As of yesterday afternoon, the last two are no where to be found. Mrs. Hook keeps flying up and down the canal. Is she looking for them?
:(
Mrs. Hook~
Well its bittersweet. I'm glad I captured her duckies on film - but as of today there are only two left.
SAD!
SAD!
Runtie Jr.
I call all the girls that look like my late beloved Miss Runtie, Runtie Jr's. They were "The Radio Flyers" because they were the first to fly!
So now one of the Runtie's is "On The Nest". It's not going too well. I found some eggs in the yard and by the pool. I think everytime she lays one, and then goes off to the canal, a rat is eating her eggs. This happened with Miss Runtie too.
I think this is fairly common for young females. I hope she gets a clutch soon!
Here she is on her nest. No eggs - but she's gettin' ready. Sentinels are in place.
More to follow...................
And So It Goes~
I went out this morning to water the flowers. There right outside my fence gate was Mrs. Hook (named that because last summer she had a fish hook and fishing line stuck in the side of her bill) and her new brood. They must have just hatched this morning.
And so it goes~
Not All News Is Sad....
This duck hatching and raising has been joyous and gut wrenching. Mother Nature is one cruel bitch, is all I can say.
In any event, I promised weeks ago to take photos of the Playboy Mansion activities going on here since February. I never was able to capture a shot.
But we have results. BABY DUCKS! The Mama duck here is not one I recognize. But she came by with her brood. There are at least 12. There are even two all yellow's like my Angel and Spentie.
Life goes on....sad or not.....Enjoy.....
I just keep telling myself, no matter how long The Peepers lived, it's longer than they would have, if I had not hatched them. Some life is better than none? I have to believe that it is.....
In any event, I promised weeks ago to take photos of the Playboy Mansion activities going on here since February. I never was able to capture a shot.
But we have results. BABY DUCKS! The Mama duck here is not one I recognize. But she came by with her brood. There are at least 12. There are even two all yellow's like my Angel and Spentie.
Life goes on....sad or not.....Enjoy.....
Look at the Yellow!!! CUTE!
I just keep telling myself, no matter how long The Peepers lived, it's longer than they would have, if I had not hatched them. Some life is better than none? I have to believe that it is.....
Angel Missing One Week Today
What else can I say? I have searched the ponds and the neighborhood. I have called out for him to no avail.
My hunch is, being mating season, the older males have booted him out. I hope that is not the case.
Some of my last photos taken in the last couple of weeks...
These are two of his sisters he always hangs out with.
They're still here - But no Angel.
:(
A Duck Joke~
A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest. After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away."
The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied the vet.
"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything? He might just be in a coma or something."
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.
The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.
The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."
The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.
The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150!" she cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!"
The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150."
The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied the vet.
"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything? He might just be in a coma or something."
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.
The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.
The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."
The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.
The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150!" she cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!"
The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150."
From My Brother Rob~
Negatory! What you have are Blue Jay's. Scrub Jay's lack the tufted crest of feathers on the back of their heads like the birds nesting in your backyard. Make use of your binoculars early in the day. Blue jays are a much more attractive bird and have much more black and white on their wings! I read an article that said that they are the most intelligent bird in America. I am so bummed we don't have them in California. We have Steller's Jays up in the mountains that have the crest and are stark blue with a jet black head and bright sky blue eye brows! Cool stuff!
Florida Scrub Jay??
I don't think my Blue Jays are Blue Jays. I think they are Florida Scrub Jays. Florida Scrub Jays
I have to see if I can get a better look. They are so fiesty, and fast. I just can't see them easily.
Stand by!
I have to see if I can get a better look. They are so fiesty, and fast. I just can't see them easily.
Stand by!
Blue Jays!
I had to wait a while after Boo passed before I posted again. I hope the appropriate amount of time has gone by.
I have a couple of Blue Jays. A Mama and Daddy are making a nest in my Oak tree. My goodness is it hard to catch a photo of them! Here are some sketchy ones. There is a blue one and a brown one - I think the female is the brown one, however I cannot find any data on this. I will. :)
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