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Coldest night of the year so far, lovely blue sky, cold fresh air and no wind. This type of winter weather suits me fine.
Thought Penny and Duke had chased the cygnets away, as they both turned up for their daily feed alone.
They both enjoyed their feed in relative peace, with Penny giving snorts of satisfaction. Short video below.
Once finished with the feed, they settled down for a preen in the morning Sun.
Decided to check down by the harbour to see if the cygnets were there, as this was the spot I fed them yesterday.
Sure enough there they were a few yards from the ice encased harbour. Looks like Penny and Duke have already made the break, and should be relatively easy to escort the cygnets away at their time of choosing. They have had them around for nearly 9 months which is about the longest rearing period in the 12 years since Penny has been in the river.
Penny and Duke are currently bonding and biding their time, along with the cygnets.
After a good feed, a preen, then a quiet slumber the order of the day.
As yet we have not been hit by the Snow - forecast for later this week. It has been so long since we had a normal winter that the media are making a meal out of this late Siberian blast.
Meanwhile life goes on, Penny and Duke are making the most of the spring sunshine chilling out after their morning meal.
Likewise Disco and Limpy catching the rays. I have just had the roof of their Aviary covered, so any snow fall should be kept at bay.
Disco has already laid 2 eggs in the coop nest box where she successfully hatched 6 ducklings last year. I don't know if Limpy has been able to fertilise them as he is not yet fully mature. It's early days and Disco should lay about a dozen before she is finished - watch this space !
Penny and Duke are back together after Duke had another 4 days alone up river.
This was fortunate, for he missed much of the sewer rainfall run off into the lower river last week. He is in full moult right now, and this may make him slightly off colour at this time. They look well enough.
Penny and Duke are looking in great condition, and the weather has been glorious this past few days with blue skies and spring like conditions.
I think some of the birds have already started nesting.
Standing on the Merryton bridge yesterday at high tide, it was plain to see that the report of there being too many birds on the lower riverside was a gross piece of misinformation by Highland Council propaganda department.
They still have not replied to my request as to where, when, who, and how they compiled their report.
Meanwhile our intrepid duo, are chilling out and keeping the young pretenders away,
and the little grebe is still living in the river.
Turf wars continue as Penny and Duke protect their island territory.
The young pretenders have been back a couple of times but are quickly seen off by Duke and Penny.
High tides this week and some snow melt raised the river level. Nesting should start in about a month.
When I named Duke after John Wayne, little did I know how prophetic this would be. This morning was glorious weather, blue skies and Duke and Penny enjoying their feed at the Island.
They were relaxed and Duke was at last eating more. Penny suddenly arched her wings and I knew she had spotted something, it was the young challengers approaching the bailey bridge heading up towards them.
Penny immediately took to the water with wings arched ready to repel the young pretenders, Duke just stood for a while and watched then realised he had to follow. Instead of getting into the water he just walked along the silt and shingle, I got the feeling he did not want a showdown after having been attacked the previous day.
Anyhow, the cob challenger was emboldened by the fact that only Penny was ready for a fight so he took off and flew straight at her, meanwhile Duke was still moseying along as Penny turned away from the young attacker.
She was forced to exit the river and the challenger followed and forced her downstream.
Like the 7th Cavalry, Duke finally got into the river but was set upon by the young cob and they both had a furious battle under the bailey bridge.
I ran up to the bridge to get some shots of the action as the pirouette of the cobs ended, and one Cob forced the other out of the water and onto the shingle.
Could not tell who was who at this stage, as one whacked the other to the ground with his wings then jumped on top and started a biting attack.
I was sure Duke was taking a beating until I got closer and realised he was the victor !
When I turned round to see what Penny was doing, she was chasing the female challenger out of the river farther up, it was a resounding victory for both Penny and Duke !
After 10 minutes Duke decided he had done enough and let the young challenger go, as he menacingly walked him to the waters edge and chased him down towards the pier.
Penny menaced the female as she passed to join her defeated mate.
It truly was a John Wayne ending, with penny and Duke in full control of this Battle scene.
Tonight they came to see me at Merryton bridge, both flushed with success, and eating heartily, Penny was the making of Duke today and he came up to expectations. What a Day !!
