December06

Monday, 4th December 2006

The little gap in these diaries was not due to any calamity or that I've been too busy with preparations for Christmas [although I have!], but because I've changed ISPs. Carl got me sorted last night and I'll send the new address for the duck diaries to all interested parties.

Tuesday, 5th December 2006 Gerd's birthday

I hope my darling brother has had a great day today by the seaside. Here's a greeting:

Had an interesting experience last night on putting the ducks to "bed".
I say last night, but we really have to start procedures at quarter past 4
these days - it gets dark so soon.

Well, as I said, an interesting experience. Went to shut the gate to the
duck enclosure by the greenhouses first, as usual. And remembering
Anabelle's recent adventure I counted those in the apple tree pond.
There were 8! Who was missing? Quick check, it was Circle.

So I went off to see if she was with the duck pond crowd and yes,
there she was making 9, and all of them feeding like mad in the field
outside the electric fence.

It was getting rather dark by then and I gently drove them back - gently because if I put too much pressure on them they go at such a speed that the Campbell contingent has great difficulty keeping up with the runners! I was VERY interested to see if Circle would go down to the duck pond with them as I watched them filing in between the veg beds.

Would you believe it, just before the greenhouses Circle peeled off from the group and, quacking loudly and being responded to in the same way, joined her home flock while the other 8 sped down to the duck pond. I thought that was very clever of Circle, well done!

Friday, 8th December 2006 Frances Hitchcocks' birthday Happy Birthday, Frances!

I had quite a surprise this morning.

When the duck pond flock came out I thought one of them looked a bit muddy.
Looking again I thought she looked just like Circle.
It WAS Circle!

And we never even noticed last night - must have been darker than we thought.

I was interested to see what would happen tonight, and I can now tell you that Circle remained down at the duck pond. She's obviously changed allegiance. Thinking about it she was one of a group of 4 [Sweetie making a 5th] always hanging around together at Julie's in Atherstone, and duck-pond-Candida had always been her mate.

Monday, 11th December 2006 Annie's birthday

All these birthdays! AND there are some more coming up before Christmas, too.

Anyway, the ducks couldn't care less about birthdays. They've been having a snuffling good time in the rain-sodden ground making great big mud puddles. I'll take a photo of the largest one in the field tomorrow and show you.

Circle has been exercising a lady's privilege and changing her mind - often. On Saturday night I was just going to shut them in down at the duck pond when Circle came quacking up the slope towards the greenhouses and rejoined her mates there. She went into that hut with the others, no problem, and I thought that was it, she must have decided the garage mob were for her. But not tonight! She stopped down at the duck pond. What will it be tomorrow, I wonder?

Thursday, 14th December 2006 Jessica Crocker's birthday

Circle continues to chop and change about with her sleeping arrangements. She seems at home in either hut - why should I worry then? Maybe in Spring, when the fox danger is at it's height, we'll move the garage hut next to the duck pond one and let everybody go into whichever one they like best?

I finally got around to taking photos of the muddy area around Hamish's copper beech and the Amelanchier - it's bigger than I thought, look:

In the slightly larger picture on the right you can actually see the culprits' footprints!

Also took a few of the ducks again in an effort to catch Primmie standing proud and upright which she can do so beautifully, but one of the others always got in the way when I clicked. This one of 3 of the Campbells illustrates my problems at telling them apart - well, not Hedda, she's always the biggest with a bright yellow dished beak. But the 2 in front, are they Pinky and Perky, or 'issit Chissit' with Perky? Couldn't resist that one, sorry!

And is this one Pinky about to 'have a go' at me?

Thursday, 21st December 2006

No birthdays to report today; but I missed out Arnold's on the 17th!

Our ducks are still laying, amazingly, especially the Campbells. Mel says hers have stopped. We've had 109 eggs this month which averages out at just over 5 a day. Everybody who comes to our house is "forced" to take some eggs away with them!

Circle continues to vascillate, she reminds me of undecided Mavis in "Open all Hours". The other day all 17 were still down by the duck pond at shutting-in time. When we turned up they split into 2 groups with Circle bang in the middle. She set off with the garage 8, then no, turned, stopped, and went towards the duck pond hut. Then back towards the others, no, back again ........... by that time we'd had enough and shooed her in with the Campbells. Honestly, we shall have to re-name her Mavis! We never know of an evening if she's going to be up by the garage or down by the duck pond. Maybe she likes having the choice of two beds?

I don't know if I'll get around to writing again before Christmas or the new year, so here's wishing all of you who enjoy dipping into these diaries now and again splendid festivities and all the very best for 2007, from me and the ducks!