Watering the ducks

I often go out in the evenings and use the hose to water the flowers in the backyard and sprinkle what little grass still tries to grow.  I've noticed on a number of occasions that some of the Muscovy ducks like the spray and walk into it and stand facing me so the water lands on them.  They stay for a while and then walk off and flap their wings to dry off.  I guess they like the nice fresh water to shower in.  Today a few took advantage of the spray and I got a photo of it.  I think it looks hilarious.  I might have to deliberately water them now that it seems that they love it so much!

Lazlo loves to be watered with the hose

Muscovy female Chirpie made it all the way to the backyard with her remaining 4 babies yesterday and 3 today.  She has lost two since I saw her in the neighborhood two days ago.  They are very little but spunky and like to forage for seeds in the grass.  It's good to see them getting some natural veggies from the grass and the weeds.  At first they looked for a long time at the baby pool I put up but didn't try it.  By a few hours later they were bolder and popped right in the water. Yesterday they dabbled in the water across the canal before coming into the backyard.  Today they came twice to eat and stayed around under the bougainvillea and the neighbor's bushes.
 

The little foursome before it became a threesome

Portrait of a cutie pie

Once we understood this water thing, we loved it

Dabbling duckies

There have been relatively few Muscovies around these days, particularly in the mornings, though I have seen a number of them dabbling in the water both on my side of the canal and mostly on the golf course side.  There must be something particularly yummy to eat over there.  I thought I saw duckweed growing in the water but it's gone now so maybe they ate it all.   Today I saw Smiley and a few of the harem girls in the backyard, along with Black Foot, Blanco and another male.  Blanco has a bit of a cough and I'm a little worried about him.

Looking good but not feeling so good

Toward midday, Cutie2 flew in with Lazlo.  That would be a nice, and appropriate, couple it it works out.  They flew off together after eating and Lazlo later returned and hung out with one of the harem girls so maybe it's only wishful thinking that he and Cutie2 would couple up, as much as Muscovies couple up.  It's more like they hook up briefly.

This afternoon female Pretty Girl stopped in for her daily visit.  It looked like her abdomen was sagging on one side or like it was a loose skin pouch.  I'm not sure what that's all about.  I wonder if she is incubating a nest or laying eggs.

Pretty Girl has flabby abs

The Muscovy juveniles came in the morning both yesterday and today.  I found them under the bougainvillea and they ate by their pool.  All of them are pretty big but one is definitely bigger.  It is still not clear which are males and which are females.  I am actually wondering if they are mostly males except maybe one that seems more petite.  They were arguing and beak fighting a little over space in the pool and on the grass.  Typical siblings. 

Stretching out before napping with the sibs

There are signs of red bumps starting by their beaks

In non-duck news, there was a pretty turtle in the canal yesterday though I'm not sure what kind it is.  I have a lot of trouble identifying turtles.  Anyway it had a nice pattern on its 8-inch shell.

Nice shell pattern on this unidentified guy

The call duck was back today but there have been no signs of the Egyptian geese for over a week.

The ibis that thinks he's a duck was back and trying to hang with the mottled and Muscovy ducks but nobody seemed too happy to have him around.  He then went down to the dock by himself and sulked.

Here by myself.  Nobody wants to be my friend.

Finally a small iguana was on the grass by the dock and it was in mid-molt.  You can see bits of skin around its neck that are coming off as well as a big piece covering its tail that needs to go also.  When it's done with all the molting it will be much brighter green.

I'll be all bright green once this skin comes off