I think the family in yesterdays post is now below Cogglesford Mill weir again, it certainly looked like mum and there were 14 ducklings with her, this would mean we have lost 4 (I think). I did not see any more large families upstream either, and because of this and that fact that mum is the same black-white colour (not normal Mallard colouring) means I think these are the same family as yesterday. If they go back upstream I hope none of the ducklings are swept away down the ramp/weir as one did yesterday.
I did see a Water Vole run across the path in front of me and I also fed ‘one eye’ who seemed ok(ish) in his mannerisms but his bad eye does look bad, I just hope he is not in pain. The Coot is still on the nest and I know of 1 Moorhens nest also, but they do seem to be late this year. No Dabchicks, so they seem to have gone completely for now but hope they will return as they did last year.
Yesterday I saw a ‘Painted Lady’ butterfly along the banks of the Slea so I am hoping it will not be that long before these are back also…
…this was taken just outside Cogglesford Mill a year or so back.
Terry