Spot the Mink

The Cygnets had another sortie this afternoon. I thought briefly that they were off, but the cob dropped down into the sea and let the pen escort them round the bay. Weather was benign with a light wind when they splashed down and paddled back to the river mouth.

I was standing on the west pier just at the end of the boulder breakwater when the pen started hissing. All the cygnets looked alert when I saw a movement among the boulders below me.

Just 10 feet from the Swans was a Mink staring purposely at the swans, it darted between the boulders but stayed long enough for me to get a pic, hard to see but it is there ! I have seen this mink before when it was almost dark swimming across the river.

It is obviously living among the breakwater boulders, no doubt hunting rats and whatever else it can catch. Mink are real predators and will tackle almost any small animals, fish and birds. The upside is, it probably catches and kills rats in the area , the downside it will kill bird chicks and eat eggs too.