The first batch of broad beans, utterly delicious.
The first bowl of soft fruit, that the birds and dogs kindly left for us, so sweet.
Morello cherries, the birds are more than welcome to these, as they’re sour. Three trees, totally laden with cherries will be devoured in days.
June and July are all about the roses, I have many more, some bought, some raised from cuttings and some self-sown.
The summer clematis are coming out…and
they are most welcome given I’ve forgotten I even planted them.
The first hedgehogs of the year have been released. This is a lovely spot, well away from roads with plenty of shrubbery and vegetation for cover.
Hubs is always there to help me out, he also keeps Dixie, so people don’t spot us releasing them. You do get some undesirable people hanging around these areas, usually the hunting types; they’ll shoot anything for the fun of it.
Can you spot the first hog heading off ?
It’s really upsetting to write about the next horrendous release, but I have to tell it as it is, and have a record of this, given how the authorities are not taking it seriously.
I released fourteen ducks, a few days ago, that all came in as tiny ducklings, at Heatons Bridge, Scarisbrick, on the Leeds, Liverpool canal. This is a beautiful stretch of canal, the perfect place for releasing ducks.
It was weird from the beginning. None of the ducks wanted to come out, so I had to get them all out, one by one, and because I was doing that, I wasn’t seeing what was happening on the water.
Once all the ducks were out, I was astonished to see them scattering in all directions, some were even flying away.
I’ve been releasing ducks for more years than I can remember and have never seen ducks behave like this before. They always group up instantly and spend a few days exploring their immediate stretch of water, along with bullying any other resident ducks.
Utterly bewildered, I kept desperately looking for the released ducks. I finally saw three, and to my horror they just disappeared under the water, all in different parts of the canal. None of the birds came up again, so something must have pulled them to the bottom and held them there. I didn’t see any ripples, that gave the predators away.
There had to be at least five predators in the water, so I presume it was adult terrapins, that had been released irresponsibly. Terrapins are not native and can’t breed as the temperature has to be 25 for their eggs to hatch. I know terrapins can snap a leg off a duckling, but drown fully grown ducks????
Anyway, I located about six released ducks that got out of there, but for how long. I have to say it was the most horrendous experience, I felt like I sent them all to their deaths, but who on earth could predict that? That release will haunt me forever.
I contacted the canal and waterways, they said they’d pass it on, doubt they will, the non-emergency police/country cops, weren’t interested and I couldn’t get through to the RSPCA.
I explained that this is not normal, that something is in the water that shouldn’t be there, [I’m guessing terrapins, but who knows?] and that it’s only a matter of time before a child or adult has a toe or finger snapped off if they go near the water…..my fear is reading a horror story in the paper and feeling that I should have pushed it more.
And finally….
I’d like to introduce the, “Whatever The Weather Girls”, consisting of my chums and I, who get together to check out a new restaurant, once or twice a month, and explore Liverpool, our iconic city.
It’s all about our long-term friendship really, what we chat about and sharing our love of Liverpool.
Trish, Anne and I are going to take it in turns, posting here, about our adventures. I’ve added a new page at the top of this blog if anyone would like to see our introduction and why we came up with that name.
Hopefully, you’ll find us entertaining.
So sorry to read about the ducks …
I think your garden is looking good, those roses are beautiful.
Enjoy your outings with the girls 🙂
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, at least I’ve learnt not to release ducks where there are no ducks!!!xxx
PS Love the Whatevertheweathergirls!!
Thanks Gill, they are great girls!xxx
How extraordinary. It’s like something from a horror film. It would be interesting to get an underwater camera in there. Maybe with evidence the police will do something.
It felt like being in the middle of a horror film, I just couldn’t work out what was going on as there was no hint of what was taking them! I do hope the authorities get to the bottom of it! Thanks Gill.xxx
Love your roses living in an apt haven’t had very many flowers. How awful for those poor little ducks. I know it had to upset you awfully. You have done what I would have done. Dont know what else you can do.
Hi Free, good to hear from you. Hope all is well in your world. It was horrible seeing them disappear, I still can’t get over it. I never expected that to happen …..jeez! Thanks Free.xxx
Whatever is in the water deserves to be pan fried and eaten. How sad for the ducks. I love your girls group! What fun! I’m back to blogging again!
Whatever’s in the water needs sorting that’s for sure, I’ve never seen anything like it! Great to hear you’re back!xxx
Really sad to hear! And quite scary. You should contact your local paper and get some sort of discussion going as it needs to be checked out. I love that photo of the liver birds. Liverpool, my favourite city !!
Thanks Judy, yes, it was sad, poor things. I certainly will contact local papers! Lots more coming re Liverpool! I do hope all is well with you, always lovely to hear from you.xxxx
So lucky you! So many delicious beans and fruits and beautiful flowers!
Poor ducks! Such sad news!
Thanks Jade, it’s always a pleasure having home-grown produce. I do pity those poor ducks, what a shame.xxx
If you’d had that experience with the ducks here, the first and probably best guess would be alligators or a fish known as the alligator gar. Neither alligators nor crocodiles are going to survive in England because of the cold water, but there have been a very few instances of them being reported. I don’t think your long-nosed gar could take an adult duck, but an alligator gar certainly could. Not to make light of the situation, but I have to suggest another possibility — has anyone seen the Loch Ness Monster recently?
You couldn’t have known, of course. I often watch gulls and gar pick off the baby ducks, and it’s distressing as can be. Still, it’s the way of nature, and has its own purposes. I do hope whatever took your ducks is native, and not someone’s ‘pet’ that was irresponsibly released.
I think the strangest part of the release was that there was sight nor sound of anything, no ripples, shadows in the water, air bubbles…..absolutely nothing. Whatever took them, did so silently, without disturbing the water, then them at the bottom, as nothing floated up, not even air bubbles from the ducks. I’m sure I would have seen the Loch Ness Monster….
Oh, it’s sad seeing ducklings being picked off, here the yellow ones are taken first as they shine out like little beacons. I have no doubt that something non-native took those ducks. Thanks Linda.xxx
Oh, how awful about the ducklings! On the plus side, you’ve got wonderful roses and Clematis.
Thanks Jason, I have had some gorgeous roses this year, I’ve picked some for the house as well, not something I usually do. Yes, those poor duck mustn’t have known what hit them, it was a horrible experience.xxx
That really is the stuff of nightmares. I bet you couldn’t sleep. It’s also beyond me why anyone gains enjoyment shooting any living creature.
Things are always worse when you replay them, on a loop at night….some things are impossible to get out of your head. You and me both re the shooters Sue.xxx
So so good to see the gifts from your garden — even the ones the other garden inhabitants have spared you (those berries look delicious!). And your roses…I love the colors from the dainty blush pinks to the rich apricots.
I’m sorry to hear about those ducks and the mystery of their disappearance. But think of the hundreds of other releases you and hubby have done with no reason to think they were not successful.
Looking forward to reading more about your lovely group. Those close connections are so precious, aren’t they?
I’ve had some lovely roses this year, but they’ve all finished their first bloom at the same time, I’m hoping they all come back and keep going for a few months. That release was downright strange, I’ve never had an experience like that, something dodgy has to be in the water. I do hope the authorities sort it out. Oh, where would we be without our close pals….thanks Anne.xxx
Re alien species Snowbird. Do you have a local paper? And/or, is therea space for a nature notes observation column in any larger media outlet by you? What you have written here says it all and very cogently. Not only is it eye-catching, it has all the written connecting issues contained in it. One other possibility is to send it pics and all (including previous ones of release) to a local TV station. Perhaps they’ll run with it.
Your soft fruits and flowers are really doing their bloomin’ thing aren’t they. My Peony roses always flower when it’s precociously raining and blowing gales…except for last year! the Clematis are fab.
xxx
What a good idea, thanks Menhir, contacting local papers, I shall get onto that! It may unearth similar stories. Funnily enough, my peonies like to flower as it rains too, but I have varieties that close in the rain which helps them last longer.xxx
So sorry to read about your poor ducks, although you were doing the best you could for them. The garden looks wonderful, all full of blossoms, fruit and vegetables! Enjoy your summer months and your ‘Whatever the weather girls!” such a good idea. I really enjoy catching up with my friends regularly …I might start a similar group!
Thanks Gerrie, poor ducks, how sorry I felt for the poor things.Oh….I hope you do start a similar group and post about your adventures.xxx
Dear Dina, I would have pulled off all my hair if somethings like that would have happened to me. You are absolutely right saying that must have been some not endogenous wild animal. And the idea that could be terrapins, is quite possible. This kind of problem happens in many lands when people get rid of their pet by leaving them in the wild. Is irresponsible, and for sure should be punished by the law.
Maybe you should write to some organisation for the keeping of the territory: it has to be monitored, the biologues must take proof from the water to be sure about what’s going on. Yes, you must not wait that some kid or young adult get badly hurt. Is a kind of ethical thought, towards the evenience that something bad could happen.
I don’t know how the laws are in GB, but for what I guess, it must be some written rules about the preservation of the native flora and fauna.
Hope everything will get better, maybe next time to will free some duckling… first put someting else in the water (a pice of dead meat) and see what will happen.
Hugs and kisses, my dear :-)claudine
People are always releasing non-native creatures, especially in the waterways, it is actually illegal, but catching the offenders is never easy. I have told everyone I can think of so hopefully nothing worse will happen, it’s the responsibility of the canals and waterways to investigate further. I did feel like pulling my hair out! It was a disaster. What a good idea re dangling meat in the water, I’ll certainly try that if there are no ducks around. Thanks Claudine, hugs and love to all.xxx
Yeowza, Dina, your fruit and veggies look soooo delicious, and the gardens—especially the roses—are to die for!
Those little hoggies look so darling setting out into the great, wild world! Bless you both for all your wonderful care and precious time.
So very distressing to hear about the ducks; I’m sorry for the suffering of all, and sure hope the source can be discovered and avoided! Gentle peace, dear one. How very upsetting.
Hooray for the Whatever the Weather Girls! May you adventures be many and merry!
Releasing hogs is always a delight and rarely complicated, thank goodness! Such a shame about those poor ducks, who knew that could happen. I’ll go back to releasing them in places where there are ducks! Thanks Kitty. Love and hugs to one and all.xxx
The garden’s looking good, especially the roses. Don’t be too hard on yourself re the ducks as you weren’t to know what was lurking in the canal.
Enjoy your dining and exploring. xx
Thanks Flighty, no-one could have predicted that outcome, but at least I’ve learnt something from it, never to release ducks where there aren’t any. xxx
That sounds horrific, I’m so sorry. I know pike will take a duckling, but surely not three fully grown ducks. Lots of morello cherries here too – they’re absolutely delicious stoned, cooked with sugar and served with Greek yoghurt over the top – it makes the yoghurt taste like cream. I think it’s been a bumper year for them this year. Lovely to see that hedgehog heading off back to the wild, well done you.
Thanks CJ. I’ve never heard of pike in the canal, and have googled it, but nothing is coming up. There was absolutely no sign of anything, air bubbles, ripples or shadows….all very strange. I was going to pick some cherries after your comment, but every last one had gone!!! xxx
Well done on your rose propagation. Seed grown roses are exciting because you know they will be unique. Lovely to enjoy summer produce. So sad about your ducklings, but could it have been otters?
I often have new roses popping up, it’s all thanks to the birds though. I thought about otters, but I didn’t see any heads bobbing up and did hang around for quite a while watching the water, I didn’t even see ripples or air bubbles, it was all very strange. Thanks Chloris.xxx
What an awful experience and totally heartbreaking when you’ve nurtured those ducklings until they were ready for release. We saw a terrapin just walking down the street, years ago now, and didn’t realise the problem they cause wildlife until we looked into what we could do with him. He ended up going to live with someone who kept other terrapins. I wrote a post about him on my old blog:- http://jo-thegoodlife.blogspot.com/2010/07/unexpected-visitor.html
I’m glad the hedgehog release went better!
It was awful seeing those birds die, especially after all the tlc they had for months. I saw lots of terrapins in the canal when we had our narrowboat, they were known to snap legs of ducklings but never known to drown an adult duck. Interesting reading you story, glad the terrapin found a good home, and better for the water birds too. Thanks Jo.xxx
Oh those poor ducks! You must have been heartbroken. As you say, the authorities will probably ignore it until something even worse happens. Glad the hog got away safely. Your garden is looking fantastic. I love roses but can’t plant them in the back garden as the deer eat them all. I’ve never tried taking cuttings from them – is it tricky? Cheers to the ‘Whatever the Weather’ girls; such a lovely idea. xx
I was pretty stunned and sickened after that release, I’ll have to go back to releasing where there are other ducks. I do hope whatever is in the water doesn’t start attacking people! You must try rose cutting, it really is easy, I get lots of roses that way. They grow and flower quickly too. I would love to have deer in the garden, but wouldn’t want them eating my plants! Thanks Veggiemummy.xxx