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Sep 23, 2019 8:21 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cal McGaugh
Escondido, California (Zone 10b)
@bumplbea
Wow! Blinking
Thanks for all the nice comments. Smiling

That's so gratifying to know you enjoy our pond & all the wildlife it attracts. Smiling

E.g. Winston the Great (Horned Owl)......he's come 3 times so far (we think it's a "he")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

He must land on the kitchen roof right above the camera before coming down for a drink or a bath.

Haven't seen him since the last visit, but hoping. Crossing Fingers! Smiling Crossing Fingers!

Much more to come, so much to share.

Today I have to pull out a huge amount of water hyacinths to make more room for the ducks to
land & "play".

I will post more episodes later today of the soap opera sitcom, "Real Ducks of Escondido". Thumbs up
Learn and/or create something every day.

Our Duck Pond The thread "Pool to Natural Pond Conversion" in Ponds and Water Gardening forum
Last edited by EscondidoCal Sep 23, 2019 8:22 AM Icon for preview
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Sep 23, 2019 9:46 AM CST
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
Bee Lover Butterflies Garden Photography Cat Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Region: Massachusetts
Region: Ukraine
OMGoodness Cal, you are so lucky! And so is Winston! Lovey dubby
You don't kick walls down, you pull the nails out and let them fall.
AKA Joey.
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Sep 23, 2019 11:34 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cal McGaugh
Escondido, California (Zone 10b)
Thank you, Joanna! Smiling
So glad to share it with y'all. Big Grin

Here's the first installment of Real Ducks of Escondido,
Season 2, episode 10 (will fill in Season 1, and S2 E 1~9 =)

"Two's Company, ...." https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
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Sep 23, 2019 12:00 PM CST
Name: Bea
PNW (Zone 8b)
Bulbs Native Plants and Wildflowers Spiders! Solar Power Hibiscus Hydrangeas
Peonies Hummingbirder Houseplants Hostas Keeps Horses Zinnias
Beautiful ducks. Looks so peaceful. I tip my hat to you.
I’m so busy... “I don’t know if I found a rope or lost a horse.”
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Sep 23, 2019 3:17 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cal McGaugh
Escondido, California (Zone 10b)
It appears peaceful, but if you watch the whole 12 min,
you'll see the melodrama unfold. Smiling

It starts out with an adult male & female.....a pair?
Turns out the male is an interloper who separated the
female from her date, a young male (dappled head).

I don't remember all the details, but at some point the female's
date tries to get back with her, the blue head male is still trying
to horn in.

The female obviously wants to be with the young guy and not blue head,
and shows it by poking her head to the side repeatedly at blue head......
"Get lost, loser! Billy & I want to be together!"

At some point, the other young male, Johnny, who is really the strongest of all, comes to
Billy & Bobby Jo's rescue, and chases Eddie, the blue loser, to the other side of the pond.
BTW, Johnny's girl, Becky Sue, is not having any of Eddie's annoying advances either.

At least that's how I saw it ;)

Finally, they seem to have straightened out who's supposed to be with whom, when something
spooked them (not me), and they all took off.

Hopefully, the two younger couples were able to ditch Eddie. Whistling
I still need to review all the "tapes" to see who came back. Smiling
Learn and/or create something every day.

Our Duck Pond The thread "Pool to Natural Pond Conversion" in Ponds and Water Gardening forum
Last edited by EscondidoCal Sep 23, 2019 4:15 PM Icon for preview
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Sep 23, 2019 5:15 PM CST
Name: Carol
Santa Ana, ca
Sunset zone 22, USDA zone 10 A.
Bookworm Charter ATP Member Region: California Hummingbirder Orchids Plant Identifier
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Drama, indeed! luckily some of us are easily entertained.
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Sep 24, 2019 3:38 AM CST
Name: Jim
Northeast Pennsylvania (Zone 6b)
Gardens feed my body, soul & spirit
Greenhouse Vegetable Grower Fruit Growers Seed Starter Canning and food preservation Region: Pennsylvania
Always enjoy watching your videos, Cal. Love the ones of Winston. I hope he returns for you to catch him on camera again. Your pond is one of the prettiest I have ever seen. It always looks great!
My PA Food Forest Thread at NGA
“The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” (Rabindranath Tagore)
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Sep 25, 2019 12:57 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cal McGaugh
Escondido, California (Zone 10b)
ctcarol said:Drama, indeed! luckily some of us are easily entertained.

Hilarious! Better than soaps on TV. Smiling
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Sep 25, 2019 1:01 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cal McGaugh
Escondido, California (Zone 10b)
MoonShadows said:Always enjoy watching your videos, Cal. Love the ones of Winston. I hope he returns for you to catch him on camera again. Your pond is one of the prettiest I have ever seen. It always looks great!

Thanks, Jim! Still haven't seen Winston since he took a bath, but am keeping a water bowl for him just in case. Smiling Crossing Fingers!
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Sep 29, 2019 4:44 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cal McGaugh
Escondido, California (Zone 10b)
Lots has happened lately.....here are the first 3 of 7 videos from 7am on 9/26/19.
It was like a whole season compressed into one morning.

One Plus Three
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Calm Before the Storm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Party Crashers Get Booted! =O
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

More to come. Smiling
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Sep 29, 2019 4:29 PM CST
Name: Bea
PNW (Zone 8b)
Bulbs Native Plants and Wildflowers Spiders! Solar Power Hibiscus Hydrangeas
Peonies Hummingbirder Houseplants Hostas Keeps Horses Zinnias
Hilarious, calming, and a slice of heaven.🥳👏😇
I’m so busy... “I don’t know if I found a rope or lost a horse.”
Image
Sep 29, 2019 4:54 PM CST
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
Bee Lover Butterflies Garden Photography Cat Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Region: Massachusetts
Region: Ukraine
And some Duck Drama too! Hilarious!
You don't kick walls down, you pull the nails out and let them fall.
AKA Joey.
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Dec 5, 2019 5:26 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cal McGaugh
Escondido, California (Zone 10b)
Hi all,

lots has happened since I last posted. We're getting some nice rain,
so I have time to post. Great duck weather. Big Grin

Here are some pics from the past few days....videos to follow later today.
http://cal3d.com/Pond2019/SS12...

We're getting more ducks....10~20 or more morning & evening, and some stay
almost all day. Going through 25 lb of scratch every 2-4 days.

Plus there's an "all you can eat" salad bar......they've done a great job shredding
all the water lettuce. And they can dabble to their heart's content for the little fresh water shrimp that
live in the roots of the plants. The girls especially seem to like dabbling, while
the boys patiently follow them around looking cool (or at least trying to).

It's messy on the coving (scratch) especially with the rain, but no big deal.
You'd think there would be a mess of duck poop all over the place, but
amazingly, none.....must all be in the pond. Rolling my eyes.

Also Ralph the Great Egret came back for a couple of weeks last month.....initially, I shooed him off,
but now we just enjoy seeing him. Though he apparently gave up catching fish since the ducks keep
the water so turbulent, he can't see the fish.....plus the fish are wary, and stay lower now.

Ralph hanging out, the ducks ignore him for the most part
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Ralph takes off.....wait for the slo-mo part. ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Here's a little video of Ralph fishing:
(see it in normal time, then in "slo-mo", as he takes off, and dips to snatch an unwary fish)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Haven't seen him in a few weeks, and still have plenty of fish (though not encouraging him).

Anyway, lots to show & tell. Smiling
Learn and/or create something every day.

Our Duck Pond The thread "Pool to Natural Pond Conversion" in Ponds and Water Gardening forum
Last edited by EscondidoCal Dec 5, 2019 5:32 AM Icon for preview
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Dec 5, 2019 8:08 AM CST
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
Bee Lover Butterflies Garden Photography Cat Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Region: Massachusetts
Region: Ukraine
Wow, no kidding! Lots to see, and for you, lots to do! That is one little amazing eco system! Always so happy to see it.
You don't kick walls down, you pull the nails out and let them fall.
AKA Joey.
Image
Dec 5, 2019 12:10 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cal McGaugh
Escondido, California (Zone 10b)
Thanks, Joey! Big Grin
All the more satisfying knowing you enjoy it with us.
Image
Dec 5, 2019 12:38 PM CST
North Central Massachusetts (N (Zone 5b)
Life & gardens: make them beautiful
Bee Lover Butterflies Garden Photography Cat Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Region: Massachusetts
Region: Ukraine
Oh, I do, I DO! And I'm sure others do too. Thumbs up
You don't kick walls down, you pull the nails out and let them fall.
AKA Joey.
Image
Dec 5, 2019 1:04 PM CST
Name: Carol
Santa Ana, ca
Sunset zone 22, USDA zone 10 A.
Bookworm Charter ATP Member Region: California Hummingbirder Orchids Plant Identifier
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Watching your videos is better than sitting at Wild Animal Park. No people in the way! Hilarious!
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Dec 5, 2019 5:47 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cal McGaugh
Escondido, California (Zone 10b)
Thanks, Carol! Smiling
You have front row seats. Thumbs up
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Dec 6, 2019 2:26 AM CST
Name: Jim
Northeast Pennsylvania (Zone 6b)
Gardens feed my body, soul & spirit
Greenhouse Vegetable Grower Fruit Growers Seed Starter Canning and food preservation Region: Pennsylvania
That's a lot of ducks and scratch, Cal. Whistling Beautiful pictures; great colors! And, Ralph was back! Hurray! I'm surprised with all those ducks, you don't have a poop problem. Thinking Always enjoy your pond updates. I read your tree mail...just haven't gotten around to answering yet.
My PA Food Forest Thread at NGA
“The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” (Rabindranath Tagore)
Last edited by MoonShadows Dec 6, 2019 2:27 AM Icon for preview
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Dec 6, 2019 4:21 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Cal McGaugh
Escondido, California (Zone 10b)
Hey Jim! Smiling
Luckily, scratch is relatively cheap.
Here are some ducks flying up for breakfast from cloud-covered Lake Hodges below us
a few days ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

re: poop problem.....I don't see any, so guessing they "go" when
they hit the water. Hilarious!

I've been pumping the sludge out of the deep end once a week, but the impeller
broke the other day, so had to order a new pump.....it must
have sucked up a rock or two, and eventually shattered the plastic.

Anyway, will be careful to keep it ~6 inches off the bottom from now on.
The new pump arrived Thurs, and will use it later today to take out ~500 gal.

I think the fish are starting to go dormant for the winter, as I only see them during the
warmest time of the day now. Haven't seen any bodies, and Ralph has not been around.

I can leave the lotus as is, though need to re-pot the lilies before they wake up in the spring.
I'm going to divide the cannas for more around the pond, and will give the
taro and the water hibiscus a larger tub.

I have some time-lapse videos I'm editing to upload by Saturday. Smiling

Everyone be safe in all this wet cold wild weather.

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