Archives: October 2005
Sun Oct 23, 2005
Swans are still here...
The 2 intruder swans are at the Hub again, they have been away for a few days a couple of times now, I wonder if they go looking for a new territory (the male has marks on his neck that look like fighting to me) and come back to the Slea for a peaceful time until they find somewhere else. The Red Crested Pochard is still here and I saw 4 Dabchicks (I think there was 4 unless 2 moved down stream pretty quickly and I counted them twice). The moorhens are fighting, presumably over their territory for the spring.
Terry
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Tue Oct 18, 2005
No swans today but...
There were no swans this morning but the Red Crested Pochard is still there but the Mandarin hasnt been seen for a few days. The other day I counted 4 Dabchicks and none were the parent, so at least 4 chicks have survived, I know one went over the weir at Cogglesford and couldnt get back, I tried to rescue it but coulnt catch it, but hopefully it went down stream and also survived ? The problem with little ducks/cygnets/dabchicks going over the weir is that they try and get back the same way but cant, they then keep getting in/under the water falling over the weir and they will eventually drown unless they are smart enough to give up and go downstream.
Terry
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Tue Oct 11, 2005
Strange...
This is strange, the last couple of days we have had a Red Crested Pochard (this has now been positively identified) and now a...
... Mandarin Duck. this could be just a coincidence but I wonder if someone (like a breeder) has deposited them on the Slea as they are no longer wanted. If this is so I don't personally mind that much because at least they are not wringing their necks, as some pigeon breeders do if a pigeon doesn't measure up to their needs.
The 2 intruder swans are still at the Hub also.
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Mon Oct 10, 2005
There are back....
The 2 intruder swans are back on the Slea this morning. It is difficult to recognise individual swans but both of these have a small mark on the top left side of their heads so I am certain this is them.
CONJECTURE: I wonder if these two swans have been looking elsewhere for a territory and been in a fight which they lost as the male swan has marks on his neck which were not there before he went. These marks look to me like marks I have seen before after two swans fought and one swan had the other swans neck in its beak. I obviously cant be certain of this but I think it is probable.
Terry
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Sun Oct 09, 2005
Swan free zone...
Its now a week since the river Slea became a swan free zone :( So I now fear that we will be swan less at least until spring.
I saw this, this morning, I am not absolutely sure what it is but I *think* it is either a juvenile or female Red Crested Pochard. We are on the edge of an area that contains resident Red Crested Pochards (introduced) so it is possible.
If you can positively identify it you can always leave a comment to that effect :)
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Thu Oct 06, 2005
Still no swans...
This stretch of the river Slea has not had any swans for almost a week now, so although very sad, I have to assume that we will be without swans at least until the spring when pairs of swans go looking for territory for nesting. The problem is that between the Hub and Cogglesford Mill there really are no suitable places for swans to nest, this is why our previous resident pair went upstream to nest and then came back downstream with the cygnets. This could mean that we will not have any cygnets to watch grow up in the next few years but I hope my fears are wrong.
Incidentally I now have some photos that can be purchased on line at...
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/wildlifeasart
...just in case anyone is interested.
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Tue Oct 04, 2005
No swans again this morning...
There were no swans again on the Slea this morning :( I went to Mareham Lane Lake (to be called 'The ballast Pit' in future posts - thanks Colin for the correction :) but no swans there either, so I really don't know where they go to or if any will return.
I did see a chap giving a strange animal the kiss of life......
Actually I really like the sound of bagpipes and listened to the 2 chaps practising for a while.
Terry
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Mon Oct 03, 2005
No Swans...
Just a quick post to say that on going down the Slea twice today there was no sign of the white cygnet or the 2 intruders. It will be interesting tomorrow to see if any have returned as I would hate to think that this stretch of the Slea will not have any swans.
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Sat Oct 01, 2005
I want the cygnet to go ...
I want the cygnet to go, not because I don't want to see him/her again but just so that he/she doesn't get hurt by the 2 intruders. The intruders seem to be getting more aggressive as time goes by as can be seen from this shot taken this afternoon...
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Just the same ...
The white cygnet is still here but is just geting the same treatment from the intruders, they seem to tolerate it sometimes but attack it at others and the cygnet keeps following them when the intruders go upstream to the hub. Is the cygnet very brave and trying to just annoy the intruders hoping they will go, does the cygnet think these are its parents - I dont pretent to know what is going on but I just hope the cygnet doesnt get injured.
Here is a picture of one of the dabchicks (aka Little Grebe) on the Slea this morning...
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