Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

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

Unflip

1 2 ··· 18 19 20 ··· 38 39

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

Soubriquet · 21/12/2020 12:22

I’m so glad they are doing well!

Original poster

AlanThePig · 21/12/2020 12:18

Afternoon all.
Happy to report in that all are well and the second moult is going ahead. Consequently the pond looks like someone exploded a duvet and the ducklings look neglected again.

Lots of wing flapping going on again and a few attempts to fly but nothing I’ve been able to catch on camera.

Had a lovely Christmas card from a neighbour that really touched me, thanking us for everything we’ve done to bring back the wildlife etc and make it look nice again. Bit choked by that, makes all the weeding in the rain worth it ☺️

I shall endeavour for a Christmas Day photo. I can’t see them going anywhere just yet...

OP posts:

RedRosie · 19/12/2020 21:47

@AlanThePig £35! You are very indulgent and totally being taken advantage of ...

Can we have a photo of them on Christmas Day? I'd like to share that.

RandomMess · 19/12/2020 12:39

How inconsiderate of them!!

All that racket before sunrise at the very least.

rainbowstardrops · 19/12/2020 11:08

Oh bless them!!!! I check in pretty much every day for updates because this is probably the loveliest thread I've ever read!

Original poster

AlanThePig · 19/12/2020 10:16

@RedRosie

I expect they are bubbling with you for Christmas *@AlanThePig*

I spent £35 on food for them again yesterday so that’s their Christmas gift😂

Anyway, 6am I was woken by a ruckus. Squinting out of the window I can just make out in the dark the water in waves. It’s then I see they are doing the flying practice. Loudly. In the dark. At 6am.
Clearly they are very confused.

OP posts:

RedRosie · 19/12/2020 10:11

I expect they are bubbling with you for Christmas @AlanThePig

BarbarasStripedHands · 18/12/2020 21:49

Maybe they know it's Christmas next week and they'll be having a feast?
Or maybe they know they've got it good living in your pond, so they're going to all remain celibate and see out their days with you.

Original poster

AlanThePig · 18/12/2020 21:27

Geese went but we’re back earlier. The ducks don’t seem too bothered by them. Not see weena or Duncan for a couple of days now either so unsure where they ducked off too.

I think they might be later leaving though as flight practice isn’t really happening yet.

OP posts:

RandomMess · 18/12/2020 20:57

I've realised that they could be gone in a week!!! What will we do without the quackdates??

BarbarasStripedHands · 18/12/2020 20:52

Oh I hate Canada geese.
I hope your ducks are taking no shit from them.

Original poster

AlanThePig · 16/12/2020 19:50

When they first came last year we did feed them. I found I was out every night flicking shit back in the pond. There was lots of it and it was all up the front path and being trodden in the house. Then when we opened the door to go out they started to become quite threatening. Last straw was one of them going at Duncan because he’d come over for his lunch.

On the odd occasion they do turn up now we pretty much ignore. These could possibly be the same ones from before as they seem to know the food drill and head over if they see us, we are however feeding the ducks away from them.

They are comical though I’ll give them that. Before they fly off they sit on the bank and appear to have a loud conversation as if discussing which way to fly. Then after all this shouting they go.

OP posts:

Babysharkdoodoodood · 16/12/2020 18:29

I fecking hate geese. Have a scar on my arse where I got pecked/savaged by one when I was a kid.

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 16/12/2020 16:36

'They all start quacking excitedly and followed me up the drive.'

Aah that is pure Duck love 🦆❤️

VinylCafe · 16/12/2020 16:17

Oh dear...Canada Geese... As a Canadian, I apologize for those Cobra Chickens! I saw a video of one of them standing up to a bull!

iwantmyownicecreamvan · 16/12/2020 11:38

Or is it word of bill?

Soubriquet · 16/12/2020 11:36

Word of beak has obviously gotten around.

Katinski · 16/12/2020 11:09

This has got to be my most beautiful thread EVER
Thank you OP for sharing

Original poster

AlanThePig · 16/12/2020 11:08

@WildRosie

Not a fan of Canada geese then. I know they're quite vocal and messy but they are handsome birds. I expect they'll go when THEY feel like it. Be prepared for more of them in the meantime.

We only ever get two, they are soundly ignored and usually bog off after a day or two as I refuse to feed them. They are loud, bully the ducks and shit all over the garden not to mention try and go for us if we're in the garden. We don't encourage them.

OP posts:

WildRosie · 16/12/2020 11:03

Not a fan of Canada geese then. I know they're quite vocal and messy but they are handsome birds. I expect they'll go when THEY feel like it. Be prepared for more of them in the meantime.

Original poster

AlanThePig · 16/12/2020 10:41

We have visitors. I’m not feeding them and they can piss off back to whence they came. 😂

OP posts:

101namesforme · 14/12/2020 22:45

What a lovely picture, they look fully grown-up! It will be sad when they go.

Original poster

AlanThePig · 14/12/2020 15:13

@Soubriquet

Aww I’ll bet you’ll miss them when they go and counting down the days when a new clutch will appear

My MIL said this earlier, we'd walked over Tesco together and when we got back they were waiting for me. They all start quacking excitedly and followed me up the drive. MIL thought it hilarious and said what a shame they will all go and I'd miss them. And I shall, you are both right.

Not seen Duncan and Egwina today, not that this lot need them now anyway. I expect they will be home for tea 😂

OP posts:

Soubriquet · 14/12/2020 14:40

Aww I’ll bet you’ll miss them when they go and counting down the days when a new clutch will appear

Original poster

AlanThePig · 14/12/2020 13:55

Still not managed to get a video but did manage to capture lots of wing stretching earlier. I assume they are trying to up their strength for their eventual departure.

OP posts:

Unflip

1 2 ··· 18 19 20 ··· 38 39