2 groups combine

With the youngest ducks and drakes now between 9 and 8 weeks old I thought they were old enough to let them mingle with their 13 neighbours - and left the enclosure open after serving breakfast to all.
It wasn't long before I could see the youngsters near the tap at the garage ............. and then there was a lot of shrieking, flapping of wings and chasing:

 

This was Gertie almost buried under 3 drakes in this fuzzy picture.  Maybe it was because she received particularly rough treatment that she absented herself later while Billie-Jean and her "kids" were exploring exciting new ground behind the greenhouse and near the hedge:

 

 

 

John and I had been very busy in the garden all morning until lunchtime when the promised rain started.  Before going inside I took a few quick shots inside the rejuvenated conservatory.  John has not yet decided whether to keep the floor as earth and whether to sink the plants into it.  For the moment, all the pot plants we have put in are thriving, the peppers, the chilis and the 2 banana trees I bought John.  Also some pot plants I moved out of the sun lounge - I'm hoping the Strelitzia [bird of paradise] will finally produce flowers in there instead of just leaves, but the little calamondine has burst into a profusion of flowers already:












The naughty drakes from the 13-group have been continuing with their rape and pillage excursions all afternoon, even in the heavy rain.  Poor Gertie certainly seemed out of sorts, she was standing for ages by the gate with the rose arch, all by herself:

Poor Gertie, she's been a bit like a spare wheel ever since the ducklings hatched.  I did consider putting her in with Captain's group where I want Ben and Billie to go as well in a while, but I must say I didn't fancy trying to catch her in the pouring rain!