman for the Wetlands Trust Grace Rawnsley. “The fact they have turned out to be gay has played havoc with our breeding plans.

“The moment they met they swam up to each other and chased one another around. Then they started headbobbing and mirroring each other’s movements – all classic courtship routines.

“There is no doubt Ben and Jerry consider themselves a couple. But even though their antics are fun to watch, and the visitors love them, we are rather disappointed.”