Mar 18 2013

Lovely weather for ducks.


Today is our last day in England, and when we woke up, it was again pouring with rain and decidedly chilly. I’d just got out of the shower, when hubby suddenly appeared, and grabbed the camera. He’d spotted a Mallard duck on the roof of the shed, and thought I might like a photo for my blog.

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We then wondered what Mrs Mallard was doing up there, and decided that she must be surveying the garden to see if it was a suitable mating ground. Sure enough, she flew off and returned with Mr Mallard. She had a little swim around the pond to try out the water temperature,

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and reported back that it seemed rather nice, and that she approved their choice of location.

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He was then ordered to investigate underneath the conifer, to make sure that there was plenty of room for their nest, which he obediently did.

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So it looks as though once they’ve set up house and got busy under that bush, mom-in-law’s little pond could be the setting for a very happy duck family scene. I was reading that a female can lay as many as twelve eggs, about half her body weight. I guess we human females have it quite easy in comparison. 🙂

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I have a lot of sorting out and packing to do before we leave, so please bear with me if I don’t manage to visit your blogs for a few days. When we get back home, I’m sure things will return to normal.

76 comments on “Lovely weather for ducks.”

  3. Great pictures! I love the commentary, though! “He was then ordered to investigate underneath the conifer, to make sure that there was plenty of room for their nest, which he obediently did.” Hahahaha How revealing! Mine would have read, “He ordered her to investigate under the conifer…, and she said, ‘Can you say that in a different way?’ and waited. Since he didn’t want to change his tone she kept waiting until he investigated under the conifer himself.” But, on the other hand, I’m not sure I would have seen the scene so creatively. That is YOUR great art, AD, and probably why you always live in paradise! 🙂 Love the post.

    • Thanks so much, Marsha for your interpretation. You would have to have been there to see it first hand to get the correct interpretation. Yours would require Mrs Mallard to put her hands on her hips, whilst tapping her foot impatiently. Since ducks don’t have hands or hips, I don’t think it would really work, except in cartoons. 😆

  16. What a dear little pond area, AD. I meant to tell you that my vet has one of those cats (on the lawn) on his window ledge in his waiting room and many of the visiting dogs growl and even bark at them. Cats, of course, just ignore them, lol!

    • Very funny and clever you are, Col. “Out for a duck” indeed. 😀 This weather can definitely stay right here. It’s promising to get worse as the week wears on. ;(

  23. I had a very different sort of scene in mind when you said you’d just got out of the shower and hubby grabbed the camera…. I wondered if you’d decided to go x-rated, too? Great shots of the duck adventure, but they really can be quite “messy”….
    Happy travels and hope you find some warmer weather at home!

    • Bwahahaha……..I’m glad to say it was a bird of the feathered variety that he was interested in snapping. Just imagine how shocked my readers would be! 😯
      Thanks for the travel wishes. I’m so looking forward to getting back.

  25. Lovely series of pictures Sylvia. You’ve really been very unlucky with the weather this time haven’t you. We’ve had an absolutely glorious spring day in Cornwall today. Sorry you’ve not had the same. 😦

  29. Some ducks in that back garden … *smile – duck are so funny at times … I have never seen a duck sitting like – alone on a “roof” – I suppose it’s that high up. Great little post with great ducks.

  33. What a lovely garden your mom-in-law has. Looks like she will have a family of little ducklings to keep her company 🙂 Have a safe trip back to SA

  35. wow time to return to the climate of Durbs that I believe at the moment cannot decide what season it is… love that the ducks could breed in such a close proximity to allow the following of the natures way… safe trip back to here.. hope it is a good one…

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