In the blink of an eye

Awwww what do you think happened to the duckling Lily2, Happy i wasnt there, im so stressed at the min, there's 2 nests in my garden and the Magpies are hanging around, I try my best to chase them off and the parents are doing a great job also, Its been calm today so i think they have fledged.. Im sad about the Duckling, I wonder what would pull it under like that tut..

How sad - poor little thing

Oh, nature can be so cruel. When I see something nasty I have nightmares about it. Wish I wasn't so sensitive! At least nature is beautiful in our plant world.

Oh it is sad isn`t it Lily. I`ve been told pike take them and in our local lake the terrapins get them too. There used to be lots of ducks that made it to adulthood but there seem to be less and less each year. :o(

Hi YDD, I'm afraid it is pike who take them. A couple of years ago we had ducks nesting in our garden and once they hatched we rounded them up with Mum and took them to this lake, next day there were only 2 and then none. We only found out about the pike after this. I can understand how stressed you are with nests in your garden, I'm the same - it's almost as if we are the parents! lol Magpies are such a nuisance but they have young ones too......
Yes Sheilar, very sad but all part of nature unfortunately.
How right you are Sprog about the gentle and beautiful nature of our gardens as long as we don't think about the insect world!
Same here Sandra, fewer and fewer ducklings every year. I didn't know terrapins did this too, are they naturally wild or have they been released?

I know its natures way but glad I wasn`t around to see that, I`m a big softie when it comes to ducks, especially at this time of the year when the ducklings make an appearance.
Given it a like Lily for your photographs, that looks a smashing place for a walk.....

Nature can be sad Lily2, I hate seeing dead baby birds in my garden... poor ducklings dont stand a chance really..

Yes indeed YDD, I saw a Jay grab and baby blue tit in mid flight once :o((
I think we've all got a soft spot for ducks haven't we Lincs. Glad you like the pics, she's such an unusual colour isn't she. I've just noticed her tail feathers are all fanned out which I don't think is normal, stress I suppose.

Oh Lily that is so sad, you must be feeling dreadful having witnessed that. Poor little duckies and poor mum and dad.
The lake looks lovely.

What a very sad tale, Lily. I had no idea Pike would do this sort of thing, all part and parcel of Nature I guess, but unpleasant all the same. I also put a 'Like' as your pics are lovely, especially the last one, lovely reflection in the water. : o )

When all the kids wanted 'ninja turtles' many years ago, loads of terrapins were dumped in ponds and lakes when the kids got fed up with them. I know they have been growing to a fair old size and causing havoc with our wildlife. Nearby in Caldicot Castle lake, the Park Ranger was photographed a few years ago catching really big terrapins or whatever variety they are. Just shows what happens to nature when we intefere.

Such a shame about the duckling's I do like the picture's though.I have a pair of Magpie's in my garden again I know they can be nasty but they are not getting all there own way this year the dove is harrasing them but they in turn are harrasing the Blackbird,she has got her self at least three nest's and the Magpie has sussed two of them.I am feeding the Magpie dried mealworm,s and cat food but Blackbird's egg's are still his favourite he dunk's everything in the bird bath and bury's bit's in the garden:-)

how sad lily i didnt even know about that happening, i feel sad now poor baby :o(

Yes Val the lake is a lovely place but I now feel it to be a place of death having witnessed this. I was feeling a bit that way after the 8 ducklings we innocently rehomed there previously probably suffered the same fate, now i feel it even more.
Thanks Shirley, glad you like the pics. I suppose pike have to eat too.......:o((
Now you say it Sprog, I do remember something about this a while back. It must be a real problem.
Mapies really do seem to single out the blackbirds nests don't they Mavis. Mind you the blackbirds seem to draw attention to themselves by kicking up such a fuss instead of keeping a low profile. I love to have them in the garden though even if it is nerve wracking!
Yes poor baby Sandra. I wonder if the parents actually feel upset like us or just think "oh well, time for the next lot then" ?

Yes Lily2 the female Blackbird squawks all the time and the male flap's about making thing's worse.Will the duck,s have another brood?

I think our blackbirds have abandoned the nest, not seen either of them for a while. Such a shame as she worked so hard building it, in and out of the hedge for 3 days :o( Yes I think the ducks will have another brood, for what it's worth.........