Archives: February 2006
Sun Feb 26, 2006
The last few days...
The last few days there has been 5 of the coots on the Slea and the other one on the pond in Lollycocks field, why the 2 on the pond have 'split' up I dont know but the other 4 definately seem to be 2 'pairs' now. The bridge at the Leisure centre seems to be the dividing line for their respective territories, they meet there quite often and the males fluff their feathers up to look big, but each know the dividing line and just patrol it without coming to blows as each just keep inside their own bit of the Slea.
The Swans took off this morning at the Leisure centre but I should think they will be back tonight or tomorrow again.
Terry
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Sun Feb 19, 2006
We now have 6 Coots...
We now have 6 Coots, 2 are building a nest as in this photo taken today...
... another 2 are on the pond in Lollycocks field and 2 are further upstream past the leisire centre. If I am correct in assuming that a female coot is slightly smaller than a male coot then I do think we have 3 pairs, the other thing that points to this is that each 'pair' are not fighting each other but over the last week I have seen 'pairs' of coots fighting with other 'pairs'. So hopefully each teritory is now decided apon (pond, upstream of leisure centre, downstream of leisure centre) so that mating can happen when the time is right :)
Terry
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Fri Feb 17, 2006
Firm guilty of River Slea pollution...
Quote from bbc.co.uk
"A Lincolnshire firm and three men have been found guilty of causing pollution which killed thousands of fish.
About 100,000 fish and other aquatic life died when a pesticide was washed into the River Slea in February 2003."
end quote
For more details see...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/4724630.stm
Terry
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Thu Feb 16, 2006
Not sure I believe this...
There was 'Coot warfare' on the Slea this morning. As I walked upstream from Cogglesford Mill I saw our 'pair' and then at the bend I saw another coot out of the water which is a little unusual, then at the leisure Centre I saw 2 more coots (making 5 in total) who preceded to fight. One seemed to hold the other under the water trying to drown it and then the part I cant believe, 2 moorhens joined in as though they were trying to save the 1 under the water, I dont suppose that that thought actually went through their minds but that was the outcome, the coot was saved, but why did the Moorhens join in ???
The pair then arrived all the way from Cogglesford and chased these 2 further upstream and on their way back to Cogglesford they had a go at the 1 that was originally out of the water on the bend and he had to get out again to avoid a fight...
Coots fighting on the Slea this morning...
It seems that when Coots start a fight they are not messing around, they are deadly serious.
Terry
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Tue Feb 14, 2006
Chaffinch and Sleeping swan
Here is a Chaffinch I took today by the Slea...
Early afternoon I heard Swans above me and they landed just past the Leisure centre, they must have been for an 'away day' again :) Here is one sleeping today...
The 2 coots near Cogglesford Mill seem to be reasonably friendly and 1 of them was checking out the same place where there was a coots nest last year.
Terry
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Sat Feb 11, 2006
The Moorhens are fighting...
The Moorhens are fighting as they get territorial...
...I am always amazed at the size of Moorhens feet :)
Graham has seen a Dabchick near the A17 past Cogglesford Mill , so there may well be 5 still around. One Dabchick did go over the weir in the Summer and couldnt get back so hopefully he/she survived.
I havnt seen any coots on the pond recently but there are 4 on the Slea and 2 of them (near Cogglesford Mill) seem quite friendly so perhaps they will mate :)
Terry
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Wed Feb 08, 2006
2 swans landing and 1 duck....
2 swans landing and 1 duck escaping the landing zone by the Leisure Centre bridge today :)
...after firstly having doubts I have now positivly identified (by close up photo of beak pattern) that these 2 are the pair that have been around on and off for the last few months. They seem to have an 'away day' quite often and I wonder if they are looking elsewhere for suitable nest sites, but return to the Slea for convienience ?
Terry
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Sat Feb 04, 2006
Take off...
Swans taking off at Cogglesford Mill this morning...
Graham has informed me that he has seen a Dabchick (Little Grebe) above the weir at the back of the Tourist Info Office in addition to the other 2 that are seen regularily between Cogglesford Mill and the Hub :) so we still have 3 Dabchicks :)
Terry
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Fri Feb 03, 2006
Swans are back, no they arnt, yes thay are...
The swans keep coming and going, today I saw them take off at Cogglesford Mill...
...they went to the pond in Lollycocks field, stayed a while and then returned to the Slea.
There are 3 coots on the Slea and they seem to be spreading about to get their own territory. One is at Cogglesford, another by the Leisure centre and 1 at Quackers, the last 2 seem to have a little dispute on at the moment and fight when they come near each other, the one at the Leisure Centre seems to be the likely winner.
I saw the Red Crested Pochard out of the water for the first time at the Leisure Centre today and someone else told me they had actually seen it fly, another person has told me that they also saw him mating with a mallard so we may get some Red Crested Mallards - LOL
Terry
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