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With all the focus on the cygnets this week, we have neglected Disco and her darlings.
They are thriving and even the two abandoned ducklings she adopted have almost caught up with her 6.
I am expecting other duckling broods showing up on the river in the coming month, many delayed nesting due to the extended cold weather.
One I spotted nesting on the riverside when I was spot treating the giant hogweed ! This is the reason why I insist on keeping dogs under control at this time of year !
Short clip below of discos darlings, enjoying the garden pool today.
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| Himalayan Balsam |
Mr Fraser's Highland Council Parks dept have to be commended for their prompt removal of the Himalayan Balsam that was beside the old gasworks site. After my request earlier in the year they sprayed the young Balsam, but some of it remained and was now flowering profusely. I asked only a couple of days ago if they could remove the remainder before it went to seed, and was pleasantly surprised to see the Council workmen remove all the invaders this morning, in spite of the miserable wet weather! I have already sprayed or removed all the giant hogweed that was in this location, and will continue to do so. The river is badly infested with alien species and urgently needs this to be tackled in a serious way ! The seeding of these species is second to none, and really need serious opposition to eradicate them !
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| Giant Hogweed flowers |
When I was a kid 55 years ago, one of the annual play events was making pea shooters from a plant with hollow stems - Japanese Knotweed. Today interestingly enough, I take a dietary supplement called Resveratrol - partly made from Japanese Knotweed ! The other two particular Alien invaders that seem to be the most troublesome
are Giant Hogweed and Himalayan balsam. Of the three, the most dangerous to human health is Giant hogweed. I recall about 30 years ago down at Mundole near Forres, a young child who unwittingly had been playing along the riverside and come into contact with the giant hogweed. She was covered in huge watery blisters like having been scalded with boiling water, it was really bad ! The Himalayan Balsam is much more benign,
and extremely attractive to bees, which I understand are most attracted to the colour red. They are so prolific at spreading because of their exploding seed pods. The biggest alien threat is undoubtedly the Giant hogweed, and should be first on the elimination list !
