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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:
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Original poster
AlanThePig · 29/12/2020 17:01

@101namesforme

Have you still got five?
We have, and still no sign of Egwina and Duncan.
OP posts:
101namesforme · 29/12/2020 16:58

Have you still got five?

Original poster
AlanThePig · 29/12/2020 14:13

Snow has stopped but it's bitterly cold. I've broken some ice away from around the duck house by leaning off the pier and smacking it with a brush. We've apparently got more forecast later.
I cant see them flying anywhere just yet, they are huddled and I expect them to stay until its warmed up a bit.

OP posts:
CosyAcorn · 29/12/2020 12:59

How have I only just seen this thread, it's perfectly lovely!

Hope the ducks don't get too cold in the snow!

LadyEloise · 29/12/2020 12:53

Thats great, thank you @AlanThePig

Original poster
AlanThePig · 29/12/2020 11:39

@RandomMess

This thread is on borrowed time Sad

Perhaps you can do a winter and then spring watch?

My friend has convinced me to start a blog and use it to show the pond over a year. I’ve created an Instagram as well as I think Ive bored my friends to death now 😂 I will of course start a new thread here, might not be all ducks though, just general pond life.
OP posts:
RandomMess · 29/12/2020 10:53

This thread is on borrowed time Sad

Perhaps you can do a winter and then spring watch?

Original poster
AlanThePig · 29/12/2020 10:36

@BendyLikeBeckham

In my head I have the nursery rhyme song: 5 little ducks went swimming one day...Xmas Grin
Well that's todays ear worm now Xmas Grin

Snowing heavily again here today, the channels they forged to the door yesterday are frozen over again so DH had braved the blizzard to hang off the pier and throw some food into the small patch of clear water. I thought he was going to kill me when I said 'whilst you're out there can you clear the bird tables and put some seed out'. He's now defrosting with a coffee.

I was planning a walk around town today but looking at the weather I'm staying right where I am.

OP posts:
userxx · 29/12/2020 09:51

Look how the babies have grown!!

BendyLikeBeckham · 29/12/2020 09:48

In my head I have the nursery rhyme song: 5 little ducks went swimming one day...Xmas Grin

MaggieFS · 28/12/2020 15:15

Ooooh - proper snow!

BiteyShark · 28/12/2020 15:13

I have been lurking for ages but just wanted to say this is one of my favourite threads ever 😍

RedRosie · 28/12/2020 14:42

I hope they've fledged @AlanThePig ... Although I wanted to watch them forever ... Do keep updating! Perhaps they'll come back and start another generation in a year or two. All the free food and internet fame ... Grin

LadyEloise · 28/12/2020 14:20

Your pond looks so lovely.
How nice to wake up to that.

Original poster
AlanThePig · 28/12/2020 13:59

Just been over for lunch. Dot is on the left.

NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...
OP posts:
rainbowstardrops · 28/12/2020 13:17

Oh bless them!!!! I don't want them to go though! 😂

Horsemad · 28/12/2020 11:10

Gorgeous photos AlanThePig. 🙂

Original poster
AlanThePig · 28/12/2020 10:08

@WildRosie

Looks chilly! I might be crossing a line here but a firm in Cornwall called Aquatic Consultancy does the electro-fishing thing I referred to. I appreciate they aren't local to you but they may be able to point you to a similar company. Just don't forget to get the ducks out first!
I think at this point we accept what it is and just try and keep it as natural as possible, but thank you.

In other news we now only have five. I assume two have fledged. Duncan and Egwina were here last night and aren't now so looks like they left with them. Meanwhile the remaining five have crafted a route through the ice 😂

NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...
OP posts:
WildRosie · 28/12/2020 09:48

Looks chilly! I might be crossing a line here but a firm in Cornwall called Aquatic Consultancy does the electro-fishing thing I referred to. I appreciate they aren't local to you but they may be able to point you to a similar company. Just don't forget to get the ducks out first!

BendyLikeBeckham · 28/12/2020 09:41

Wow, that looks stunningly beautiful, OP. I am so envious!

Don't worry about the cat, they are way big and bold enough now to see off any cat brave enough to try. And a cat wouldn't try on the water anyway. The pond will be warmer than the ground and air around it, so they'll keep in the water to stay warm.

Original poster
AlanThePig · 28/12/2020 09:15

They are a bit scared of the ice. Currently all under the willow tree in the only place it’s not frozen.
I’m lying in bed thinking I’m going to have to get up and try and break the ice a bit around the pier to get them away from the edge of the water incase that cat appears but it’s bloody cold and I’m cosy.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 28/12/2020 09:00

Wow!!
So pretty!!! Will be interesting to see if they try and come in the house...

Original poster
AlanThePig · 28/12/2020 08:33

Well. Seven ducks will have cold feet today!

NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...
OP posts:
WildRosie · 27/12/2020 19:36

When marine biologists et al need to remove fish from a stretch of water, they zap it with a mild electric current so the fish are stunned (not killed) and they float to the surface. However, we are now approaching the realms of silliness and likely large expense. But if the goldfish keep on breeding and interbreeding, you'll never get rid of them, no matter how many herons and kingfishers you invite round. Maybe asking your coarse-fishing neighbour to come back might be the only way to get the goldfish away and into your other neighbour's ornamental pond.

Original poster
AlanThePig · 27/12/2020 18:33

@RandomMess

Sounds like you need a pond day where it gets fished (local anglers club?) you stick them in loads of tubs etc and the anglers help you identify and only put back the native species???
Our neighbour has fished it, he identified roach, rudd and goldfish 😂 It's naturally weedy with a huge crop of waterlily as well so not really idea to fish.
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