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Less than 24 hours and the white duck released yesterday is gone. As feared it was a prime target for Mink or Otters, I had hoped that safety in numbers would prevail, and that it would survive long enough to learn of all the river predators. It seems the way of the world, anything that's different or stands out gets picked on.
The remaining ducklings are still alive and no doubt witnessed the loss of the white sibling.
Looks like my decision to keep the last remaining white duck was a prudent one.
For the 8th year Popeye and Penny have done the business and started to hatch their cygnets. Today I expected the hatch and was not disappointed. For a brief moment the skies were clear and I saw the first one appear from under her wings.
The weather ensured that it was brief, because the heavy showers and cold wind made her tuck them under her protective wings. I did manage however to get a few shots as Penny gave herself a clean underneath. I am fully expecting at least 8 but possibly her record of 9 yet again.
The cold weather is a problem and might drive her into the harbour for shelter too quickly, plus the fact that the resident Otters pose a real threat to the cygnets.
Recycling is nothing new to people of my generation, wartime babies grew up with REAL AUSTERITY with rationing right through until 1954, we knew how to make and mend and recycle everything ! It has taken fifty years for government to start promoting recycling just to cope with the excesses of the consumer society. Nature of course has always been doing it, and our riverside is a perfect example of it today. Those of you unfamiliar with our Salmon rivers should understand that Salmon travel up river to spawn every year. Like all living things their primary purpose in life is to reproduce before they die. Many of our Atlantic Salmon make it back to the sea to continue the cycle of life. Many also die during the spawning season and are washed downstream, settling on the banks and shallow areas of the river, this happens all through the winter until around February/March. Nature's recyclers are often kept alive by this bounty, for food is scarce during winter. The Tidal area of the river is a favourite haunt of birds and other creatures, for everything in the river drifts there and is generally ice free with the daily influx of salt water. Those of us who know the river, are quite familiar with the occasional sight of black back gulls, herring gulls, mink, otters, rats, crows, weasel's foxes,cats and dogs, all sniffing around the riverside for a decayed fish or anything else that might be edible. They are the riverside natural recyclers at work, some would prefer fresh meat but anything will do in harsh times. Rodents are part of the river scene, and are of no special significance unless you have them in your house or garden as permanent residents. The recent removal of undergrowth between the Merryton and road bridge has probably forced resident rodents to move to undergrowth below the Merryton bridge. The current furore over a family of rats should not be used as a pretext for political interference in the river, or to deprive the river waterbirds of their much needed winter food supply!
