MERRY CHRISTMAS !

I would like to wish all my supporters and followers a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year, and thanks to all those who keep an eye out for the welfare of the river wildlife.

This time last year I quipped about the severe winter, remarking "Could this be the start of a mini ice age ?" This winter looks like it's going to beat last years - no problem at all. The river was pretty well frozen over at one point today, and the Swans were walking and weaving their way around. I broke a wee path through the ice at the merryton bridge to allow the Swans to get close enough to feed, they are looking good.

The ducks too are in fine form, (short Vid below 4 days ago).

Hard Times

These are hard times for the bird population and they do not have the food distribution services we have ! It crossed my mind the other day when watching the TV chaos unfold around the country due to the wintery conditions. As a species how dependent we are on shops etc for our food, never mind everything else like heating and other utilities. Can you imagine what would ensue if the shops were empty and the heating was non existent and water was frozen solid ? I suspect we wouldn't last long in this weather. Those envious and mean minded people who voiced their "concern" about me feeding the swans and ducks and making them "dependent" - would be first to shout blue murder if the shops were empty and the utilities shut down. The truth is, as a species we are all dependent one way or another on the state and the distribution systems we have created. The swans ducks and other birds merely make use of what we are willing to provide in hard times - at least they have the intelligence to do so.

Today I took a snap of a small bird about the size of a wren, but Looking at the pics I think it's a Firecrest or Goldcrest ? The swans and ducks are looking good and we now have about 12 tufted ducks on the lower river along with mergansers and goosanders.

Winter Preen

With Mid-Winter Solstice almost upon us ( the official start to winter ), I always look on the positive side and consider it half way through winter . The Solstice marks the shortest day and longest night, and we will now start heading towards spring. Considering the last few weeks weather it certainly feels like mid winter rather than the start of it. The river and harbour are freezing over once more and the birds are keeping the cold out. Today the Swans brushed off the snow which had settled on their backs, and had a good preening session in the weak sunlight. A massive snow bearing cloud drifted northwards across the firth and looked appropriately like the face of a snowman staring skywards.

Cold Enough for Penguins, brrrr !

The lovely sunset the other night was highly misleading since the following day we got blasted by the polar winds and snow, so much for the "red sky at night... ! Damn near cold enough for penguins, which funnily enough - I was amused at one of the tufted ducks with his waistcoat joined the mallards for some Wheat. Normally you wont see the tufted ducks leave the water but this little fellow is always happy to see me dishing out the grub. The Merganser had a scratch as I took a shot, and added a little caption. About the only good thing you can say about this time of year, is that it's Mid winter and the nights wont get any longer. We should start to notice a wee difference in daylight hours in about 3 weeks time. Roll on the spring !

All Quiet on the Home Front

The weather and the river wildlife have been in a quiet mode for a few days - the calm before the storm perhaps ? Forecast is sub zero stuff again later this week, back to the yaktrax I suppose ! The Pen has already started to put some distance between herself and the cygnets lately, this is the prelude and lead up to the final break which I suspect will be sometime in January - weather permitting . Although to see them in the harbour earlier, they were at peace and the cygnets in a submissive and communicative mode. (short video below )

A couple of days ago the 4 cygnets were on their own, close to 4 tufted ducks near the island.

The Moorhen picked along the edge,while the Merganser was close to the side, caught in a brief ray of sunlight.

Action Stations !

Our Resident Swans tranquil peace was broken about 11.30 this morning with the arrival of 5 new Swans. Looked like 2 adult pairs and a cygnet belonging to one of the adult pair. Needless to say our lot put the hackles up and set off down stream to take them head on, was no contest and all 5 were split up and chased out within minutes. The pen was the prime mover watched by our 4 cygnets - poor things will get the same treatment in the new year ! The pair with the cygnet landed again below the bailey bridge, but our pen set off and chased them away herself, returning resplendent followed by the cob.

The series of pics tells the story.

Go With The Floe

With two weeks to go until Mid -Winter Solstice , Nairn is still held in an icy grip and no let up for a while yet. The river is still freezing over at night and breaking up during the day. It's costing me a small fortune in bird food but as an ex- smoker I don't mind a bit ! The birds give me so much pleasure by their very existence. Yesterday saw a few ice floes with young blackheaded gulls on board. A couple of tufted ducks also drifted by, with a male goosander for close company - providing a welcome smiley face!

Merryton Heron

With High tides this week the Heron's fishing ground at merryton bridge has it's limitations.

With Christmas only a few weeks away and the wintery conditions, the Heron looked a Scrooge like figure on the bridge today Pinched and hunched with the cold ! Surprisngly, he let me get quite close before flying upstream.

Snow White Swans

With a bit of a thaw the icy river is breaking up, and the Swans are able to access the moat once again. They are looking good, and so are the ducks. The adult Swans are as white as Snow and the cygnets are gradually losing their grey/brown feathers. The icy conditions mean a continuous search for food - which I am happy to supply.

They are my friends after all, as the video below shows.

Beak Icicle

Could hardly believe my eyes tonight, Steven the seagull sitting on the snow about midnight with an icicle hanging from his beak ! Talk about tough birds - this takes the biscuit I think ! My outside thermometer says -11c. Poor steven, not only did he have an icicle hanging from his beak but the frost was glistening on his back as well. I took a pic with the flash, then warmed his bird bath to get rid of the icicle. Brrrrrr It's cold !

Canadian Winter for Scotland ?

Looks like the weather will be the main topic of conversation for a while yet. Comparisons being made with Siberia, Scandinavia etc, It might well be that we have a Canadian style winter this year. This afternoon I saw a little friend that usually turns up in January, although he did show up last Christmas eve - the Tufted Duck. He is quite an endearing diver and always shows up when the weather is really freezing, generally leaves about February. With him turning up so early this year I would not be at all surprised if we have a record breaking Canadian style winter ! It was too late this afternoon to get a pic so here are a few taken last year.

Tuf Birds

After the freezing bone chilling night, Steven the seagull was alive and well this morning. Even though his water trough and bird bath were solid with ice, he was keen to get out of the aviary to join the multitude of birds feeding in the garden. I broke the ice out of the bird bath and filled it with tepid water, he stood in it for a while then had a vigorous bath. His healed wing is getting stronger all the time, as you can see in the short video below.

Meanwhile I checked on the Swans this evening, and they were picking at the harbour wall seaweed, their back feathers stiff with frost ! The river was starting to freeze virtually all over - barring the fast flowing bits.
I am amazed at just how tough birds are, able to withstand such severe cold with such little food available - I doubt if we could match them!