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After a long absence from feeding the River birds, I managed to again get up close to my river friends. It was a joy to hear the happy sounds from the ducks, and Penny giving me a long stare as though asking where have I been !
The cygnets are pretty white now, and in great shape, and it looks like the parents will keep them until we are heading for spring.
Weather forecast for the coming days is strong winds and rain, add the clocks going back an hour and we have the most depressing time of year about to start.
The River birds have been stocking up on quality food provided daily by the River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust.
They are about to be joined by another 8 ducklings on Monday, reared since incubation 8 weeks ago.
It appears our last beautiful white duck must have been taken by a predator since I have not seen her since spring.
I had hoped she might have produced some offspring like herself, but this was not to be, If she was alive I am pretty sure she would have returned to the river by now. However we now have about 140 ducks on the river and they will stay on the lower reaches until spring....as long as there is food available!
Meanwhile the 4 Royal Pigeon Squabs are continuing to survive and grow.
Autumnal air sweeps across the country, and a new urgency prompts the birds to feed themselves up for the coming winter. The mother duck with the 5 late ducklings is down to 3, even at a month old I suspect the hoodie crows got the last two. The cygnets are now 4 months old, and Popeye has regrown his new wing feathers and should be able to fly again by next week. Be ready to observe some short flights along the shore soon ! Some love lessons given out to the cygnets on reaching 4 months old today, short video showing the ducks creating a cacophony of sound below, including the 4 wee call ducks together as usual. The white ducks are beautiful and at last accepted by the Swans !
