19 Quackers

Yesterdays post was looking good for ducklings appearing on the lower river. Today surpasses that with a brood of 19, it was in fact twenty this morning - but a hoodie crow took one at the merryton bridge about 11.30. I think this brood is actually the mother with 11 in yesterdays post that has taken on another smaller brood, this sometimes happens as a sort of kindergarten for ducks !

The confirmed count today was 19 plus 7 plus 4 = 30 surviving so far. Losses that I know about are 6 + 7 + 3 + 2 = 18. This ratio will almost certainly change in the crows favour !

The herons have a steady supply of salmon parr at the moment, which are heading downstream in their thousands.

It will be at least another 4 weeks before the ducklings I saw today are safe from predators. With the favourable tides and weather we could well see several new broods over the coming weeks.

The Ducks appear to be making full use of the swans and island, for protection from the likes of the Heron and crows. This protection should continue for some time yet since the cygnets have not yet hatched.