u/GlassCicada510

Mummy duck had flown out of a clump of Iris unguicularis at the base of a wall, nearly 4 weeks ago, (frightened the life out of me!). I counted 11 duck eggs and, surprisingly, 2 pheasant eggs. She must have decided to use a ready made nest, but there was cause for concern as I envisaged her leading poor baby pheasants to swim, along with her ducklings. She was sitting in the walled garden, so tall wire barricades were put up, so when they did hatch, they wouldn’t make their way into the main garden and I could leave the gate open to the big pond where the ducks and moorhens hang out. Of course, best laid plans and all that, I returned from a morning out to find them pootling about on the lawn (which is a fledgling meadow), and later, to the fish pond where they had their first swim, and a hasty floating ramp was quickly put in place, made from an old kneeler pad that I had. 10 ducklings, on inspection of the nest there was one unhatched duck egg and 2 squashed pheasant eggs, so maybe they were old when she starting sitting on them.
After those adventures, a phone call from our neighbour told me they had crossed the road (more stress) and were heading to the big pond there. So now I hope they are as safe as can be, and I am quite relieved as finally I can do no more!