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You never know what kind of birds will show up at our feeders in the morning.
Cardinals? Check.
Bluebirds? Yup.
Ruby Throated Hummingbirds are back and I saw the first Baltimore Oriole yesterday. But this morning?
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It was a pair of Mallard ducks.
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They’re comical to watch as it’s mating season and the male follows closely behind the female everywhere she goes. She leads him on a merry chase and you know she enjoys it immensely.
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As I mentioned before, spring has brought an abundance of showers to my little corner of Maine. As proof…. I offer the new visitors who dropped by this week.
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A pair of mallard ducks who’ve made our backyard puddle their temporary home.
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We had ducks as pets years ago and I’ve always enjoyed watching them. They’re quite comical.
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But this pair is wild and flies off if they spot me. So for now, this is as close as my zoom lens will get me.
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This week’s headlines from my little corner of the world.
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It’s duck season in Maine, so you can’t blame the poor bird for trying to find safe water.
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Not being a fan of eggs, I refuse to give this pie the recognition they believe it deserves.
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There you have it. A one of a kind chicken conveyance.
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Keep grandma off the streets!
Buy jam.
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We have chicken neighbors, but the rude things never drop by.
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Our little town has an annual community celebration and more often than not we don’t go. But after a year of hermit like Covid living, travel plan cancellations and avoiding large indoor crowds… an outdoor festival seemed perfect.
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There was live music.
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And the prerequisite ugly craft displays. Bird baths made from repurposed antique glass? I’m picturing myself scrubbing the poo out of all those grooves. Hard pass.
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The husband lost me for a half hour at the library book sale. A dollar a book and we had to make two trips to the car.
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There was a tiny petting zoo.
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With bad hair day inhabitants.
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We bought ducks for the derby.
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But our sorry ass quacks were almost dead last.
To be continued….
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Because I never run out of drivel.
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I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess most of those voters were male.
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I followed this truck the other day and it made me smile. The Russians are coming? As long as they bring vodka and pelmeni I’m probably alright with that.
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O. M. G.
I may never go in my closet after dark again….
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I bought quack snacks for our visiting pair of mallards. I bought two bags because I’m a generous duck loving person.
Did the ducks appreciate my effort and generosity? They most certainly did not. And refused to eat one single lousy bite.
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Ungrateful little bastards.
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Our resident mallard is really into his food.
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And yes, I meant that literally.
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The rival males still show up now and then.
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But our female has made her choice and they end up wandering around aimlessly…. as single men are apt to do.
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Standoffs with the woodchuck are still a thing.
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And the male mallard is showing some battle scars on his breast.
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But this day they were victorious…. and took a load off next to the spoils.
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Disturbing duck facts added for dramatic ending.
You’re welcome.
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Our pair of visiting mallards is so cute. The male follows the female around the yard like a lost puppy and sits patiently while she nibbles.
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But then….
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Two rival males arrived.
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He chased them, he flew at them, he put his head down and charged them but nothing worked.
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They just kept moving closer.
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Right after I took this picture he went full ninja duck on their ass and finally drove them off. The Mrs? She was not impressed and simply kept eating.
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The bowl of deer grain is popular, with everyone but the deer for whom it is intended.
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Our resident woodchuck, (named Chuck because we’re creative that way) loves it…
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But so do our new friends the ducks.
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It’s first come first serve at Casa River, and no matter how much posturing and maneuvering the waterfowl did…
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Chuck reigned supreme.
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And even barked at them when they got too close. I’ve been known to do the same around my margaritas, so I don’t judge.
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A few weeks ago the waterfowl landed.
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A pair of mallards who have since taken up semi residence.
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They come to nibble under the bird feeders and have discovered that deer grain and fox food is tasty as well.
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We wake to the sound of quacking, and when a thunder storm rumbled by the other day? They flew in and took shelter.
❤️
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I saw an article the other day about all the amazing things people are doing with the spare time the pandemic shutdowns are providing them.
Some were worth while.
Others?
You decide.
Did Rufus McToofus need his very own adirondack chair to celebrate accordingly?
Probably not.
That’s so special it hurts.
Just…. wow.
What do you suppose those ducks are posting on social media? Can someone please investigate and report back. I’d hate for those ducks to have a more interesting blog than mine.
Finally….
A worthy use of time.
River's world..... 