Sadly, I think that Mr Mallard (dad) is responsible for the missing ducklings. I witnessed him swimming up suddenly out of the blue snapping with beak open wide at the remaining ducklings as they were sleeping. The ducklings immediately got in the water swimming out of harms way.

Yesterday I set off on a quick walk deliberately leaving my camera at home. It was a local walk and I wasn’t expecting see anything new and photo worthy. How wrong I was. As I was sitting soaking up the atmosphere by the duck pond in Apley there was a sudden explosion of fluff bombs. Eight little ducklings emerged from the bank and started swimming around the pond at great speed. I did my best to capture them on my mobile phone, but for some reason it was playing up and most of the files were corrupt. I was left disappointed with only two extremely blurry photos.

Not to be deterred I made my way back to the duck pond this afternoon. I chose a different walking route just to mix it up a bit and was successful in my mission. I lingered for a while watching the cute little fluff balls zoom around the pool before they settled on a log for a nap. This meant it was time for me to continue my walk in the woods.

Click on photo to see video

Click on photo to see video

I sat on a bench whilst it gently rained hoping to see the ducklings that were hiding on my recent visit to Leegomery pools. My patience paid off, I spotted them in the distance. When they decided on their swim direction I walked around the pool to meet them.

They are such bundles of joy (only one missing in action) I lingered for a while watching their antics.

The afternoon sunshine was glorious but sadly it wasn’t quite warm enough to dine al fresco.

The Arley Arboretum is tucked away in the beautiful countryside of the Worcestershire and Shropshire borders near Bewdley, it boasts more than 300 species of trees in formal and informal plantings and gardens. The collection includes many rare and spectacular domestic and exotic trees. Nestling in the Severn Valley and overlooking the river, it has been growing and maturing in this idyllic setting for two centuries.

There is a beautiful Italianate Garden within the walled Garden which is planted throughout the year. Planted against the walls are a wonderful collection of camellias.

In the woodland garden you will find many more camellias, masses of daffodils, bluebells and trails.

On my recent visit to Lincoln Castle, to view the art instalation ‘Poppies Wave’ I noticed a mother duck and her cute ducklings sitting at eye level on a wall.

By the time I got back from looking at the poppies the mother duck and some of the ducklings were on the ground below the wall. Four ducklings however were running frantically backwards and forwards on the top of the wall squeaking loudly whilst mum waited patiently.

A Lincoln Castle grounds attendant gently herded the ducklings along the wall towards mum, when all but one wildly jumped off the wall to join the others. The last one eventually launched itself off the wall landing on its back needing a little assistance to right itself. For a few moments it looked like it was wounded, but all of a sudden it joined the back of the line of ducklings following mum. Eventually the eight ducklings lined up in a row following their patient mum.

I was so relieved to see that the last duckling was not harmed and was able to walk in line behind mum as she led her offspring through the castle grounds. In fact I was so relieved that the little one didn’t come to any harm, I watched the ducklings walking off rather than take any photos

The last photo is courtesy of Mr C who had not witnessed the unfolding drama of the ducklings and their mum.