What caused this mysterious wet patch?

[EggBoxes]

As for most of us, yesterday was very hot and dry, so I was surprised to notice a wet patch in the front garden, almost but not quite, a puddle. This was about 5pm. It had a bit of an oily glaze to it, and was about the area of a plastic bag. The leaves on the side of the privet hedge near the patch were also visible wet. The liquid was odourless and tasteless, but felt a bit oily.

Can anyone explain what this was?

Was the wet patch somewhere where a car could have been parked over it? If so it could have been dripping condensation from air con. That wouldn't explain the leaves though

@DishingOutDone
@Agapantson

@ValleyoftheTrolls

Do you live in Salisbury?

I hadn’t thought of that 😬

Could it be a greasy patch that under normal conditions is camouflaged by moisture on the surrounding surface and its only because it was super hot and dry yesterday that you noticed it?

Phew - made it through the whole post without mentioning the tasting thing .................... ooops.

No where near an overflow pipe from the roof?

Nope, unfortunately not.

Animal marking

That was one of our first thoughts, given the height of the liquid up the leaves. However, the dog just wasn't interested and it didn't smell and no animals triggered the camera.

Abandoned ice sculpture

I was going to say that this fits the facts, but the camera would have picked up the delivery person.

Was the wet patch underneath the leaves?

Nope, the wet patch and leaves are adjacent, and the leaves are only wet near this wet patch.

Was the wet patch somewhere where a car could have been parked over it?

No, well away from any vehicles.

I think either a very, very slow leak from below(??) or, more likely, something from above is most likely.

Well if it's any comfort I wonder this most days but not about puddles in my garden.

Could it be a greasy patch that under normal conditions is camouflaged by moisture on the surrounding surface and its only because it was super hot and dry yesterday that you noticed it?

Yes, I think so, but that doesn't explain the leaves being noticeably wet in this area only (and at the end of a very hot day).

OP from the use of the word "Aye" I deduce that you are Scottish! Further than that I can't help, but I'm dead proud of you for licking your path!! (Even though you didn't!) 'Mon the Scots!!!

@BluebellsareBlue

OP from the use of the word "Aye" I deduce that you are Scottish! Further than that I can't help, but I'm dead proud of you for licking your path!! (Even though you didn't!) 'Mon the Scots!!!

It’s unicorn wee

If it was humid where you are could there be something on the path and leaves that attracts water from the atmosphere? Salt or something.
Hygroscopic.

You tasted unknown fluids in your garden....😵

Sounds like antifreeze which is fatal to animals.

Am I the only one apart from the OP who doesn’t find the tasting strange ? My DH might do that.
I love a little mystery like this, and agree that if the moisture is on the upper sides of leaves and the ground in the same place, it must have come from above.
Lots of flight paths have changed due to Covid.
The oiliness could be a red herring as the ground could have already been oily. Sewage can be oily, but would smell, and not be on the leaves.

How high are the leaves ?
Is this a shadier spot where some rain might not have dried, but would have dried elsewhere?
I really think we need a drawing now. 😁

I reckon someone spilled their vial of wittiness potion, because you've made me guffaw multiple times, OP. "JOCOSUS HILARIOSUM!"

I'd be thinking cat wee.
We sometimes get a puddle - a bloody massive puddle I might add - in our downstairs loo when it's raining and I invariably panic the roof is leaking, and every time it's been Senior Furry Member Of The Household not wanting to go out in the tipping rain.
It does not necessarily smell or taste.

Am I the only one apart from the OP who doesn’t find the tasting strange ? My DH might do that. So, that's me, your DH, Ray and someone up thread whose name I'm afraid I've forgotten. Only four of us responsible for causing the pandemic?

@BluebellsareBlue tempted though I am, I'm afraid I cannot claim Scottish blood. I'm from North Yorkshire and have a pretty broad accent.

@Lambside If it was humid where you are could there be something on the path and leaves that attracts water from the atmosphere? Salt or something. It is somewhere I would have gritted in the winter, but not since 2019.

Op you are funny. This is weird, but entertaining.

NB cat wee is slightly oily to the touch, esp. tom cat wee.
I've cleaned up enough to know.

Could it be a patch of evil bubbling up from a portal to hell? Now that you’ve tasted it have you had any desire to speak in tongues?

It's pelicans.

They load up their beaky bags with fish and, obviously, a certain amount of water as well.

A loaded pelican passing overhead was startled by something like an eagle or possibly a helicopter, gasped in shock and inadvertently shed its load. When the coast was clear it swooped down and scooped it all up again.

Mystery solved.

@WankmasterBastardDeLaShithead I've had a real laugh at some of the replies too (after initial disbelief at how people were extrapolating).

Dh is absolutely right. We'd have had this in the car or on a playground or eating lunch... it would have been a terrible day all round. We ate going to walk to a park later on and do a big day out in the week.

Could it have been seagull wee? I was once weed on by a seagull and it didn't smell but definitely came out a seagull's bum

@madcatladyforever

Sounds like antifreeze which is fatal to animals.

Antifreeze has a very sweet taste and is generally brightly coloured. Neat glycol is colourless but has the sweet taste.