Meet the Campbells

It's lovely weather - for ducks! The rain hasn't ceased all day: dog, cats, hens have all kept under cover. But Naomi, Cheryl and Maybellene have been having a grand time, paddling and sploshing all around the yard, always as a threesome.

They are Khaki Campbell ducks. The breed was developed by a Mrs Adele Campbell in Gloucestershire around 1900. They make excellent layers but hopeless mothers.

Maybellene is the senior duck - she must be almost five. She used to have a mate, Chuck, but he fell prey to a fox. Then she had a female companion, Tufty, who sadly died a year ago. She was on her own for a while until the younger ducks arrived. Of those two, Naomi is the slimmer, darker one, although more often than not I have difficulty telling which is which. It doesn't really matter because they do everything in unison.