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

[AlanThePig]

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.

@kerryleigh

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

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

Awww! thank you for the photo. So beautiful!

Awwwwww 🥰

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)

@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! 😂

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

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

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

Ohhh I love a good duck story! X

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.....

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

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.

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

[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!

Get a wave machine for the pond?

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

Beautiful though.

On balance, ducks are cuter 🦆🦆🦆🦆

Hello all. This was January!

Aaah, that's brilliant! ♥️

Awesome 🤩

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

You had more snow days than I did, it was interesting to look at, thank you.

The eagle eyed amongst you might spot 2 days the same. We've been having internet problems and BT took us offline for 24 hours to monitor so I had to use one day twice.

The changes will be much more apparent come summer when the levels drop massively. Hard to believe half that pier wasn't under water in October!

That's awesome @AlanThePig!

Do keep posting. It's keeping me going ...

Went to B&Q earlier. The weather is supposed to be dry tomorrow so I went to get some polystyrene insulation to re float the old house. Should be as simple as pulling it in, restuffing the cavity, stapling plastic sheet to hold it in and float it back. I will need to get in the water at some point so that's going to be fun...

Meanwhile, whilst we await the decent weather to build duckingham Palace we've ordered one of these to put on floating duck island.
Duck island was never meant to be a permanent structure, but as we now seem to have two mating pairs and only one functional house needs must. Plan is to replace it with one bigger, fancier residence late summer.

Might get a couple of small grasses in pots to put on the island to soften it a bit aware it's going to look a bit scruffy this year.

Love that video, thank you 🦆

Looks snazzy