Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...

969 replies

AlanThePig · 18/10/2020 15:12

Some of you might recall we have a rather large pond in our garden. On it we have a pair of ducks. First day of lockdown appeared ten, beautiful ducklings. They grew up, flew away and that was that until next spring.

Except I woke up to this......
There are ten more (seven in this photo) and I can only assume the warm weather has thoroughly confused her.

I'm now going spend the next few months fretting over bloody wildlife.

NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...
OP posts:
Thread gallery
87
TheSilveryPussycat · 03/02/2021 17:48

I could watch that all day.
I'm looking forward to A Year of the Pond???

RandomMess · 03/02/2021 16:29

Awesome 🤩

Horsemad · 03/02/2021 16:11

Aaah, that's brilliant! ♥️

Original poster
AlanThePig · 03/02/2021 15:23

Hello all. This was January!

OP posts:
RedRosie · 01/02/2021 17:44

I've never met a swan that didn't make me nervous.

Beautiful though.

On balance, ducks are cuter 🦆🦆🦆🦆

TheSilveryPussycat · 31/01/2021 18:00

Get a wave machine for the pond?

Original poster
AlanThePig · 31/01/2021 15:03

[quote moonbells]Another duck story - this one's hilarious!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-55836596[/quote]
Oh my God thats brilliant!
I need one!

OP posts:
moonbells · 31/01/2021 14:38

Another duck story - this one's hilarious!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-55836596

Original poster
AlanThePig · 29/01/2021 23:33

I am minded toward "if it's not broke don't fix it" to be fair. Swans would be lovely but I think you're probably right. Territorial and a lot of work.

OP posts:
MaggieFS · 29/01/2021 23:25

Be careful what you wish for...swans can be bloody viscous!

Original poster
AlanThePig · 29/01/2021 19:24

All four are here at present. Some scrapping going on at mealtimes but they seem to rub along together reasonably well. I don’t expect them here after tomorrow, we’ve had a severe weather warning for snow again tomorrow

I was reading earlier how to attract swans. Amusingly you can buy decoys. When we first moved here there were no ducks, so, much to Dhs amusement and utter piss taking, I bought a decoy pair of mallards. Within two weeks Duncan and Weena appeared.
I mentioned a decoy swan earlier and he laughed at me. I reminded him of the decoy ducks and he’s now more worried than amused. He’s probably changing the eBay password as I type.....Grin

OP posts:
Ladywinesalot · 29/01/2021 15:54

Ohhh I love a good duck story! X

BarbarasStripedHands · 29/01/2021 15:25

I really don't like swans. They scare me.

Beautiful photo - here's hoping for a thaw and the ducks to be back.

forrestgreen · 27/01/2021 19:47

That photo needs to be next years Xmas card. So lovely

Original poster
AlanThePig · 27/01/2021 18:45

@Knotaknitter

You need a good hearty meal inside you when it's cold.

You have plenty of space, what's the thinking on a second duck palace rather than an extension on the existing one? I know nothing about ducks, is the pond large enough to support two breeding pairs? (I can aim big, it's not me that's feeding them)

I feel used 😂

Thoughts are, refurb existing house with new polystyrene to even it up and then make the all singing all dancing one as well.
It's stalled a bit. Cant get current house out (still frozen) and DH is at a court type thing with work this week so still not sorted his wood order.

Should be ok with a few breeding pairs. I've been digging into the pond history this week, discovered a huge amount now, but one of the things thats come to light is it was home for many years to a pair of swans.

I have now upped my expectations. I demand a swan! 😂

OP posts:
Knotaknitter · 27/01/2021 18:13

You need a good hearty meal inside you when it's cold.

You have plenty of space, what's the thinking on a second duck palace rather than an extension on the existing one? I know nothing about ducks, is the pond large enough to support two breeding pairs? (I can aim big, it's not me that's feeding them)

RandomMess · 27/01/2021 17:31

Awwwwww 🥰

kerryleigh · 27/01/2021 16:28

Awww! thank you for the photo. So beautiful!

Original poster
AlanThePig · 27/01/2021 16:14

@kerryleigh

It's a joy to come here for updates Smile Hope everybody's doing fine: you, the ducks, the fox and the badger Smile Flowers
Not had much to report of late. We’re still frozen so no resident ducks, although Egwina and Duncan turned up for tea last night, ate twice as much as usual and buggered off again. Presumably to a none frozen pond
NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...
OP posts:
kerryleigh · 27/01/2021 16:06

It's a joy to come here for updates Smile Hope everybody's doing fine: you, the ducks, the fox and the badger Smile Flowers

Indoctro · 21/01/2021 22:00

Just read this whole thread, it's lovely .

RandomMess · 21/01/2021 21:13

Wonder if you near my eldest!! They tried to evacuate her at 2.30am but they slept through the emergency services banging on the door! Fortunately they didn't flood, snow has melted and water receded a bit!

RedRosie · 21/01/2021 20:17

Hurrah for the fox! 🦊

I hope you don't flood ... I think it's calmer overnight and tomorrow?

Original poster
AlanThePig · 21/01/2021 12:11

We had snow again last night, which was somewhat interesting as it was the middle of Storm Christoph and raining like I've never seen it rain. This suddenly turned to snow around 9pm.
This was good because it meant when I went out to feed the ducks this morning I noticed a set of tracks in the general direction the fox travels. Came in, studied the CCTV and there he was. Great relief. Even better, a friend captured old badge on her CCTV in the night so looks like the trappers didn't get them.

The water levels are increasing dramatically. I've been taking a photo a day and the difference daily is worrying to say the least. It's not flooded yet, but I admit it's starting to concern me more than my usual jokes about it.

In other news a lady sent me a photo of the pond from the 60's yesterday. It's fabulous to see the area before the estate and I've managed to work out the exact spot it was taken from. I posted it up on the blog.

Ducks all present and correct too!

Added a photo of the end of the pier taken from CCTV as it's a camera that doesn't change position. The difference in that level was 24 hours..

NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...
OP posts:
BarbarasStripedHands · 19/01/2021 22:38

Sad news about the fox and the badger.

I suspect you'll have a whole duck village in the spring and you may need more than one house!

Swipe left for the next trending thread