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Nooks and Crannies
Spring is well under way on the river, and the warm sunshine has allowed the Pen to get off the nest for the occasional 5 minute break. There have been several hatchings of ducklings, the main one being the 14 that hatched a week past on Tuesday. Up until this monday she had not lost a single one, but on Tuesday morning she had only nine. I suspect this has been caused by
someone throwing bread at them and bringing the gulls down to take the ducklings. The Mother duck that I returned the 2 ducklings to, has lost one more and is now down to 5 from the ten she started with. I know of another duck sitting on nine eggs which was flooded for 3 hours at the last spring tide, I doubt they will survive that flooding, but will wait and see. The first Miracle duckling must
have been taken, for I have seen the mother several times without the duckling. Other species are also busily nesting in every nook and cranny they can find. A Starling down at a house in the moorings, has found a handy cooker vent to nest in. The house occupants have been considerate enough, not to use the cooker hood during this time ! The Sand martins are also using old pipeworks and holes in
the river walls to nest in. In addition to the bluetit using one nesting box, the sparrows have made use of another one ! Having been providing seed along the wall all winter, a very friendly wood pigeon takes full advantage, along with a very laid back Jackdaw !
Spring is well under way on the river, and the warm sunshine has allowed the Pen to get off the nest for the occasional 5 minute break. There have been several hatchings of ducklings, the main one being the 14 that hatched a week past on Tuesday. Up until this monday she had not lost a single one, but on Tuesday morning she had only nine. I suspect this has been caused by
someone throwing bread at them and bringing the gulls down to take the ducklings. The Mother duck that I returned the 2 ducklings to, has lost one more and is now down to 5 from the ten she started with. I know of another duck sitting on nine eggs which was flooded for 3 hours at the last spring tide, I doubt they will survive that flooding, but will wait and see. The first Miracle duckling must
have been taken, for I have seen the mother several times without the duckling. Other species are also busily nesting in every nook and cranny they can find. A Starling down at a house in the moorings, has found a handy cooker vent to nest in. The house occupants have been considerate enough, not to use the cooker hood during this time ! The Sand martins are also using old pipeworks and holes in
the river walls to nest in. In addition to the bluetit using one nesting box, the sparrows have made use of another one ! Having been providing seed along the wall all winter, a very friendly wood pigeon takes full advantage, along with a very laid back Jackdaw !
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