Pictures and video: It's quackers! Ducks breed in Shropshire garden
They're tiny, cute and very, very hungry - 10 ducklings have hatched in the garden of a home in Shropshire.
The Robinsons say they hatched after a male and female duck took a liking to their pond. They have become adopted pets, as well as a unique lesson in nature as the chicks grow and gain confidence.
And they also create an extra responsibility for Karen and Paul Robinson as they take the role of guardians of the ducklings.
The couple, and their daughter Sarah, have been stocking up on food, which mostly consists of dried mealworms.
The family, who live in Harrington Heath, Shawbirch, Telford, say the ducklings are very demanding. Karen, 54, and Paul, 56, said they have shared feeding responsibilities with 20-year-old daughter Sarah who still lives at home.
Karen, who also has two sons Michael, 27, and David, 24, said: "Five or six weeks ago we noticed the two ducks and they were hanging around here for a while.
"The male seemed to fly off but the female stayed under a large bush by our pond. The ducklings are over a week-old now and we first noticed them on the pool.
"I can't believe they managed to rear the 10. We initially thought it was five or six but then we counted 10.
"They are always at the back door looking for something to eat. They follow us because they know we will give them food eventually.
"We have been here 20-odd years and we have never had ducks before. We have got more plants in the pond now so maybe they were attracted to them.
"They have the run of the garden, but we have boundaries – they can't get in the house because the steps up to the back door are quite steep."
Sarah added: "They are incredibly cute. The male and female duck have been grazing in our garden and bathing in our pond for the past five to six weeks.
"During the past four weeks the male has flew away and not been back, however the female has laid eggs in a nest on the edge of our pond. She has been sat on them for the past three weeks and hasn't left them.
"They have hatched and we now have 10 ducklings and the mum is running around our garden all day everyday requesting food on demand.
"I'm looking forward to the ducklings growing up in the next few weeks."
