[christina]

On Thursday (17 April) we arrived home after 5 glorious weeks in Scotland. Yesterday I was pottering around the garden again but concentrated on a few pots just outside the garden gate. I found, amongst some weeds, some wonderfully soft downy feathers and wondered to myself where they had come from, I continued to potter and weed but felt I was being watched! I looked up and to my delight I saw Mrs Mallard who has made a nest in one of our pillars. She just watched me (obviously she's been watching me since Thursday, walking past her, pottering around her). I am soooo excited that she will be having chicks sometime soon. We are trying to avoid that part of the garden as we don't want her to abandon her nest but its difficult as she's nesting very close to the house and front door....will post some pics when we are able to take them.