Cold Comfort

Yet another bitterly cold day with horrendous hail showers and cutting wind, coldest May I can ever remember !  The birds don't exactly relish it either, lack of Sun and warmth does not provide the insect life or river weed growth needed for feeding and keeping out the cold.

Provision of soft lettuce and lawn grass for the cygnets as they grow rapidly, nearly doubling in size from birth.

 Penny took them to the shelter of the island this morning, 

while the mother of the surviving links ducklings, keeps a careful watch over her brood.

Below,  Short video taken a few days ago Penny and cygnets having a wash and brush up !

Ducklings and Dandelions

After yesterday's deluge the river spate is beginning to subside, and the Links duck still has 11 ducklings today. She is very protective and will attempt to chase off all comers. She seemed to have acquired a mate this morning which will help. 

All the ducks took to the island last night as the flood swept past, sadly two mothers with 3 ducklings each, appear to have gone. With all that rain a bit of warmth will make the vegetation jump, which can only be good for the wildlife. Meanwhile two short clips of the ducklings this morning, and the pigeons enjoying some dandelion leaves, this is a new found favourite !

First Ducklings

At the end of the second day in the River, the rescued Links ducklings have so far lost only one of the Brood. 

I managed to get some decent shots and a short video below. The crows have so far killed the entire second brood of 13, plus one of this brood. Hopefully most of the surviving 14 will be too big for the crows in a few days time.

 The Mother duck is highly protective and had a fight with a drake today, which she won!