We have ducklings!

 

Saturday morning I decided to make the most of the sunshine and put in the wildflower bed I'd been procrastinating over for some time.

As I was digging I glanced up at the duck house and saw a tiny, fuzzy bundle in the doorway.  As the morning wore on more little bleary eyed ducklings made their way into the water and we counted 12 by evening.


The following morning Steve came darting into the bedroom (he's always up first) proclaiming "THERE IS BLOODY SIXTEEN!"  Convinced he'd miscounted I went outside and snapped a photo, generally the best way to count ducks as they never keep still, and he was right, sixteen.


This clutch seem to be rather different than previous ones.  They are feisty and exceptionally brave.  Happy to be on the other side of the pond from Egwina, and yesterday they followed me as I painted the garden fences.  At one point I had to stop to remove one who was sat on my boot and usher them all back to the water.  By the time I had returned to my spot and retrieved my paint brush sixteen little fur balls were once again behind me.  Eventually I had to throw food in the other side of the pond to distract them for long enough to finish my job.


Everything crossed now that the majority survive to adulthood.  More fluffy photos soon!



Comments

  1. Caroline MApril 22, 2021 at 12:35 AM

    Egwina must be one of the more well fed ducks so maybe sixteen eggs is a reflection on her condition. All that duck food must make a difference. Hopefully it will warm up before they've grown so they don't all fit under mum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A Year On The PondApril 22, 2021 at 7:54 AM

      She's certainly a happy duck. I'd been reading up on mallard clutches and 16 is rather a lot, they average around 12. I read one news story with a female sighted with over 70 ducklings! Apparently on bigger ponds they creche the little ones with one female.

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