The pair of coots that nested on the island on our pond have now produced 4 babies that have survived a week now. They are wonderful parents and becoming quite tame as they feed bread to the babies so are pleased to see me! We have probably had 100 mallard ducklings and not one survivor, so I will be interested to see if the coots last! I had always suspected moorhens or coots of killing the ducklings, but I now think it is the other mallards protecting their space. Also, only the female duck looks after the young and they whizz about everywhere from an early age. The coots both do the parenting and run a very tight ship - I could watch them for hours.
A couple of shots. No 2 shows the adults semi -webbed feet a bit!
A couple of shots. No 2 shows the adults semi -webbed feet a bit!
Comment