Orphans find new home

It's just over two weeks since Polly deserted her nest of 9 ducklings and went back to her mates in the Poultry Palace. Eight have survived and have been providing Rocco - nearest whose stable they have been living - with a continuous chirruping as they explore the confines of their pen. At least I think that's what he said they were doing. Four of the eight are yellow, so should grow into apricot ducks; the remaining four are brown and will probably stay that colour unless they are male, in which case when they mature they may display richer brown on their chests and slightly paler tummies. Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell at this age which sex they are. Theoretically, male ducks always have two or three curled up feathers in their tales but here on the Rectoryreserve we have a couple of males without this distinguishing feature! The other distinguishing feature is their voice: the females quackle and chatter for all they are worth, whilst the males communicate with a more sober single 'quack'.
Anyway, at the weekend the four little yellow ones - two of which are seen here having a last swim with two of their brown brothers (or sisters) - went off to new homes. Two of them are going to be staying in Lincolnshire with the lady whom we bought our very first ducklings from some 5 years ago so in a way this 're-homing' represents a closing of the circle. The other two will be travelling down to Kent later in the week. It's sad to see them go - especially as they are the very first to be sold from here. The four who were left behind snuggled that bit closer to each other for the night and were a little subdued first thing this morning, but they've brightened up as the day's gone on.