Welcome!!!
The fact you said that the level drops about a foot, and then after you fill it, there is no drop for 1-7 days, then again it drops fast. If you are having freezing temps, and there is ice, look around the edges. A picture of your pond would give us all an idea of possibilities, too. I have plant bogs on each of my 2 ponds. One has been running all winter, ice and all, with no issues. The other was running and ice formed above the running water, but in a couple of areas where the plants were close to the edge, they diverted the water up and over the edge. My ponds are about 6" above ground, to keep ground water from flowing into them, so the overflows were easily detected. Plants can shift and cause water to be diverted over and edge, and ice can do the same thing.