Disco & Ebony Hit It Off

 Disco and Ebony have been bonding strongly over the past week. 

This is good news and exactly what I have been hoping for. Disco has watched them grow up from tiny ducklings and spent the first few months keeping them at a distance. 

However, as Ebony matured into a handsome Drake, she showed she wanted him as a mate! He has been head bobbing furiously of late, and she has reciprocated - as the photo's show. 

Ebony will most likely carry the white genes and hopefully pass them on to any offspring that disco hatches this year. Meanwhile, Saffron and Newbie still don't get on, but I'm hoping springtime will change things.

The Good Life

Sue and Slim seem quite content keeping the cygnets close, and living the good life.

Runty as usual keeping mainly apart but happy close to me when the food is around.

Thought maybe they would have taken advantage of the settled weather to move them on.

 The good life seems preferred.  

Eight Months Since Hatching

Slim and Sue continue to chaperon their cygnets, even knowing that Spring is on the way. 

Last year seems to have set the routine - to keep the offspring until nearly nesting time !  Success breeds success, and nature knows it. 

                    In keeping with more natural winter conditions, the Trust is only feeding them once a day, simulating winter scarcity of food. 

Naturally, this makes them keen for their daily rations ! They are looking great though!

Heading The Right Way

Long winter nights can make January a depressing month. However, the days become that wee bit longer day by day. 

The wildlife and the birds certainly know it, even more so if we get a mild spell of weather too.

 Slim and Sue disappeared yesterday. and have been spotted having flying sorties along the coastline. Today they were back, keen for a feed of grain. 

The pressure will soon be on to expel their 8 month old offspring from the river. Short video below prior to their feed this morning. Runty is still being picked on, but so are some of the others! 

 

Duck Count

Have taken a few pics of our ducks...not lined up for a jab...but thought it might be good for a count of them. 

 My eyesight is getting poor so maybe some trust members would like to count through all the photos and give me a total ?

 There were a few more elsewhere which I can add in.

Go on.. have a go, and let me know !