Calls, Silkies and Rouens

I took several photos of Isolde yesterday, none of them were any good, today, they all worked, she is a pretty little duck.  Looks a little high in the chest, but she's a bit worried about me hanging about with the camera.

Sylvie also looking good this morning.

As the Smarty pair are getting their first adult feathers, the choc dots are disappearing.  Guess that's good, but now they are just white ducks!!  Not the most flattering photo, but best angle to see the lessening choc markings.

Rocko and Titus are buds.  Rocko is a 'good do-er' always up the front when there is food to be had, one of the first out the door in the morning too!  Easy to pick out, Rocko is usually the duck staggering around with a crop so full his balance looks to be affected.

Titus, lovely blue speculum.

Carmen is a saxony coloured Call duck - glad that's sorted ;-D Colour looks a bit washed out here, because of the flash.  And having said yesterday that she gets around fine, today the cold start to the morning looks to affecting her, and she's keen to rest her wonky leg.

Honey Barbara is growing up and filling out, looking lovely still :)  She is a lot more confident in her surroundings now, and much less reliant on Barry.

The hot couple round here today is not Will and Kate, its Iggy and Suzi!!

This is Dotty, out and about this morning.

And this is Lilla, best pic I've been able to take of her in a while!!  Like her mates she is growing up and filling out, soon time to move to the adult pen.

And Spotty, caught mid crow.

Last but not least, the Rouens, enjoying the bright morning sun, the wind is very chilly, but it doesnt seem to bother them at all.

Sleeping Dogs, Call Ducks and Pheasants

Yesterday when I went to check on the dogs, discovered all 3 'farm' dogs crashed out in the driveway.  Had to take the pic through the fly wire screen, but thought they looked so angelic had to make a record of the moment!

This is Carmen, not sure what colour she is, but is very pretty. Only just coming into her first set of feathers and it will be interesting to see how much, if any, change occurs when she gets her grown up feathers.  She has a wonky leg - dodgy incubator - but gets around very well, no problems swimming or getting or out of the ponds either - all good.

Cilla and Suzi enjoying a swim, Cilla used to head duck, but the more forward Suzi has paired up with the upwardly mobile Iggy and is very much in contention to topple Cilla shortly.

This is Elvis, he started out a skinny minny, but he's been eating well and filling out as you can see... bit like another Elvis?  Ours however is entirely 'substance' free!!  He was a very pale blue as a youngster, but now has a richer browner colour on his chest.

This is Gabriel, a young silver drake, quite dashing.

This is Pepper, I think she's lovely.  Has been heavily pinioned so cant fly which is a pity.

 Tina is a brilliant flyer, when the group does their morning panic - seems to happen at the same time each day - they all charge back to the day yard!!  Tina is the only one who can manage to avoid the 2m fencing and land inside the yard and not at the gate or past the gate, or as some do into the fence!!

This is Titus, think he will grow up to be a lovely little silver drake.

                  

And these are the pheasants, thought I had a pair of Ringneck Pheasants, but it now appears that I have 1 Ringneck male and 1 Hybrid male - that's not going to work so well!!

The Ringneck male is coming into some stunning colour.  He is very forward and hugely 'flappy' whenever I go into feed them.  Both are very fond of the bread and milk dinner time treat and the rice/corn/peas mix that comes with brekky.

Sweet Pea has popped!

Very exciting news!!  On Easter Sunday, Sweet Pea's cria was born, a little boy - we think - and we've named him Carter.

He is gorgeous of course!!

Dogs at Wedgewood

Loli, enjoying a little autumn sun - perfect morning for it ;-D

Peg is growing up, she is 5 1/2 months now and spends a lot of time chasing swallows, and the shadows of swallows!!  I thought she was entertaining herself nicely, with no chance of any birds coming to harm until I found half a swallow wing in the garden yesterday.  Maybe one flew into her mouth!!

Little Grebes and Sweet Pea

I was pleased to find the Little Grebe on the home dam has been joined by a second Little Grebe, quite difficult to get close to them, so a lot of water and 2 small birds!!

Berry sent new pics of Sweet Pea, she is looking heavily pregnant and is apparently furious with and about everybody and everything!!  She enjoys eating though, lucerne hay and sheep 'nuts' are top of the list :)

New Calls at the Duck Hilton

We have 4 new bugs arrive this week, they dont have names yet, and I'm not even sure what colour one of the drakes is!  Chocolate something fersure!!  LOL!!  They dont seem to have seen clam shells before, so have not been for a proper swim yet, and they dont seem to recognise, or like the food yet either... mustn't seem very much like the Hilton at all at this stage!!

Update 27 April 2011 - they do have names and they are now living it up, swimming lots and eating well.

We've call this guy Barry, or Bazza - bit of a thug till the white drakes left, now calmer and 'nicer'.

A very pretty little butterscotch girl, Honey Barbara

And a nice little pair of silvers, Rueben (who is actually a light phase mallard colour, not silver I think - thanks Ross) and Sylvie who is a lovely little girl.