Every year pair of mallards arrive in our garden to try out our ponds.
The female has decided that the reeds in the corner would be an ideal location for a nest and sets to work building it.
Meanwhile the male just swims around , clearly impatient to get on with life.
At last an egg is safely delivered into the nest.
Just as the mallards were about to leave a morehen inspects the nest area only to find it is too late!
A female mallard builds a nest from leaves and grasses and lines it with down plucked from her breast! Eggs are laid between mid-March and the end of July. A normal clutch is about 12 eggs, laid at one to two day intervals. After each egg is laid, the clutch is covered to protect it from predators.
It is now day three and there are three eggs in the nest and we watch with anticipation.
Glebe House Garden 
What fun to have your own mallard nest to watch. I am surprised they nest in such a small pond.
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Thanks Lisa, It is not the first time they have laid there. I guess it is quite well protected
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How wonderful to be able to watch the ducks and their babies. I hope you’ll show the hatchlings when they come.
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If I see them. Last time they laid eggs she took them away as soon as they hatched. Just looked out of the window and she is busy laying more eggs!
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I will be watching in anticipation.
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Thanks Jackie. Will post the progress as it happens
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What a privilege to have nesting ducks.
A couple of years ago a house ‘down river’ from us had a flock of very ornamental ducks, no idea what they were. But much to my delight they would come and visit and often stay for much of the day. Then around 5.00 p.m. they would all flop back in the river and paddle off home.. presumably to be prompt for feeding time!
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Thanks. Five eggs today but not well covered up so I hope nothing else fancies egg for its tea!
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