Life On The Slea (LOTS) » 2009

We definitely have TWO…

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:44:45 +0000

We definitely have TWO Dabchicks…

…as I saw them up near Cogglesford Bend this morning. On the way back Mel and I only saw just one, not sure where the other had got to but probably not far away. I am just hoping that this is a ‘pair’ (they certainly are not both males otherwise there would be a fight) and that they stay to breed on the Slea in 2010.

Also saw the Heron which has a bad leg (it droops when flying) and he/she obviously is mobile enough to stay alive as we have seen it ‘on and off’ over the last couple of years.

Terry

The Cygnet…

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:06:46 +0000

The Cygnet has been around until the last few days so has possibly gone now. The adult swan that came the same day left the day after so I assume was not related to the Cygnet.

Had really good sightings of the Kingfisher today, he let us walk past on the opposite bank which gave good views. Today is the shortest day so the Kingfisher doesn’t have much time to feed and I have always found them ‘braver’ at this time of year giving closer views because of this. I then saw ANOTHER Kingfisher which was definitely a different one, so there are t least two Kingfishers on this stretch.

The Dabchick has not been seen for a couple of days but I doubt that he has left, in fact I had a report that TWO were seen together up near the Mill, I do not know if this is two different Dabchicks or our normal one and another, but perhaps we may get Dabchicks mating on the Slea next year.

I have recently come back from Bosque Del Apache in New Mexico where there are 10 of thousands of Snow Geese and this is my attempt at an ‘arty’ shot…

Merry Christmas – Terry

We have Swans…

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:20:52 +0000

We have Swans This morning a Cygnet was on the Slea near the bend towards Cogglesford Mill, then overhead I saw an adult which landed on Lollycocks pond, I am unsure if they are related or if it is just a coincidence and it will be interesting to see if they stay for any length of time and meet up ?

The Dabchick is also still around as was 1 Moorhens on the pond.

I think this is the last Swan I have seen on the Slea before the 2 arrived today, from October 2008…

Terry

People who ‘fish’….

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:28:30 +0000

People who fish should be more careful, a Water Vole (Britains most endangered mammal) has been found dead by Lollycocks pond with a FISH HOOK in its mouth NKDC seem to allow fishing in Lollycocks pond even though it is a NATURE RESERVE and there is also a NKDC sign that says NO FISHING – there has even been a couple MORE pontoons fitted over the last two years to make MORE places for people to fish – UNBELIEVABLE

Had good views of the Kingfisher today

Terry

The Dabchick…

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:08:10 +0000

The Dabchick was seen near the Leisure Centre today again. Not much else happening but the water level below Cogglesford Mill is ridiculously low.

There are 1 or 2 Robins about at the moment along the Slea…

Terry

The Kingfisher must be hungry…

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:19:44 +0000

The Kingfisher must be hungry because he gave us some lovely close views of him fishing this morning, and he caught one. I have noticed that Kingfishers get more tolerant of humans when food is in short supply or the length of daylight that they can fish in is short as it is at this time of year.

The dabchick was at the LC this morning also.

Here is another Seal pup from Donna Nook the other week…

Someone has been building…

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:06:30 +0000

Someone has been building dams on the River Slea…

Click Here

…although probably done for the best reasons these people are causing the exact thing they are trying to stop, further downstream

The barriers outside the leisure centre have been removed ?

Sadly one of the people we sometimes see during our walks along the Slea has died after a short illness…
Rest In Peace Taff, we will miss you.

Terry

There are barriers…

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:45:19 +0000

There are barriers along the river bank outside the Leisure Centre, I was told a child fell in there. Are the powers that be going to errect permanent barriers ? I doubt it but personally I hope so, I am sorry for the child but if barriers are put up it will hopefully stop any more accidents AND out of control dogs and cats being able to get at the wildlife so easily. I doubt weather the entire lenght between the LC and town would be done, but anything would help.

I saw the Dabchick today but not much else. Here is a Seal from Donna Nook earlier in the week…

Terry

There is very little…

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:02:40 +0000

There is very little water downstream of Cogglesford Mill and in one place after the railway bridge the ‘River’ is about 2 feet wide and about an inch deep, and the Navigation Trust want to see BOATS coming up the Slea – a pig just flew by. The one worrying thing is if they do get a Water Taxi from the Hub to the Mill as has been talked about, the wildlife will certainly be affected by that as the Slea is too narrow for boats AND water nesting birds (Moorhen, Coot, Dabchick etc) to exist together, the nests will be washed away by the wash from a boat.

I did see the Dabchick and a Heron was also seen past the railway bridge. Here is a close up of one of the Slea Moorhens…

Terry

There doesnt appear to be any…

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:07:32 +0000

There doesnt appear to be any Ducklings left, I think we have lost all of them 12 lives so very quickly over, wildlife really does have a much harder time surviving than most people realise.

I did see the Kingfisher and the Dabchick, also 2 adult Moorhens are back on Lollycocks pond.

Terry