Life On The Slea (LOTS)

Its not very often I walk along the Slea on my own, but today was one of those times. I normally meet up with some friends and I can be seen here with them, taken in the bad weather…

…I saw the 2 Dabchicks today but 1 was near the Hub and the other was near Cogglesford Mill, when I saw them the other day they were together so I am not really sure what they are doing e.g. whether they are a ‘couple’ or just ‘friends’ ???

I saw about 5 Robins past the Mill all waiting to be fed, which I did well it was either 5 or a very clever Robin that kept getting ahead of me for more food – LOL

Happy New Year to all the Slea Wildlife and all my friends.

Terry

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

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 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…

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 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

We have some very late DUCKLINGS, its a shame because they probably will not survive the cold nights. There were 6 today, but apparantly there were 12 over the weekend, so we have already lost half

I saw the Dabchick outside the LC and later further downstream. I assume both sighting were the same Dabchick but I will look out very carefully ‘just in case’.

I also had a very good view of the Kingfisher today…

Terry