Ducklings

 Settled sunny weather has arrived just in time for Disco's ducklings to enjoy the pool and garden. 

Saffron is not too happy about the ducklings and has been stopped from attacking them by a very protective Disco. 

Keeping the fast growing yellow ducklings away from them means time slots for the use of the pool. 

Meanwhile the Harbour siblings are now down to 4 having lost 2 in the past week, they are out of danger from herring gulls and almost too big for the Crows now. 

Slim is attentive as ever, waiting on Sue.  Short video of ducklings  preening below.

Disco's Dark Secret

 Disco, the Trust disabled duck has finally hatched her latest  brood. 

Pleased to announce that one of her ten ducklings is a yellow one ! 

This proves that Ebony the Drake carries the gene responsible, and has passed it on. 

Some of the non Yellow ducklings will also carry the gene which is good news for the future river duck population, as these yellow ducklings will show up for years to come. 

We now have 6, counting Saffron... and she is also sitting on a clutch fathered by Ebony. I fully expect at least half of them should be Yellow beauties as well.

The Trust has given them a chance, all of them will be released to the River in due course.

A Taste Of Freedom

Beautiful sunny day was ideal for allowing the month old Yellow ducklings, a little taste of freedom.

 With Disco and Saffron both sitting on eggs, and having returned Ebony and Newbie to the river, it was safe for the ducklings to explore the garden and pond. 

Short video below.

Looking Familiar

Was time to introduce the Yellow ducklings to the garden, and let them meet their older brother and sister. 

Saffron was intrigued as she has heard them squeaking from the garage coop for some time. 

They share the same parentage with Saffron being hatched last August. Ebony has spent the whole time trying to attack them, as he considers the garden belonging to him.

   Had to keep them contained for their own safety meanwhile. Disco is due to hatch her brood this coming week, and she will take priority. 

Easter Ducklings

Now three weeks old, the harbour ducklings and their yellow siblings in care are thriving and chances of long term survival improving by the day. 

Their parents have stuck to the harbour, avoiding the dangers of the river and all the single Drakes looking for vulnerable female ducks. 

The thrice daily feeding, means they can avoid the river meanwhile. 

The four yellow ones are now able to waterproof  their own feather down, something the harbour ducklings get from their mothers feathers. At three weeks, the oil gland starts to work and they can all waterproof themselves. Yellow ducklings having a bath below.

Easter Eggs

Saffron and Disco are both sitting on eggs. Disco has chosen the same spot as last year, and is a few weeks ahead of Saffron, who has just nested for the first time at 8 months old. 

Will be fascinating to see how many yellow ducklings we get...if any. Disco's should hatch in 10 days time, and Saffron's around the 8th May. 

Meanwhile the 4 yellow ducklings rescued from the river, are thriving and growing faster than their siblings in the harbour.

It's an ill Wind -That Saves Ducklings

Near disaster for the ducklings in the harbour on Wednesday evening. A boat had sunk in the harbour causing severe pollution. A film of Diesel oil covered the water and the mother duck and her ducklings were being contaminated as they swam through the pollution. I was expecting the Harbour to be polluted for days, and feared the loss of the brood I have been nurturing for the past 2 weeks. 

                  Incredibly, a strong gale force wind blew up during Wednesday night from the north west, and blew the surface oil film through the harbour entrance and away into the fast flowing river. 

Thursday morning revealed an almost clear harbour and all 6 ducklings with their Mum. 

Two of the ducklings were showing signs of poisoning along with their Mum, and did not show much interest in eating, no doubt having ingested some oil. 

By Thursday evening they were recovering and started eating again. Today- Friday, they were all back to normal and fully recovered. 

This was a classic case of a bitterly cold ill wind blowing some good ! The weather is still bitter, and today we had heavy hail showers.

 The Trust 3 daily meals for the ducklings is proving to be a life saver, along with the care of the mother duck!

Staying Alive

A return of Winter weather adds a new threat to staying alive on the riverside. Slim has been very attentive on the nest, while Sue continues to seek out Algae and nutrients to produce the eggs. 

While Saffron and Ebony ignore the snow. 

The Trust has been busy trying to assist the mother duck with her 6 remaining ducklings. 

Having started with 15 she has lost 5 to the Crows and Gulls, and of course her 4 yellow ones are in the care of the Trust. 

They are thriving and have now been moved into the coop with heat lamp to keep them warm along with suitable soft toy and straw ! 

The Mother with the 6 in the harbour has 3 visits a day, where I give them high protein Mealworm as an alternative to insects which are non existent at this time of year. With the Arctic conditions I know they would not survive otherwise.

 The mother has done a great job so far and I saw her chase off a gull yesterday that go too close to her brood. However I think there is an Otter doing the rounds, for I found the carcase of another duck this morning in the harbour.

 Staying alive is not easy, even for adult ducks!