She Didn't Think This Through..

A mallard has decided to nest in the long, rough grass at the far end of the garden. We're not sure what she was thinking of - we've a farm-style post & mesh fence designed to contain a Welsh springer. OK, she can fly over, but the youngsters?? How will she lead them through? How will she get them to water? We don't have a pond & the front drainage ditch is now dry. The success of her enterprise (there are 11 eggs in the nest) also relies on us keeping the afore-mentioned Welsh springer away..