On the Walk This Morning

The Dabchicks down on the dam have 1 baby.  It appeared yesterday, and is still with us this morning.

The water is drying up, but here are some big puddles, and a few pools left.

Loli started out clean, but oh dear, this puddle was too big a temptation.

Back at home and Pasquale was pleased to see us again.

Pasquale and the Ducks

New arrivals this week - Sally's eggs hatched, she has 4 of her own and the 2 lighter ducklings are from Tash's eggs I hatched in the incubator.  Its been a bit cool the last 2 nights, but they've coped OK, and the forecasts are thankfully for some milder nightime temperatures.

Cherry and her group continue to thrive in the adult area.  Tomas is quite often on his own, but seems to prefer that.  Unlike the Calls he isnt in the least bit vocal about being separated from the group.  His flashy green speculum is beginning to show now, wont be long before he's able to fly.

Pasquale is not happy that some of the time he ends up on the other side of the fence from me!!  LOL!!  He doesnt know it but he is enjoying his last day as an entire male, tomorrow he's off to the vet, he will be upset at missing out on the morning's bread and milk treats :(

Babies' Big Day Out!!

A big day at the Duck Hilton.

Cherry and her 7 babies joined the main group today, and Tomas and his friend the lavender Call also joined in.  Long Tall Sally had at least 2 babies hatched this morning, a black and a choc.  So we moved Cherry and her gang in with the main group, mucked out the pen and moved Sally in.  This afternoon Tomas seemed to be going stir crazy in his day pen, pacing and not eating so we decided the call of the wild must be ringing in his ears and so added him and his Lavender pal to the group.  It seemed to go fairly well... first days are always fraught...  Here is a pic of Cherry (who was sooooo pleased to have a proper swim and a bathe after 4 weeks) and her 7 bubbas who really enjoyed ducking and diving, but not the attentions of the more cranky members of the group.  As always its the younger lower ranking birds who dont take kindly to newcomers... Jesus and Chops were the most put out my littlier, cutier babies joining the group.  For the most part Calls are very accepting, and by tomorrow I'm expecting it all to be sorted :)

Tomorrow I should be able to see what Sally has been hiding so look forward to some new baby pics :)  Meantime here is - from the left - Sue, Wanda, Cherry and all 7 seven babies :)

Pasquale - the Enormous!!

The boy is huge!!  He weighs nearly 10kg now!!  He is learning fast, knows how to sit, and while earlier this week I despaired of him ever learning to walk on the lead, the last 2 morning he's shown real improvement and can actually manage to walk forward, if HE decides he wants to... big feat for a puppy who is trying hard to be the dominant personality.

He loves 'fishing' and is determined to fall into the lily pond very soon.

Pasquale in the 'alluring' pose, nb wet paws post fishing.

On border patrol this afternoon, and some silly seed head Mum wanted to stop for!!

The sprinklers whirred into action just as we finished our walk, and like all water were fascinating to Pasquale.

Chops, Vegemite and other Ducks and Ducklings

Chops has adapted quite well to life 'after the muscovies'.  They were getting a bit big and menacing for everybody.  He has fitted into the adult group well, and is enjoying bossing the new bugs, Vegemite and 'the buffs'.

For their part Vegemite and 'the buffs' are loving being in the adult enclosure, and can often be seen splashing a lot of water around.  They are quite vocal if the food bowl is EVER empty!!

Cherry's babies are growing up and this weekend will be allowed out into the big play area.  The youngest of the group is still quite small, but the biggest is chomping at the bit for more space and a swim in the big pond!!

Judas and Joey enjoying the afternoon sun.   Joey is such a flashy drake.

Silvers Sue and Willie are enjoying life at the Duck Hilton.

Tomas/ina is also growing well.  Now sharing with just 1 lavender Call duck.  He/she is still as   wild as can be, and very difficult to photograph, but you can see that he's a much bigger duckling now :)  Flight feathers are coming and he'll soon be ready for release.  This duckling makes more mess than any other I have ever raised, he can turn a bowl of food, and a drinker of water into an evenly distributed layer of wet mush on the floor between the 2 containers in record time.

Beanie's Babies

4 new babies in the Beanie crew - 2 black, 2 choc.  One little choc - Choco Limoges (the youngest, and still a little unsteady on his props!!) - looks like being very nice :)  And the blacks, well I'm a soft touch for them, and then there is Egg, a choc with an 'egg spot' on the back of its head!!  LOL!!

Chops and the Muscovies

Chops is such a sweetie, he's growing up big and strong, survived being harrassed by crows this week, as did his 4 muscovey pals.  Crows - or ravens, whatever!! - not welcome here!!

Rust Ducks

I love rust, its special.

I see ducks everywhere!!  LOL!!  You dont, but I'm cool with that!!

Vegemite, an update

Vegemite is growing up!!  She has developed a strange white band across her tummy!!  Curiouser and curiouser!!

OK, tail shot is only for the die hards who will help me ID the colour - the rest of you can rest easy!!  LOL!!

Cherry update

Cherry's little bubbas are growing up big and strong, still have high hopes for the black and the teeny little - whatever colour!!  LOL!!

New additions this week include ducklings!!  YAY!!  We have 2 silvers - hatched from interstate eggs and some typey little Beanie babies!!

This one is a great 'talker' and Freya feels certain it will be a girl - stay tuned to see if this 'early' method works ;-D

They are all so cute!!