Pool Side

What was going to be a quick walk around Nythe Pool actually took me an hour with so much to see. What was noticeable was the number of Blackcaps around the pool and a few metres up Dorcan Brook towards the Sub-station. In total I had 5 singing males and 2 females. One of the males was collecting nesting material and was still able to singing with his beak full. There were a few Chiffchaffs in song and all around were Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Collared Doves and even a Song Thrush all singing away.

On the pool were 7 Mallard and 9 ducklings, which I wasn't expecting. There were 5 drakes and 2 ducks, with one of the ducks taking care of the ducklings. However I think she must have taken on a paternal role and had some ducklings from another Mallards brood. I couldn't understand it at first but it does make sense now, because one of the drakes was continuously trying to drive the "mother" duck off the pool. The only conclusion I can come up with, is the fact that some of the ducklings are his offspring and I can only surmise that he's trying to keep her away from them, despite the fact that hers are mixed in with them.

Apart from taking off a couple of times and sneaking around the back of the pool to rejoin the ducklings, she also took them off into the reed bed in attempt to hide them and herself from the drake. Hopefully the drake will give up eventually and let her get on with raising them.

As I walked back home I stopped to chat to one of the local residents, who as it turned out was very interested in wildlife and also disappointed in the state of the pool. As we chatted she was telling me about the Pheasant and Tawny Owl that have been around the past few weeks. Its always nice to hear that others have seen and heard some of the birds I've reported from Nythe lately. I shall have to go out one evening and have a look for this Tawny Owl!

Anyway here are a few images from my walk today.

Nythe Pool

A male Blackcap with nesting material

Another male.....

....giving it his all.

A lone Red Kite......

..........passed over the pool looking for a free snack.

In the hedgerow lots of Wrens flitting about.

The hedge running alongside Dorcan Brook

A rather overgrown and much neglected Nythe Pool, with TV sets, buckets, wheelie bins and hundreds of plastic bottles and cans in amongst the vegetation.

So it did come as a surprise that even when you drop hints to the Local Council and Environment Agency that the pool could do with a "Spring" clean, that these 9 ducklings have somehow managed to hatch out close-by.

A duckling takes a break from swimming around.

However mum is not having such a good time of it, as a drake seems intent on driving her off the pool.  I think this is an attempt to separate her from some of his ducklings that have mixed in with hers.

Now this is the other female Mallard. She is either completely oblivious to what's going on or has accepted the fact her ducklings are being cared for by another duck. Or of course they aren't hers.

Drone Fly

I'm sure this Lady's Smock, Cardamine pratensis

And feeding on the Lady's Smock this Marmalade Hoverfly.

One of a few Speckled Woods flying around in Nythe Wood.

A Goldcrest, honest.

Birds Recorded: 6 Mallard (4 drakes, 2 ducks and 9 ducklings), 1 Red Kite, 2 Moorhen, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Grey Wagtail heard, Dunnock, Robin, 12+ Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 7 Blackcap (5m, 2f), 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch.

Also: Drone Flies, Marmalade Hoverfly, 5 Orange-tips, 2 Small White, 1 Large White.