Duck Tales! (Still not what I expected to wake up to this morning)

[AlanThePig]

With the last thread almost full and a new clutch of ducklings I thought it might be time for another thread.

So this morning I was happily working away in the front garden when I happened to glance at the duck house, and saw two faces staring back....
Now I know our resident duck Egwina was on eggs, but I was convinced they were due to hatch somewhere around the end of the month. Quite surprised to spot ducklings.

As the day has worn on 14 little fluffy yellow ducklings have slowly emerged into the sunlight and launched themselves (not very gracefully) into the water. I say 14, I'm not 100% certain yet as they aren't keeping still enough to count and there might be more inside.

Difficult to photograph all together at present as some are in and some are out and they haven't yet come close enough to see. There was 12 (I think!) in this photo and 2 on the deck.
Congratulations Egwina!

Lovely couple. Is that 2 of their babies I can see.

If it helps, this is a link to the previous thread.
It started last year when we were surprised to wake up to very late, autumn ducklings:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/4054078-NOT-what-I-expected-to-wake-up-to-this-morning

I’ve seen people post pictures and videos of the river ducks with their babies

Some are yellow! I love little yellow ducklings

@Soubriquet

I’ve seen people post pictures and videos of the river ducks with their babies

Some are yellow! I love little yellow ducklings

I assume different breeds are different colours maybe?

At least she'll have no trouble keeping them all fed, not with such well trained staff.

Quack!

I was always under the assumption that yellow ducklings grow into white ducks

Around here it’s common to see the normal mallard duck with her group of ducklings and the odd yellow duckling, and the white duck with the odd two or three normal two coloured ducklings.

Oh how lovely 🦆❤️

How fabulous

14 😱 🦆

I bloody love these type of threads. It's just what we all need right now.

So happy to see the new arrivals

We saw a mum with 3 ducklings in our local canal today, I love this time of year. We have 3 pairs.of.swans nearby all day on nests so we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of some cygnets

Yay! More duckling shenanigans to cheer up our spring!

Didn't realise you were on Instagram too, you've got a new follower ☺️

@NoGoodPunsLeft

Didn't realise you were on Instagram too, you've got a new follower ☺️

I started one specifically for the pond really as my very long suffering real life friends probably got more than a bit fed up of 'duck photo', 'oooh look at this toad!' etc I think I also mentioned in the last thread I take a photo daily from the security cameras which eventually I intend to knit together to show the whole year on the pond with the trees and the water levels rising and falling.

All quiet tonight. I seem to be losing the battle of the geese as despite having virtually nowhere accessible to sit and graze they are still bloody here, floating around, being all goosey and annoying.

All ducklings were trooped into the house reasonably early on and I've not seen Egwina since so I think they are probably all tucked up for the night now. Would think tomorrow she might venture them a little closer for food and then hopefully I can see exactly how many we have and get some photos.

Definitely 12 in the water here, one on the deck and there was one out of view in the door when I took this so there are at least 14 for now. This is the biggest clutch she’s had so far!

14!
Well done Egwina.

"Being all goosey and annoying" 😂

Another new follower on instagram here.

Gooseys are incapable of being annoying, they're adorable.

@GreyhoundG1rl

Gooseys are incapable of being annoying, they're adorable.

To some extent I agree. My MIL in very much in the pro goose camp as well but she’s not had to listen to the song of their people at 4am...

The problem is, although this is a huge pond for a garden it’s not huge in the scheme of things. There is a really fine balance with grasses and plants that keeps everything ticking over. When the geese turn up they strip those grasses which in turn affects the dragon flies, tear out the lily pads which affects the frogs, eat wild flowers etc. If this were a big pond it could happily support both but it’s not.

Added to this they get ridiculously territorial. I open the front door and there is a large angry hissing male there. I could imagine how that would be if they had goslings as well. They already snap at the resident ducks from time to time.

They are fascinating though and the way they ‘speak’ to each other is just amazing. They have a proper conversation before they fly off as if discussing where they are going.

All in all there are much better goose nesting sites to be had, they just need reminding of this occasionally.

Congratulations Egwina! I hope Duncan is taking on his fair share of night feeds

Yay, new little ducklings! Well done Egwina! I hope Duncan steps up though

Local duck pond see the mallards have ducklings each year. Six a couple of weeks ago (one appears not to have survived) but 12 or 14 (whichever it is) is amazing.

Oh this has made my day! I read the previous thread this morning and got to the end and was like THERE ARE MORE DUCKLINGS!!! Best thing I've read on MN in ages. Going to take my son to the local park this afternoon and see if we can find any .

I can confirm there has been a miscount. There are not fourteen ducklings.
There are SIXTEEN ducklings.

Ordering food as I type 😂