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Mid Winter point is past and now our resident Swans conserve energy, playing a waiting game.
Some of the cygnets are getting restless, and I expect Penny and Duke to see them off as spring approaches.
Penny is still playing a waiting game for Popeye's return. I have noticed several times that she is asserting her Alpha role, by making deep grunting sounds amidst the cygnets, usually only done by Popeye ! No doubt this is to keep the cygnets compliant and under her total control.
On Thursday I am hoping to get an update and timeline from the Scottish SPCA on Popeye's return date to the river.
Penny our Resident Pen is still having to play the waiting game for what is surely the longest incubation period for a British bird. However next week should see the cygnets emerge, and we all await to see how many new arrivals we have.
Meanwhile our only surviving ducklings so far total 9 with a loss of 26 to predators and flooding. We should get quite a few more broods before too long since most of the females are nesting now. I had a report yesterday of a brown and white Spaniel chasing the ducklings, and the mother duck frantically diverting it away from them, another case of an uncontrolled dog after the wildlife ! Sadly I was alerted by a concerned Harbour St resident, to a small bird on the path near merryton bridge yesterday evening, it appeared to be sick.
On inspection I could see it had lost it's right eye, perhaps to a cat or another bird. I took it home with the intention of calling the Scottish SPCA in the morning if it did not improve. Sadly it was dead by morning, I think infection of the missing eye socket was probably the cause. I think it was a juvenile Chiffchaff according to my book of birds.
On a happier note, sounds of Spring recorded the other evening when the white duck and Popeye looking magnificent showed up, a blackbird was singing away in the background. Short video below.
