Born Leader ?

Penny gave me a grateful reminder of why I got the huge tree root removed from the Moat last month. Her ability to take off and land in the moat is essential for the Swans Safety in the event of an emergency. It's removal also stopped it being washed back and forth with each high tide, damaging the moat and island itself.
In addition it could have been used to ambush the young cygnets, today was an example of how the swans sometimes approach the moat, with a young cygnet leading the way - a future leader perhaps ?

 

Older and Bolder

Despite a bit of June sunshine, if your in the breeze it's not that warm. However the Cygnets are getting bolder every day and Penny no longer tolerates them trying to get on her back. It's noticeable that their necks are getting longer, no doubt so they can quickly reach deeper for food. Today they had a quick spurt in the Harbour, watched over closely by the parents - they are wary of the Otter in the harbour! Short vid below. 

Clever Crow

Finally I saw who was emptying my peanut feeder so quickly today. In 3 simple moves, a clever crow hauled the peanut feeder up high enough to upend the feeder, then drop to the ground to eat the nuts! Sequence of pics shows how ! They are one of the most intelligent of birds, and working in pairs can easily take all the ducklings from a mother duck within days. Take a close look at those talons and beak !

Riding the Rapids

The constant search for weed and greenery took the Cygnets upstream today, even at low tide. It's easy for us to forget that there is no soft tender grass growing within the river banks, yet plenty on the river path verges out of reach for the cygnets ! The journey back to the island took them down the rapids, a thrilling ride for creatures so small, swans like calm placid water conditions, but needs must.

Flaming June

Today almost started like Flaming June - compared to what we've had lately ! The Swan family were in fine form in the moat, bathing, diving, and sporting around with the cygnets. (short video below ) Penny is beginning to lose a few feathers and will be moulting before the month is out, I tried a few artistic shots with the sunlight reflections through a feather. I suppose it could pass for another galaxy somewhere !

Aloha Alloa

After a nice warm night in a heated box at 85F the young Gulliver was ready for breakfast ! It's eyes were open and although still unsteady on it's feet, it had a go at eating some chick starter that I prepared. It kept aiming at my pink fingers, since this is what they do to their Mothers red spot on their beak in order to get them to open up and deliver the regurgitated food ! I had no choice but to cover all my fingers in messy chick starter food, so he would get fed regardless ! The heated box had given him new life and a good chance of survival. Simon from the Scottish SPCA arrived this afternoon and was pleased to see the gull chick in such good form, he will now go to their new care centre in Alloa where they have excellent facilities for the care of wildlife. Gulliver pushed himself onto his back several times but managed to right himself again, enclosed pics and video clip. With the late cold spring it appears the seagulls are nesting later this year. Aloha Alloa Gulliver !

Gull-ivers Travels

Was presented with a newly hatched young Gull chick this afternoon. It was picked up by a young man living behind the Al Raj Restaurant , he found it in the gutter pipe above his flat then took it down to the riverside !!

I explained to him that it would die and he must take it back and put it where he found it. When I checked later it was laying on the concrete steps having fallen out of the guttering. I looked around the surrounding buildings but no nests to be seen or adult seagulls either. It may have been snatched by a predator and dropped on the sloping roof when challenged, It seems the only explanation since there were no flat nest areas of any kind in the vicinity. I am pretty sure it has been hatched within the last 24 hours. I have it in a heated box meanwhile, The Scottish SPCA will pick it up in the morning. Anyone finding sick or injured animals or birds should contact the Scottish SPCA locally on 01463 231191. Young birds that have fallen from the nest should be put back if possible, or otherwise left alone since the parents usually care for them.

The Grass and the Grain

Have never seen the river so barren and weed free, the last big spate completely cleaned out the riverbed. The Swans have lost their normal food supply, so I have taken to giving the cygnets fresh soft grass at least twice a day. I learned some years ago that they love soft fresh greens, as long as it's small enough for them to ingest. They also eat porridge oats, and fresh wholemeal bread in very small pieces. The weather has again taken a dive, but can only hope for warmer times to come. The parents defer to the cygnets and watch over them while they eat, later they have the wheat grain and fresh wholemeal bread so they are OK. ( short video below)

Tranquility Base

With the cygnets now 2 weeks old and thriving, they already show all the mannerisms and characteristics of adult swans. They were bathing and preening with Penny in a like fashion, and were left on their own while Popeye and Penny flew to the other side of the harbour. This was brief and Penny rushed back to be greeted by head nodding and much cheeping ! 

The day ended with a tranquil in-line swim to the island, see video below.

Cute Cygnets

The really cute stage of cygnets is during the first month of existence, I never tire of looking or taking snaps of them. The modern cameras with zoom lenses mean that all of us can get really close up shots.

Sometime the detail is excellent, others because of movement bad light or luck it's not so good, but the shot is worth keeping anyway.

Like I said, I never tire of snapping cygnets !

Ugly ducklings....Never !

Have you ever Wondered ?

If you've ever wondered what the cygnets are doing under Mum's wing.....

 Then wonder no more ...a nice cosy body warmer !

Another short video clip of the cygnets progress.

All Aboard

Nothing cosier looking than a cygnet on board !

Or sitting in the warm Sunlight !

Four aboard, but they're getting bigger everyday ! For those hoping to get a pic of the cygnets on Penny's back, you have about a week to do so - after that she wont be carrying them around !

Short video clip of the family in the harbour on a beautiful summer day!

Backlit Photo's

Conventional attitudes to taking photo's always points out the wisdom of having the sun at your back. This is good sound advice which means most of your pics come out in detail.

However sometimes it's nice to break with convention and have a go at shooting almost into the light, the effects can be quite nice too !

These I took earlier this evening before sunset, with the sunlight coming in from the front right.

Harbour Otter

Slight change of topic - tonight down at the harbour whilst checking on the Swans, a duck started making a big fuss alerting the swans that danger was around. Sure enough within a minute or two I spotted an Otter feasting on Salmon Parr, harbour is full of them at the moment. Poor quality pics but short video clips confirm it was an Otter. One more predator for the Swans and ducks to worry about ! If you missed my old post on the Nairn harbour otter, you can see it here with video clips, http://simplysuperbswans.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/harbour-otter.html