skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Penny and Duke have about another week before their new plumage has fully grown in, giving them the ability to fly once more.
The dog scare last Friday still hangs over them, now avoiding the Moat area.
Meanwhile the mother duck with 5 ducklings is still keeping a close watch and they are growing.
One of them was feeling the cold and decided getting on top was the answer !
With the cygnets newly hatched and often on Penny's back, now is the time to get some good photos of the swans.
The light conditions are also better and the cygnets will only be allowed to hitch a ride for about another week, before Penny stops doing it.
Four of last years brood returned to the river, only to be chased immediately by Popeye who was sitting atop the nest.
A mother duck took advantage of the vacant nest today and briefly took over the prime location.
The two ducklings I hatched the other day are enjoying their thrice daily trips to the wash hand basin too !
It might be the 13th of April, but this was a very lucky day for Nairns first duckling brood. I received a call from Moray Coast Vets this afternoon from one of my regular blog viewers, Helen Wright.
Helen had seen the mother duck crossing the links with 15 ducklings in tow, being diverted by some children the duck entered the garden of Ryden House when Helen gave me the call.
When I got there several people had gathered and Helen agreed to help with getting the family into the box. Fortunately the duck knew me, and readily started eating some grain I offered, surrounded by her brood.
Knowing the key to success was catching the mother first, I managed without any problems, after a bit of chasing around the shrubbery we managed to catch all 15 ducklings and get them into the box with Mum. I have now placed them in the safety of the Aviary, rather than take them to the river where they would certainly perish.
The weather is not only cold, but more importantly there is no insect life available for the ducklings to eat, in addition the crows and gulls would have them within 24 hours for the same reason, little food available.
When they are big enough to survive, I will put them into the river. For her compassion, doing the right thing and showing the Wright stuff - pun intended. The River Nairn Swans & Waterfowl trust gives Helen Wright this years membership to the Trust FREE of Charge, Welcome Helen ! Enjoy the pics and short video.
With only 10 days to mid summer it's chilly for June, Weather forecaster on TV says frost in the glens tonight. Could this be the start of a new ice age with cold summer's the first signs ? Although down south the weather is worse from the rain point of view, we seem to have relentless cold northerly winds month after month! Since the deaths of all 38 ducklings so far this year, hope springs eternal with the first new one's I spotted yesterday for the past month. A mother duck turned up on the island with 6 ducklings, but today she is down to 5, we can only hope that she will save some of them. the cold temperatures just don't help, with lack of insects for the ducklings.
Coming up for one month old, the Cygnets are growing at a rate of knots and turning into eating machines !
