Friday, September 28, 2012

More beaked wonders

The ducks demanded more airtime! So here we go...


This is one of the girls born back in May. She doesn't have a name yet. I'm getting around to it!

Now, remember Warren the Upper Canada Village duck who overwintered with us last year? He went back to the village in May and has been keeping busy impregnating the hens and generally enjoying himself. My friend Tammy visited the village the other weekend and took a couple of pictures of Warren (whose name is actually Vern, but when we got him, we were told it was Warren, so that's what he's known as around here!)

Here he is, swimming in the canal. He looks pretty darn happy!



And here he is with a friend...


...or is that a girlfriend?  I think the ducks may be spending the winter with us again this year, but I don't have the final word on that yet!


Here's that pretty little miss from the first photo, going out for a free-ranging session...



And three more of the ducklings from May:


Jimette, "As yet to be named", and Twitchy! For a long time, I thought Twitchy was a girl. Uh, no. He got that name because he had a seizure as a duckling, and it kind of stuck!

And here is one of my favourites (ssshhh, don't tell the others!)...


...Ducky Duddle. He is just super sweet! I handled him a lot as a little one (he was the first-born of the May batch) and he's very tame. He likes it when I scratch him under his chin. Beak. Chin. Neck. Whatever that part is called! Just a nice mellow duck who likes to hang with his peeps.

And here's Tristan chilling with Moishe!


As you can see, the dogs and birds get along very well.


Another of my cutie girls, Karène.



I think Amy Winehouse (who is a he, not a she, oooops!) is boss drake now, but I'm not 100% sure. it's possible Charlie Sheen may still have that title.


Twitchy having a late-afternoon snooze.


And...


...okay, that's not a duck. It's one of the chicks born in June, after Emma Muff hatched out 11 babies from a secret nest in the barn! I'm thinking rooster here; how about you? He's just gorgeous and has a "muff" ("whiskers" sticking out from his cheeks) just like his mama.

In other news, we just got a new couch, of which the cats highly approve. It's a sectional and all four cats can fit comfortably on it, with breathing space between them. Pictures will be taken in the coming days!
Have a great weekend.

19 comments:

  1. The girl in the top pic looks like a cappucino when the froth has been stirred in!
    Jane x

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    1. I love that. I need a coffee name for her!

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  2. Just a great big smile seeing all your girls...and the beautiful rooster; that touch of blue in his wing is magnificent (and I bet he knows it!) I agree with Jane, she does look like a cappucino stirred!

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    1. Isn't he handsome? HIs colours are especially nice in the sun!

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  3. Wow!!! those ducklings are huge now :)
    I think that last picture might be a hen and not a rooster, but who knows?

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    1. It's entirely possible! I am usually wrong about these things. :))) Now that you mention it, the tail isn't very roostery!

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  4. I'm putting my money on 'Rooster'. I did think that 'Smiley' might be suitable for the top pictured gal, but it doesn't have any coffee connection!

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  5. Jane & Chris, and Susan: what about Café-au-lay?

    On a personal note... Could those beautiful, mature birds be the same little ducklings I cuddled with in May? They were so small and furry, and now behold! Thanks Knatolee for the stunning close-ups! I look forward to visiting you again, soon!

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    1. Brian, they are indeed! Time does fly. As do ducks. And I love "Café-au-lay"!

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  6. Ooo! They are very pretty. My lady loves the coloring on that first lady duck. That rooster has loooong legs! We like the surprise mixes. They can be very interesting. We have one little hen here, called Gertrude, who is tiny and black with a little top knot on her head. hee hee

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    1. "Gertrude" is an EXCELLENT name for a hen!!!

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  7. Love the ducks! When I was a kid, I had a pet Wood duck that had imprinted on me and my fascination with them has never left. ~ Maureen

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  8. If I was pushed, I'd have to admit ducks and geese are my favourite animals/birds.

    Before we bought into renovation hell, we were renting on a farm. A little cottage by a lake. Runner ducks came into the kitchen. When the door was shut the geese rattled their beaks against it and then chewed a hole in it. It must have been the corn.. When we've settled a bit I will have some again.

    Lovely photos Natalie.

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  9. I love that the ducks are all so individually marked so you can name them!

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  10. Love the coloring of your ducks and the village duck and his girl friend are so different in coloring. Love love love the colors on the boy/girl chicken. Amazing how good your dogs are with all the birds.

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  11. Anonymous10:46 pm

    It amazes me how you keep all their names straight (and remember them). I guess each name gets attached to a personality. (I'm amazed because I have such a poor memory.)

    I love the ducks' markings. What's the breed?

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    1. Augh, sorry I didn't answer this in a timely fashion. THey're Muscovy ducks.

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Thank you for all your comments, which I love to read!