Waterbirds

[Nature__Lover]

My local lake is brimming with babies!
2 moorhen families, two mallard families, a wigeon family, a swan family, a coot family, and I've also seen a baby rat and it's parent, along with a few watervoles (but no young)

[thud]

Nice shots N_L. We see a similar selection at The National Watersports Centre, just outside Nottingham.

Haven't seen a water vole for years though! Aren't they rare now? I thought I read recently about a project to re-introduce them somewhere?

You can hang on to Ratty though! Wasps and rats I hate...

[Nature__Lover]

Thank you
Water voles are now in fact the UK's fastest declining mammal :(
As long as the rats don't interfere with the voles, I'm not too bothered!

Yesterday, at the same place as I saw these birds, but in the wooded area,
I saw an amazing sight just 3 foot or so in front of me!
A sparrow hawk was circling and then diving at what I later discovered was a pigeon,
I watched for a few minutes, until suddenly the hawk flew to a high perch in a tree,
I quickly went past and left, hoping I hadn't disturbed the natural goings on.

There was a dead pigeon on the floor.. blood and feathers scattered.
I knew it was only nature, But I really hope a small child didn't go past and see it!

[Nature__Lover]

Oh and by the way... are wigeons summer visitors or something? a whole family suddenly appeared a week ago! I've never seen one up until now.. will they stay for autumn and winter?

[Jandy]

Hi, Nature Lover! Apparently wigeon are present here in small numbers all year, their main breeding areas being Scotland and the north of England, but their numbers are hugely boosted in winter by migrants, I imagine from Scandinavia and eastwards, so, depending on where you are, your visitors are probably foreigners!

[Nature__Lover]

wow! thank you for the information.