Winter Windbreak !

With gales lashing the North of Scotland today, it feels like Winter and the birds are acting accordingly. Popeye was doing the heroic thing, acting as a windbreak for Penny on the exposed nest site. I only hope this gale blows over before the cygnets are hatched. The swans incubation suffered every variation in the weather imaginable, snow, frost, flood, wind and rain ! 
My beautiful duck that lost it's nest to the flood, was again robbed of her new nest and eggs at the hand of vandals. She chose to nest under the only bush that was left by the contractors of the new pipeline installation at Brochers brae. Yesterday vandals knocked over the site fencing and scared her off the nest, allowing the gulls to see and destroy her eggs. Those who think the ducks are plentiful should think about the results this year, as far as I am aware from the factors down to the harbour. Twenty six ducklings hatched and ALL KILLED, also 4 nests flooded and/or washed away, one nest vandalised, eggs lost - approx 46. No surviving ducklings so far ! We will see how many succeed from up river this year. Make no mistake, the wildlife have a very tough time trying to survive, they need our respect, protection and cooperation.