Hybrid Ducks

Since losing one of the white ducks a couple of weeks ago, I have been particularly concerned with the welfare of the last remaining white duck. She has been trying hard to get a new mate, and has homed in on another hybrid like herself. This I find fascinating, because she has all the regular Mallards to choose from, but has set her sights on one particular male hybrid. He is one of the five or six drake offspring survivors of Blondie, a beautiful duck that was killed a few years back. 

He is slightly larger than a pure Mallard drake but without the white ring around the neck, this is how to tell the hybrid drakes compared to the regular Mallards. He lets her tag along but as yet he is not besotted with her, he is learning though that if he sticks close to her when I'm feeding them, he gets a good share ! With high tides during the night throughout the coming week, I only hope she is spared long enough to complete the bonding with her new found love !

Weekend Lookback - July 2009

First of all, this morning saw yet another cygnet return to the river this makes 3, and the parents seem quite happy to have them around - so far ! The river is on the rise and I suspect with the continuing rain we are in for a mini flood ! There are still some tourists around and still taking photo's of the swans - probably the most photographed creatures in Nairn ! With digital camera's and mobile phones all able to take pics, I thought I would take a look back to July 2009 when I mentioned this before. The birds shown in order are, Redshanks, Knots, Jackdaw, Herring gulls, male Goosander, Goldfinch, Robin, Female Goosander, Collared Dove, Dipper, Curlew, Shag, Canada geese, Bullfinch's, Brent Geese, Blackbird, and Herring gull pair.
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Wild Geese

Clear blue skies beautiful sunshine and a fresh Northerly airflow coming across the firth today, just glorious ! The wild Geese could be heard and seen for miles, flying high and heading inland to graze on the grain fields. There was row after row stretching West to East across the horizon, must have been a thousand of them !
I took a few pics but they were so high and distant, if you enlarge the distance pics you might get an idea of the numbers with all the thread like strings across the sky - Winter is coming !

2 Happy Returns

A beautiful day and after five days, two of the Cygnets have returned to the river. Popeye and Penny have accepted them back, if only for a few hours or the day. They look extremely well and were allowed to eat their fill, before having a sleep on their home river. Penny initially had her dander up looking really regal, but settled down after eating and all was peace and love once more.

Home Alone - Official

Popeye and Penny are now officially home alone, this is day 3 since the cygnets departed the River, the earliest that their offspring have ever fledged. Our previous adult swans were pretty regular at seeing off their cygnets, usually around the 6th of October every year as it happens!  Popeye and Penny seem to be very relaxed, enjoying the new found freedom and each others company. A few pics to remind you all of what 5 months can achieve in the wonderful world of Swans !

Cygnets Depart

Looks like the 5th generation of the current Nairn swans have fledged. I was told they were on the Swans Island early this morning, later they were again away for the whole day and have not returned at dark. This makes 32, the number of successfully raised cygnets in the past 5 seasons. The weather is favourable for their final departure, Penny always picks high pressure and calm seas for their leaving. They are in excellent condition and appear to be competent fliers, They are likely to have headed West and joined another group or flock of young swans. Penny came flying back this morning, probably just after seeing them off, I also took my last pic of the family together the day before they left. If they come back now they will be escorted out of the territory by Popeye and Penny, the world is their oyster, so bon voyage my lovelies !

Cygnets Away Day - or Return ?

This morning I was surprised to see Popeye and Penny on their own, cygnets nowhere to be seen ! Anyway they both seemed to be enjoying a break from the kids !
I checked the harbour and the sea but no sign of them. A local resident saw them all flying earlier this morning, so it's possible they were taken to join a nearby flock by the parents, who then returned alone. I will be surprised if they have gone already, since they are not quite 5 months old - but if they have joined a flock then they may well be gone for good. 

The last two broods were not given the push until January, and the parents have shown no sign that they wanted this brood to go yet. We will see if they return tomorrow.
Meanwhile our lone white duck is still without a mate and looks very vulnerable. 

Missing

The Beautiful white drake is missing, I fear the worst ! He went missing Tuesday night, and now only his sister is left out of the 3 beautiful white ducks that I put in the river back in June. High tide during the hours of darkness seems to be the most dangerous time for the ducks, I think the Otters and Mink have easier access to the lower river. The beauty of the ducks white plumage is a big handicap during the hours of darkness, and reduces their chances of survival. She has no family members left, and will have to find a strong alert mate quickly. The first white duck also went missing during darkness and high tide. 
These ducks are the offspring of my remarkable Mallard whose nest was washed away and I reared until they could fly, It is a tragedy !

Co-op Good With Food !

With the ever increasing cost of grain and around 120 Ducks and Swans on the lower river to feed, I am always grateful for any financial assistance that comes my way. Winter ensures that I go through two or three 20 kg bags of grain a week plus 10 kg of Carrots, and wholemeal loaves. This might seem a lot of food but divided between 120 Swans and Ducks over the week, it's what is needed for their good health and survival over the winter. Paul, one of the Nairn Co-op Managers, a bird lover himself, is sympathetic to the wildlife and offered to site a few donation buckets in the King street store. The store has a policy that supports local good causes, and I am extremely grateful for the help. 

I spend around £1400 a year myself feeding the wildlife, so all you local shoppers who like to see wildlife thriving on the river, and would like to help with the cost of feeding them over the winter, feel free to deposit some loose change at the checkout ! Swan postcards can be had in exchange for donations. On behalf of the Nairn wildlife Many Thanks !

Something Special

This weekend I have something really special that I think you will all appreciate. Archie a friend of mine, sent me a link to a Youtube Video, which Is so exciting and moving I think everyone should see it. Saving any wildlife is immensly satisfying. Go full screen and Enjoy this Gem !

What a Fluke !

It was a test of endurance yesterday venturing out to feed the Swans and ducks, the wind was ferocious and the rain relentless. All the wildlife had gathered at the island, the only haven in the river where they could avoid the worst of the flood and storm. Today was a big improvement but the river is still in flood, and the wildlife glad to be fed. The two white ducks were dabbling along the edge, when the drake caught a wee fluke (flounder), he was nipping at it for a while but his sister was keen to have a go. She grabbed it and proceeded to soften it up, eventually swallowing it. (Short video below). Although reared by me they are learning to hunt and make use of the river.

New Wetlands For Nairn ?

Last night I went to the NICE ( Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise ) presentation to the River Community Council in Nairn. Alastair Noble and his colleagues gave a laudable vision of a possible way forward for the Town's future. One aspect that caught my eye was the possible creation of a new Wetlands centre which Naturally I find appealing. I think Nairn would be an excellent venue for such a place, for we already have the river and sea close by, with many species that visit over the course of the year. Having a Wetlands centre would perhaps attract all kinds of birds and tourists, who would enjoy visiting such a place ! Maybe NICE will get enough support to start putting their vision forward, this maybe the best chance in a generation to get Nairn on the path to renewal. It was pointed out that many born and bred in Nairn are against change, this is understandable and to be expected, especially of the older generation. However like getting old, change is inevitable and has to be accepted in the end, though it may take you out of your comfort zone!
A wetlands centre might attract some of the birds shown.

Getting Stuck In

The cygnets have been getting some flying practice on the river, so I'm told - haven't been there to get some photo shots yet. They are always around for the their food though, and get stuck in when I turn up. (Short vid below eating the wheat and carrots.)

Weekend look back 4 - Steven the Gull

Last year I had the great pleasure of returning an injured Herring gull to the wild after a 13 month rehabilitation. I only took on the young injured gull after some neighbourhood children asked if I could fix it ! I saw the bird dragging a broken wing and frankly didn't give it much of a chance, but thought I better give it a go anyhow. It turned out to be one of the most rewarding and interesting endeavours that I have ever tackled. I used previous  experience, and as much internet information that I could find. I posted the short 6 minute film I made on Youtube, and I recommend you have a look if you haven't seen it before ! 

PS. GREENPEACE has a petition running to make the Arctic a Global sanctuary, and prevent oil drilling and industrial fishing in the melting waters of the Arctic. It's in all our interests to sign this petition and send a message to world leaders !   http://www.savethearctic.org/   Please sign.

Sleeping Beauties

Sometimes I am able to get very natural shots of the cygnets, today I was lucky. As the tide filled the estuary the cygnets slept while drifting with the tide, with natural symmetry a majestic scene unfolded.