New arrivals

aw thats so sweet!!

lovely picture Gee

I'm quite worried about them, Sticki, it has been so cold here today. I just hope Mum can keep them warm - not sure how many are there yet.

i was wondering that ~ only time will tell?

if you put a box in the garden with lots of fleece and or straw would she take them into it??

Aw, they're gorgeous Gee

I don't think so. The nest is well lined with dried leaves and feathers and is tight against the fence. I am not sure whether she will want to take them to the pond or will be happy in the garden for a day or so until they are stronger.

awww Gee so cute, lucky you, i think they are quite hardened to our weather , when you think our ducks stay all winter in all conditions, mum will keep them warm im sure :o))

i hope she will fluff her feathers up and keep warm?

What a lovely Easter gift to have these little ducklings and Mum nesting in your garden;))

Oh Gill ,they are so cute , I'm sure mum will keep them warm .. I'm looking forward to seeing some more of your excellant pics when they come out of the nest :o)

I will set my alarm early tomorrow so I don't miss anything :)

They are so cute and in your garden! I really hope they will be ok :o))

What a delight.......keep us posted please.

Aw so cute Gee, I am sure they will be fine :o)

AAAAWWWWW bless they look so cute and comfortable.I think you will find the mother will keep them well warm.:))))

The ducklings are lovely Gee. Amazing the places mother ducks choose to nest for health and safety reasons.....they think. One was at the maternity unit in an enclosed space. RSPCA needed to sort out after hatching. Another on a porch over an office doorway near us. Staff had a duckling transfere party to the nearbye river.....caused some hilarity. Mission successful.

how are they today Gee?

Thanks, everyone. I was up at 6am this morning - don't know why I bothered Mrs Duck and babies didn't emerge until about 11am. They have walked round the garden a couple of times and I have just opened the gate so they can move on to the pond if they want to. It is quite warm now and would be nice for them to be settled before the sun goes down.

There are 9 babies, one which worries me but I know I must not interfere. He just seems rather bewildered and is often left behind. He went in the opposite direction to all the others and became trapped behind some rolled wire so I had to rescue him - mother was very angy and came rushing at me, hissing loudly. There's gratitude for you :)

oh thanks gee! very good to hear they are all well, 9!!! thats brilliant, i hope little one survives ok, but i expect nature knows best.
how absolutely lovely to have them in your garden, makes me laugh that they didnt get up till 112 ~ when it was warmer!!! they are more sensible than we give them credit for!!
i would be out there taking photos all the time!
i think that little one needs a name??

They are lovely. I wish all best to them. Nice they settled in your garden :)
Is there male duck close to them too? It can happen he will kill the weaker young duck. I saw it several times.

The male ducks have gone off now, their job done, Katarina! The bigger problem is crows, magpies, etc.

The little one is called Bertie, Sticki :)

It is now 2.30 and they are still wandering around the garden, then returning to the nest. They are ignoring the open gate! Mother seems quite stressy so I am not getting too close.

It must be a bit of stress to have 9 children :)

aw thanks Gee, poor little Bertie, i hope he is ok.

Nearly 4pm and I have just returned from walking Mother and babies to the pond. She didn't appreciate my company but it was a relief to see them into the water. Even Bertie was keeping close to her then.

They have hatched a month earlier than last year so I am not very confident about their survival rates but will hope for the best. My garden seems unnaturally quiet at the moment! Will put some more pics on later :)

yes please Gee!!!

are there foxes near you?

I see a fox occasionally, Sticki, up in the woods but no sign of them nearby. It really is magpies and crows that are the big problem :(

i dont like magpies or crows and we get a lot of them.

Thanks for the update Gill , 9 babies all safe and sound , what a relief for you to see them safely on the pond , can you recognise the mum as being the same one to nest in your garden other years ? I shall look forward to more of your excellent photos showing their progress :o)

Hard to tell, Amy, they look the same! This is the third year I've had them nest (the first time it was in the front garden). I wonder if she is getting too old to raise such a large family :)

And me Gill :o))

Lol my reply was after Amy's, I am far too old to have nine more kids but would love to know how things are going with the ducklings ;O)))))

Just about to put a blog on with more pics. I wouldn't want one more, let alone 9, Annella :)

I will look out for it :o))

What a gorgeous Pic Gee! You are a lucky duck!

Glad to hear Mrs duck and her large brood are launched on the pond Gee. I do find if there is brood of some bird or animal im a small garden it brings on maternal concerns......it does with me, particularly if one of the hatch or cubs is disabled in some way. I note today that Mrs Blackbird is taking grass etc into a laurel shrub about 9 feet from the house. I sense maternal concerns in the near future.

Awwwww there so sweet, them magpies do my head in, for ever frightening them off when they come in my garden.

I was pleased to have them, Homebird. I saw a group of little ducklings on the pond this morning so all seems well :)

WHat a lovely photo. Hope mother duck and her ducklings are doing well.

how are they doing Gee

I try not to look when I go passed the pond, Yorkshire, because I get upset if I find the numbers dwindling. However, I saw a good group with mother from a distance yesterday as I passed and this morning a lady who lives in the sheltered flats next to the pond told me she had counted 'at least 8' so I am more optimistic about their chances :)

thats good news Gee

I'm pleased to hear the ducklings seem to be thriving well Gee. I liked the cheeky Mallard on the posh bird bath. Do you think Mallards are getting nearer and nearer to human contact over the past few years?

They certainly are as far as I am concerned, Dorjac. There were 7 in my garden this morning!! They woke me up with all the squawking. One female seemed to be looking for a nesting area too so I wonder if I will have a second nest. Yesterday a pair were examining the front garden as well. My special little one footed male came for his food as usual. Apparently the folk the other side of the pond call him Stumpy so I will too :)

Hope you and OH are well and are enjoying the sunshine (and showers?). Take care.