Busy day

It has been busy on the feeders today, probably due to the wet weather. Lots of Siskins, a few Starlings, loads of Chaffinches with a Great Tit and Goldfinch thrown in.

The Blackbirds of course are still needing their daily fix of sultanas and the young male has a new party trick of coming in through the kitchen window which I open to get better photos of birds on the feeders.

Now for a sad tale. Whilst walking the dog this morning I had to put her on the lead when we met a female Mallard walking down a path towards the river with ELEVEN little ducklings following behind. My worst fears were soon realised. After crossing over the river further upstream then heading back down the opposite bank I came to the spot where the mother and chicks would have entered the river. Suddenly there was a small commotion coming from the other bank and a Heron appeared flying over the river with one of the ducklings in it's beak. Needless to say the Heron did not take long in swallowing the unfortunate chick. That is nature for you.