Doves, Ducks and Deer

Well, Phyllis Pheasant seems to have toddled off to the woods to find Phil, so the chicks can meet Dad. I’ve not seen them about in the garden for a day or two. I’m missing them: suffering from ’empty-nest syndrome’. It would have been nice if they’d stayed a bit longer…or even said, ‘Goodbye!’ Huh! That’s kids for you!

Never mind, I’ve still got plenty to keep me busy.

The doves nesting in the bush in our garden must be about due to hatch. On looking it up, I’m reliably informed the incubation time is about eighteen days and it can’t be far off that since we first saw the two eggs. Dave and Dilly take it in turns to sit on the nest. Looks like Dave takes the early shift from mid-morning to late afternoon whereas Dilly takes her turn in late afternoon and overnight to mid-morning. Since the nest is right outside my bedroom window, I quite often watch the changeover. I love it. They have a wee ‘coo’ about how the shift went, a wee nod or two and the one takes over from the other.

Then there are the shelducks Sam and Sheila, who have taken a liking to the pond in the field over our hedge. They seem to have a nest somewhere in the vicinity since they are there day and night and have chased off a couple of their mates who were taking too much food from their pond. Apparently they quite like to purloin an old rabbit burrow to nest in.

I like to keep an eye on them too, looking forward to seeing baby ducklings on the pond any day soon.

While watching out for them the other evening, I was delighted to see some young deer in the field, congregating on the far side of the pond.

And all of this without stepping outside the garden!

Needless to say, all this baby watching is playing havoc with my writing: on the one hand all the creativity is inspiring, on the other, I keep interrupting myself to check what’s going on out there. However, I have managed to get novel number four, Here At The Gate, completed and off to the publisher. It’s now just a matter of seeing which babies are born first, doves, ducks or books.