Wednesday 1 January 2014

Lovely weather for ducks

Literally, as you will see from one of my photographs below!  Our beck (which flows between the two rows of alders in my new header photograph) is behaving in such a show-off way, thinking it is the Ouse and spreading out wherever it gets the least opportunity.

It is a nuisance, as many of these places involve the lane so that one has to keep slowing down and making waves.   But in some places it just spreads out into the surrounding low-lying field.

We have huge numbers of semi-wild ducks which have been bred specially for the duck shooting.   At the end of the shooting season, the end of January, those which survive and live to fight another day, just disperse and go completely wild.   Meanwhile, they descend upon our friend opposite and make their way in a waddling mass for his corn store, hoping to  squeeze through any gap in the door and get a free meal rather than make the trek back to their feeding station, much further away from their watery playground.

I always hope that huge numbers survive.   What is the point in shooting a duck which has hardly anything on it when it is plucked and prepared for the table?  But then I have always been known for my contrary views - I can't think what all the fuss is about because we have lost the Ashes - it's only a game isn't it - and weren't we brought up to understand that it is playing the game that matters rather than whether we win or lose?   But that's another story.


19 comments:

Heather said...

We are getting used to wet and windy weather and I am surprised there are no ducks swimming on our patio today! I hope some of the water drains off before the promised cold weather gets here.
I'm with you with regard to the Ashes and other sports. It's nice to win but losing isn't a disaster.
Keep warm and dry, and a Happy New Year to you and yours.

Frugal in Derbyshire said...

We have a river at the bottom of our field and it is chuckling at the top of the bank now. We have just a few ducks and a pair of Gooseanders. We used to have moorhens but it looks as though the mink has got them.
Gillx

mrsnesbitt said...

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Feeling cold just looking at the photographs Pat! Keeping warm in my new slippers - my new chewed slippers that is!

Cro Magnon said...

I presume they are Mallards; I've always enjoyed a well roasted brace; it's been a while.

I seem to remember some Cricket in the summer, but haven't heard of any more since!!!!

Barbara said...

I love your new header! It's amazing how much some of your scenery looks like it does here in the Shenandoah Valley of VA.
We don't see so many ducks all at once, we have huge flocks of Canadian geese that take over a lot of the farm ponds and neighboring cornfields this time of year. I should think the ducks would be far more entertaining.
Happy New Year!

Dartford Warbler said...

It`s wonder we don`t have ducks today. There is a flooded pond in the field again and the rain seems relentless.

Happy, healthy 2014 to you and the Farmer. DWx

Hildred said...

Love your new header and your pretend 'Ouse'. Hope your watery winter turns into an early spring and that you and the Farmer have the happiest of years, Pat.

Bovey Belle said...

Ducks make a very good contribution to a Game Pie though! Parts of our paddock are waterlogged and the river keeps rising and dropping several feet at a time, so we never know whether we will have to take the uphill route out of here.

We have a month of this . . . apparently!

Gwil W said...

Your post reminds me of the sign you see in some olde worlde low ceilinged pubs: Duck or grouse. It shows how much taller we've become. But whether we can see further from our greater height is another matter.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Ah, gee.
I could never shoot a duck.

Lovely wishes for your New Year, Pat!
xoxo

angryparsnip said...

Such wet weather but it makes for lovely photos. Love the one with all the duck swimming. Do they fly somewhere warmer for winter ?

Happy New Year
cheers, parsnip

Jinksy said...

Instant duck pond, wot, wot? Happy New Year, Weaver. ♥

MorningAJ said...

Totally agree on the question of the Ashes - but having just had duck for dinner I guess we'll just have to disagree on that one.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Not sure about the ducks - I think they look more like teal, but as mallards are considerably bigger I suspect Cro is right. Thanks for calling and for liking the new header.

Willow said...

Your new header is absolutely gorgeous.
Wishing you all the best in the New Year my friend .

Cloudia said...

I'm glad to be back enjoying your land with you, P!


ALOHA
from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
=^..^=

ArtPropelled said...

It looks quite festive out on the water, Pat. Ducks galore! Happy New Year to you and the farmer .... and the ducks :-)

Em Parkinson said...

I think even the ducks are struggling here Pat. Happy New Year to you all. xx

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for calling in. Apart from one or two of you who love roast duck, it would seem to me you would all like to see them safely swimming rather than featherless in a roasting tin.