Howz my ducks thismorning?

Well, it's a quiet Saturday morning on our part of the earth and the sun is shining. 


I can't hear any duck activity whatsoever.  This is about the time of the day when they all decide it's time for a sleep. 


Noisy is still on her nest and the others are over in their favorite corner under the shade of the grevillea trees.  They each have their own favorite spot where they will often go and nestle down with their beaks snuggled in under the feathers of one of their wings.  I don't know how they can turn their neck around like that, it actually looks a bit uncomfortable sometimes to me, but they seem quite happy in that position. 

If I go over their while they're sleeping Nipper will usually lift his head up and call out to warn me with a set of loudish single raspy growling sounds, like growling drake talk.  If he's really serious his feathers on top of his head start to rise up each time he growls.  Meanwhile the girls just stay still with their beeks snuggled under their wings but they keep their eyes open and they're little eyes are the only part of them that moves.  They look up and over to where I am as if to say " don't come near to us!  We're sleeping!  This is our rest-time and we don't want to be disturbed thank-you".  And Nipper chimes in with another set of growling raspish words of warning, just to make sure I understand.  Then, when he's satisfied that I'm going to mind my place he immediately wiggles his beak back in under one of his wings and just his eyes will be turned upward looking at me as a final statement. 

Then, as long as I keep my distance and stay still they all let their eyes get heavy again, slowly closing them and going back to their restful sleepy morning routine.  That's about when I move away quietly and come in and get myself a cup of tea.


Noisy was up again early thismorning for just a short while, splashing and chattering loudly in the pond and after filling her tummy went back to her nest.  She's got an amazing amount of eggs in there but I'm not sure how well Nipper has been doing his work so we have to wait and see.  She's been on the nest day and night now for just over two weeks.