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The King Street Co-op are holding a Dress up fund raising day for the River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust on Tuesday April 1st.
This is in keeping with their policy of helping local good causes. The Trust is extremely grateful for this one day event, giving local shoppers a chance to contribute to the upkeep and welfare of our local river wildlife at the checkout.
Most of the Town knows that last years Cygnets have just left the river a few weeks ago, and gave us many pleasurable scenes over the year.
The Trust looks out for their well being throughout the year, along with the Mallard ducks.
These are a tourist asset to the Town and appreciated by visitors and locals alike. Our Resident Swans Popeye and Penny are now nest building again, and likely to provide us with another brood in a couple of months time.
New trust members would also be most welcome, Please give generously !
My Thanks to Trust member and Bird Man Paul Thomson, for sending in these beautiful shots of a pair of Exotic Mandarin Ducks.
Paul took the shots at Sanquhar pond in Forres, and what Bonnie birds they are!
I think there was a pair up around Kilravock a few years back, hopefully this pair will produce ducklings this season.
Today I fished another 3 items of litter from the river at Merryton Bridge, One of them was an empty money box, apparently belonging to the Badminton club ? The nearest bin was the large grey one about 50 yards down stream from the bridge. So if anyone would like to recover the items they are in the bin !
This time of year is wonderful to observe nature at it's best. Popeye and Penny are fully engaged in the mating season, along with many other Love Birds !
The pigeons kissing, gives true meaning to a "peck on the cheek" !
Human words like love and endearment are unknown to the animal world, they don't use or need them - their actions show that they genuinely live them.
Sequence of Popeye and Pennys actions today !
Spring is in the air, and Popeye has been dropping large hints that Mating season is due !
He has taken to sitting on top of the island, which is the biggest hint he can make to get Penny in the mood.
It seems to have paid off today !
This is a once in a year time for them, and no doubt very much looked forward to ! They have been attentive and exceptional parents since last May - time now for the joys of spring !
Redshanks wait on the tide going out down by the harbour, accompanied by some Turnstones.
They blend in very well with the background.
With only a few weeks to go before the clocks go forward and nesting gets fully under way, Penny is having some Chilling out time, with her mate Popeye close by.
The River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust would like to give our condolences to the family of Theresa Ramsden of Claymore gardens who sadly passed away last Sunday. Theresa could often be seen walking around the town with her two dogs but had been suffering from ill health for some time. She loved animals and caring for them, and was one of the first of our now 115 members to join the Trust last year. Farewell Theresa.
With spring not too far away, the ducks are picking their partners with the Drakes showing their fighting prowess.
Many of the ducks have the same partners as last season with the younger ones coming into their first adult mating season. Some ducks have several suitors while others have yet to find a permanent mate. Sadly the 4 call ducks that were released into the river last year have all been killed, except for one drake.
He is a tough little character and has attached himself to a couple like glue ! He has been chased, bitten, and pecked, but he is besotted with a particular duck that has a mate, but she looks like his old flame that was killed.
He is spare but what a spirited little drake he is.
The Halloween ducks that were saved 18 months back, have the same mates they had last year, they are beautiful ducks along with their sister who has 3 drakes constantly with her, she must have something special !!
The beautiful white duck has the same mate as last season and all of them will be nesting soon.
As usual Popeye and Penny's offspring don't want to leave the home territory without a push.
Today 3 of them returned to the river only to be promptly chased by Mum and Dad, this behaviour is built into their DNA and is to be expected.
The sequence of shots tells the story where several attempts were made to chase them back to sea.
In the end, Popeye and Penny prevailed and flew back to their precious Island home.
