I think I know what is happening with the Dabchicks, but first, yesterday I saw 3 of the 4 ducklings but I didn’t see any today, I am not going to think the worst unless I do not see them again the next time I go down the Slea.
Now the Dabchicks, I think, but am by no means certain, that we have our 2 parents that I sometimes see upstream and downstream and with the youngster now and then. Then there is the singleton, who again I sometimes see upstream and downstream but always away from our parents. I am beginning to think that this singleton is also seen with our youngster sometimes, presumably because neither see the other as a threat. Initially I thought 1 of our parents was spending time away from the Slea but at present I think the above is the most likely scenario. This is partly based on the fact that our 2 parents and also the youngster do not seem worried by the presence of people and will gladly sit just a few feet away from where people are walking. The singleton on the other hand is quite nervous of people (as most Dabchicks are) and is nearly always on the opposite bank far away from people as possible. This is the only way I have so found out to try and recognise individuals, its by no means foolproof though.
1 of out 2 parent Dabchicks (presumably the female) was today building a nest and seemed to be getting in a position to mate, but the male was oblivious to all of this, I just cant see it happening as late as this in the year. Here is a very bad photo of the nest building today…
Terry