Brand spanking new DUCKLINGS in their very first moments ever on water

Ian Hutson

Right opposite my boat there has, of late, been a pair of (well, a threesome of, or sometimes a foursome of) ducks nesting in the offside weeds.

This morning I spotted this fella, and thought that I’d seen the end of the duck story. Ma Duck, Pa Duck, and her Lover(s) were nowhere in evidence.

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Heron eat anything that they can lay their beaks on. I thought that the eggs were long since scrambled.

HOWEVER. HOW-CHUFFING-EVER…

This afternoon, I spotted Ma Duck with a broodly brood of some ten or so – and she was leading them towards the more squelchy edge of the weeds. Probably the appearance of Mr/s Heron had made up her mind that the chicks would be safer on the move.

The photos aren’t the best, because they were taken through tinted one-way glass, but I didn’t want to do anything to disturb. They’re all at maximum zoom on the pocket-rocket which makes them grainy, and it’s a dull, overcast day, blah blah excuses excuses blah blah.

Still, you’ll see a little of what I saw. 🙂

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Pa Duck announcing to the world that we ought to make way because his brood was about to launch… CLEAR THE DECKS! SPLICE THE MAIN-THRIBBLE! HOSE DOWN THE DRUNKEN SAILOR! SHIVER ME TIMBERS! BELAY THAT A LA ORANGE ORDER!

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Is this the right spot? Apparently it wasn’t, everything was moved about a yard to our left.

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FOLLOW ME! And do, please, Daphne, keep up with the others.

Yes, Mother. Running all the way.

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In they went. Their very first swim ever. Entire brood intact. Following mum. Two seconds in… They took to it like

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ducks to water. Ma Duck is looking somewhat anxious, on the alert.

Then off they scooted towards the Cardinal and away down the canal.

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I tell you, it all happens here on the canals.

🙂

Nice to see one species able to “just get on with it”.

Wherever you are, please do keep well and keep safe and keep on keeping on.

Ian H., & Cardinal W.

 

28 Comments

    1. They were reet rinky-dinky. I couldn’t believe that I was there at the very first swim. They just marched off the reed bed and into the water, no worries, no fuss. 🙂

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    1. You’ll be back to it soon enough, i hope. Fingers crossed. The wildlife is loving this peace and calm without too many humans buzzing around! The only thing that I haven’t seen any of hereabouts is my favourites, the moorhen…

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  3. This news has truly made my day, thank you so much. The sun is shining too and my Ash 🌲 seems about to open its flowers, what more could I ask for?

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    1. Well if someone, anyone – even aliens – is listening to what more you might want, I’ve sent you a list! The list begins at the letter “A” with “A Vaccine” and goes all the way around again to the beginning to end with the letter “A” as in “A Cheesecake”… 😉

      Seriously, glad to have given you a chirrup.

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    1. They do! I was fascinated to see that once the command was given there was no hesitation with them, no doubt, they just waddled into the water and everything else came naturally. I wonder if they feel tiny in a huge world or whether their sole focus is always just on keeping up with the pack. The gaggle. The flockette. Mother.

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    1. The only more-usual wildlife that this mooring seems to lack is moorhen – I wonder if they have been crowded out or whether the weed is not suitable for them somehow? The cormorant are up and down most of the day, ducking (!) and diving.

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  6. Aw, thanks for sharing this. Baby ducks are just what we all need to remember Spring is a time of new life and new hope!

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    1. Happy to have been the one to spot this. 🙂 The world still turns, did before I parachuted onto the surface and will long after I am in my dusty glass case in a museum of curiosities!

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      1. If you’re bored, you could always read our blog. We were almost at the starting line to move on board until this happened. myblogfromthefrog.wordpress.com
        Hopefully it won’t be too long until life can return to “normal”. Stay safe.

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  8. What a wonderful story. You are a great photographer too. For sake, the ducks are not in war mode. This not really is what the old Romanian called a Phallanx. Lol Best wishes, stay well and save. Michael

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    1. Nature’s been sleeping a little, but is now waking up. The hedgerows are beginning to blossom and this little brood is the result of some very frantic, noisy and splash-making activity by t’duck community! I saw that something was about to happen when Ma Duck led the brood down to the canal’s edge and looked nervous! 🙂

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