Tag Archives: ducks

Snowfall

Two enormous storms are sweeping across the Pacific and are hitting British Columbia’s northern coast, Vancouver Island and lower mainland with a huge force of wind and rain. They are even reaching into the interior. At the higher elevations, the rain is actually snow, and it is coming down in huge amounts. Here in our deep valley, we are seemingly escaping the worst of it, but we did get a little snow yesterday.

Once there’s snow, our resident duck flock is more reliant on food provided for them and as soon as they saw us heading their way, they lost no time in mobbing my M who started scattering some yummies for them.

Lunch time!

It doesn’t take long for them to devour a large bag of quinoa, especially when it’s cold.

We did get some snow collection over night but much of it melted today.

Happy Wednesday.

Duck Snacks!

M and I recently stopped to give our resident duck flock some cooked quinoa which they love. As soon as they realised we were stopping with treats, we were mobbed.

Flying in from every direction …
… they gathered at M’s feet.
Yum, yum, yum …
… it’s so hard to find a tasty bug right now!
It helps to have friends …
… who can feed us so well!

Have a ducky Saturday.

Duck Attack!

I stopped at the ducks’ favourite spot to provide them with a nutritious treat: cooked quinoa. They loved it and me too as long as I was scattering it on the ground. I was expecting more loyalty but as it turns out they’re rather fickle!

I was quite mobbed and one duck grabbed my pant leg and hung on, definitely wanting me to single him out, but how he was going eat and hold on, I’m not sure.

I wasn’t too concerned about making sure everyone got some, although I did try to do that. These ducks are quite well fed: just as I was finishing up, someone else was arriving with a big bag of veggies cut into duck-sized bites.

These birds are definitely the town pets – make no wonder they stay year round!

Delighted Duckies

Someone stopped at the year-round duck community next to the creek to drop off some veggies and grain for them.

They were in duck dinner heaven. No scavenging for bugs tonight!

These ducks forage mostly on their own but people will supplement their diet with carrots, peas, cabbage, cooked pasta and quinoa, all of which are good nutritional choices for them. Feeding them bread or crackers really isn’t good for them as they apparently gain weight easily and this affects their ability to walk.

Happy Monday.

Duck Creek

The ducks have been happily inhabiting their creek since the spring run-off subsided back in June.

Because of our drought it has become quite low, so the ducks are now camping out on a little creek island.

Some still like the embankment though, where they’re more likely to get such treats as peas or lettuce which are nutritionally sound choices for them (not bread or crackers).

Have a ducky Thursday.

Urban Creek

We live near the creek that runs through Penticton, and although its name actually is “Penticton Creek,” it definitely behaves and looks more like a river at times.

A low April creek with a napping duck.
Very fast-running and full May creek.
June. The water levels had gone down enough that it could once more become duck central.
A beautifully shaded July creek.

Our resident mallard duck flock loves this creek and lives near the outflow end where it empties into Okanagan Lake. Everyone loves them, feeds them and fusses over them. They’ve definitely found themselves a good gig!

Happy Ducks

The ducks are happy again! Their favourite creek is now flowing at its normal levels, they have mated and moulted, and the rest of their summer will be pretty easy. The photo above shows male ducks; that’s because the mums have all the young ones down by the lake to hang out with the geese.

The dads get to kick back in and next to the creek, recovering from their recent moult.

Happy Friday.

Duck Duty

While visiting our nearby Japanese Garden a couple of days ago, I saw a male duck sitting very quietly on one of the platforms set into the garden pond for the placement of a sculpture or plants.

When I got closer, I could see that there was a depression in the platform where the dirt had been pushed away and I realised that daddy duck was incubating his offspring.

Ducks form seasonal pair bonds that last until the males have to leave to find a protected spot to do their molting, usually after the young ones hatch.

The ducks have been in a bit of upheaval because their favourite little creek has been running high (a situation that’s improving for them), but this duck seems to have settled on this spot for his family.

Happy Monday. Have a ducky one.

Lower Penticton Creek

Six weeks ago when I was last at home, the lower Penticton Creek (near where it empties into Okanagan Lake) was very placid and the ducks were happily paddling along, with maybe a Canada goose or two around as well.

But now, the creek is definitely displaying its brawnier self.

Presently, it certainly doesn’t look like the same creek. In fact, it’s not. This is a river. I expected the flow to have started dropping by now (I posted about this a couple of days ago) but it’s still barreling along, the product of snow melt from the mountains and rain down here in the valley. If anything, it’s higher.

The ducks have unhappily scattered into Okanagan Lake and I can tell that they’re not comfortable there. They would like to have their safe little creek back.

Happy Saturday.

River Runs Wild

Back in mid-April I posted pictures of the quiet little creek that runs near our place in Penticton.

The ducks love it and even take naps there.

I had expected to find some young waddlers being shepherded by their parents on my next trip home, but …

… I instead found a very swollen, fast creek, loaded with mountain run-off. The ducks have waddled off to safer, calmer waters, as this creek is running near the top of its embankment.

Happy Thursday.