Still Waiting

Penny and Duke are still keeping us all waiting on the cygnets hatch. Weather has been perfect for any hatching birds right now, finally some warmth and insect life around. 

Spotted another small new brood of 6 ducklings today, but sadly we have lost about 3 broods already to the Crows and Gulls.

Meanwhile Disco and her brood of 12 plus 2 harbour rescued ones are growing fast. Unfortunately I doubt if I'll be able to put all the recently rescued ones together with Disco's lot as they are likely to get bullied, being over 2 weeks younger. 

They now have to share the Trust facilities, with the wee ones getting the Aviary during the day, and the older lot having it at night. Keeping them safe is the priority until they are ready for release.

Still Waiting !

Seems like Penny and Duke have fooled me this year since I expected a cygnet hatch today. It could still happen before the day is out - or she could have laid more eggs than I anticipated . Duke of course is an unknown quantity, and worse case scenario is that he is infertile !

Penny has always taken 36 days to start hatching after her final egg has been laid. This has been an unusual year due to Duke being a new partner and he was ill twice, shortly before mating time. He also may have come from a swan line that takes another day or two longer to incubate, we should know very soon what the position is.

Meanwhile this has been the hottest day this year, after the rain earlier this week the plant life is rocketing . The orphan ducklings are doing likewise !