Archives: October 2006
Fri Oct 27, 2006
A conundrum...
A conundrum... I have only seen 7 Dabchicks all week, however someone told me that they had spoken to someone who saw a Dabchick downstream of Cogglesford, exactly where I do not know, but if true this open up a number of possibilities.
The 'eighth' Dabchick may have gone downstream, I did see a couple of Dabchicks next to Mill race so this is a possibility.
The 'over the weir' Dabchick may have come back.
One of the Dabchicks may have gone downstream for a look around but returned.
The most unlikely possibility is that a new Dabchick arrived downstream of Cogglesford.
We may never know which one is for real, but I am getting more resigned to the fact that there is only 7 as each day I fail to see the eighth. One thing that makes deciding which one is missing is the fact that they are all starting to look similar e.g. the 'babies' are getting a more adult look/colour and the 2 Parents (if both are still around?) are losing the distinctive copper neck.
I also saw the Swans this morning which is the first time since Sunday.
Terry
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Tue Oct 24, 2006
Only 7...
I have only seen 7 Dabchicks for the last few days, I hope 1 has been hiding each time I have been looking but I am starting to think that there is a small possibility that 1 has flown ? hope not though.
The swans were here Sunday morning but have not been seen since ?
I was told this morning that there were quite a few Goldfinches on the Teasle in Lollycocks field although I didnt personally see them, and it should soon be time to look for Siskins.
Siskin from last year...
Terry
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Sun Oct 22, 2006
They are back...
Just a quick entry to say that the 5 swans are back this morning after being away since Friday. They were at Cogglesford and I waited for 2 hours in the hope they would all take off towards me, but they didnt.
I counted 7 Dabchicks today so hopefully the 8th was hiding somewhere ?
Terry
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Fri Oct 20, 2006
More on the swans and a correction...
First the correction... when I matched up the beak pattern from the male yesterday with a picture in my archive, I initially thought this was the male that was on the Slea (Hub to Cogglesford) earlier in the year and his mate. What I had forgotton was that in my entry for Sun Mar 05, 2006 (see archives) I state that there was a pair of swans between the Hub and Cogglesford and a pair for a short time near Somerfields (which is now Sainsbury's), the pair that arrived with their 3 cygnets yesterday were the Somerfields pair and NOT the Hub-Cogglesford pair.
I went down to the Slea this morning to see if the swans were still here, just as I was parking the car at the Hub I saw 5 swans fly overhead, I then confirmed that there were no swans on the Slea so I am confident that the 5 in the air were the ones that arrived yesterday. I am hoping that this doesnt mean they have gone for good again and 'hope' they are just having an 'away day' and return later tonight.
Terry
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Thu Oct 19, 2006
I was counting Dabchicks when...
I was counting Dabchicks when I saw some Swans on the pond, they then walked over to the Slea...
I took close up shots of the male beak, the first insert was taken today and the second insert was last March, the patterns are obviously the same swan so they have come back with 3 of their cygnets, but why ?
The third insert shows marks on one of the Cygnets necks, however all 5 swans had similar markings. I have seen markings like this before on a number of occassions including on our once 'resident' male swan which was inflicted in a fight ironically by this particular Male. I therefore personally think that all of these 5 swans (pen, cob and 3 cygnets) have been driven away from where they were by another male fighting them. It also makes sense that if the parents are driven away they would come back to a place where they have been before and were safe. If my theory is correct I would not be surprised if they stayed through the winter only to move on again at nesting time because there isnt anywhere really for them to nest between the Hub and Cogglesford that is not continually disturbed by people and dogs.
It will be interesting to see what happens.
Terry
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Wed Oct 18, 2006
All quiet...
All quiet on the Slea front :) I only saw 6 Dabchicks today but assume the other 2 were hiding. Tufty has deinately gone but I saw a Kingfisher twice, one at Cogglesford and the other time he/she was near the weir between the Slea and the old Slea.
Closeup of a Dabchick with fish (I still feel sorry for the fish|)...
Terry
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Sat Oct 14, 2006
I think Tufty...
I think Tufty has definately gone as I have not seen him for 3-4 days, I hope he finds some other Tufties to spend the winter with and then come back to the Slea to mate :)
I have seen all 8 Dabchicks over the last few days, the single adult seems to be getting a lot of hassle as he/she likes to be near to the Reeds where the 2 parents and 3 little ones hang out most of the time.
The ducks are still at it...
Terry
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Thu Oct 12, 2006
Where is....
Where is Tufty, has he flown off or was he just hiding ?
I saw at least 7 Dabchicks and think I heard an eighth, Graham thinks there may now be nine which would be great especially if the were 3 'pairs' as well as the 3 teenagers.
Terry
PS I had better post a picture next time otherwise Colin C. will get on at me :)
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Mon Oct 09, 2006
Fighting...
I saw 7 dabchicks today, 3 or possibly 4 were fighting near the reeds just downstream from the LC bridge. I couldnt identify them but I suspect that the 2 new adult pair who normally reside by the reeds near Cogglesford corner, were trying to get upstream but at least 1 of the 2 parents of this years little ones were not letting them pass. As soon as the 2 new pair had retreated only 20-30 yards dowstream of the reeds the fighting stopped, so this reinforces my feeling that the dividing line between these 2 sets of adults is somewhere between the 2 sets of reeds. I also saw Tufty and lots of Moorhens, and the odd Mallard here and there :)
Actually the Moorhens may well be a problem come spring, 1 family just upstream from Cogglesford Mill have about 7 youngsters, when mating time comes these will be ushered away by their parents but the whole length of the Slea from Cogglesford the Hub has adult Moorhens that have their own territory and will not give any of it up without a big fight. I think there will not be enough river bank to support this number so wonder what will happen ?
Terry
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Sat Oct 07, 2006
Now I am confused...
Now I am confused... I saw 1 of the teenager Dabchicks swimming down past the bend near Cogglesford, I waited for the 'new pair' to chase it away but nothing happened ? I assume they were not there at this time, I wandered past Cogglesford and on my way back I saw 1 Dabchick being chased by another Dabchick, I assumed this was 1 of the new pair chasing away the teenager. However a little while later I saw 2 adults near the Hub, so is this our new pair who have gone for a look around ? was the 1 chasing the teenager at Cogglesford the single adult that is normally further upstream near Quackers ? I will have to keep an eye out to see exactly what is happening but I wish they would stay in their usual place instead of playing 'Musical Chairs' so I am not so confused by everything :)
In my previous post below I showed the Mandarin that appeared on the Slea almost exactly a year ago, so I thought I should also show the Red Crested Pochard that was on the Slea at the same time but stayed much longer...
Terry
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Thu Oct 05, 2006
I saw 2...
On the way to the Slea I saw 2 swans overhead near Quarrington, I hoped I would see them on the Slea but didnt. I saw all 8 Dabchicks that are above the weir (2 parents, 3 teenagers, 1 single adult, 2 'new pair' adults) and Tufty was still around. The new pair of Dabchicks that are near the bend at Cogglesford were chasing another away, I am not sure if it was a teenager or 1 of the parents but I think it shows that they now regard the 'corner' and Cogglesford as 'theirs'.
Almost exactly a year ago we saw this on the Slea for a couple of days...
... a Mandarin Duck, probably from Leasingham, at the same time we also had a Red Crested Pochard (again probably from Leasingham) and he stayed for quite a while.
Terry
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