Life On The Slea (LOTS)

I have never seen this before… a female Mallard came flying in from the Council Offices grounds with an EGG in its beak, when it landed on the water the egg dropped into the river and the mallard was unable to retrieve it. Was the mallard going to eat the egg ????? but its something I have never witnessed before.

No swans, no dabchicks but they are still getting on with the winding hole

Again I saw the coloured ‘newcomer’ duck….

…but didn’t see the white one ?

Terry

The 2 swans are stll around but I have not seen a Dabchick for about a week, there is not much cover at the moment so that may be why (if) the have gone somewhere else. In past years if a Dabchick has been on the Slea all through the winter has normally left at the start of April, a pair of Dabchicks (I assume 1 is the original) seem to come back after a while and breed, just hope these 2 come back and breed also.

There was also 1 lone duckling near the Hub, I dont know where mum was The Winding hole is s-l-o-w-l-y- getting done but it is s-l-o-w.

Not from the Slea but from my garden pond….

…but there will be some around Lollycocks pond also by now.

Terry

Its a real shame because I think these ducklings are too early and will not survive…

…there were seven ducklings and I would love to be proved wrong though.

There were TWO Kingfishers on the Old Slea this Morning also saw a Heron The two new ducks are still around also.

I saw 2 swans downstream from the Leisure Centre, I threw a little food to them but they ignored it and actually appeared to back away from it. later I saw two swans overhead and assume they were the same two. However when I got to the Hub there were two swans happily being fed by a woman and child. I therefore believe we had FOUR swans on the Slea this morning but have no definitive proof, just adding everything up ?

Terry

I got a bit wet this morning, I decided to go down the Slea as it was not raining, but when I got there it started, not heavy but persistent.

I did see both Dabchicks and a Mallard was nesting, she is reasonably safe from dogs and humans so it will be interesting to keep an eye on her over the next few weeks. Any ducklings will hatch sometime beginning of March, which is a bit early, so I hope it gets warmer by then.

I was told a Water Vole has been sighted downstream of the Mill, which is good news, however I have also been told that Mink have been seen only about 5 miles away, if true that could be VERY disastrous.

The Slea has got quite a lot of water in it at the moment and lots of water is going over weir into the Old Slea and also past Cogglesford Mill…

Terry

Not much happening on the Slea today except I saw these two (who arrived yesterday)…

…I have been told on good authority that these are ‘Farmyard Ducks’, so nothing exceptional.

I did see 1 Dabchick today but not the other one. Some Moorhens seem to be chasing away any remaining offspring from last year so that they have their territory all to themselves.

Terry

I definately saw one of the Dabchicks this morning, a little later and further upstream I saw another Dabchick, I cannot be absolutely sure but I do not think it was the same so I think I saw both The second one had also caught a little fish.

Also saw the Kingfisher and he settled on a branch quite near, much nearer than he would normally accept, so I think that shows he was hungry and therefore a little ‘braver’ than normal.

Another Fieldfare with an apple…

Terry

The two Dabchicks were TOGETHER this morning near Cogglesford bend Also saw the Kingfisher about 3 times, I presume it was the same one each time. Lots of water going over the old Slea weir and the river below Cogglesford is quite high for that stretch of water (but only a foot or so).

Mrs Blackbird having some Cotoneaster berries…

Terry