Spring has arrived!

Hello!
Setting up my blog has taken longer than anticipated, what with all the uni work thats ‘important’ to do beforehand and all! I have been noting down my animal encounters over the past week and so I invite you to read and enjoy.

Monday 1st March
A rather crisp March morning welcomed me to Lincoln  today and in my tired state I stumbled (not literally) across a truly beautiful sight. A mother Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) was leading her eight tiny newly hatched ducklings along the river Brayford. Six of which had  the common markings.. which I think resemble those of a wild boar piglet and two were a stunning vibrant yellow! At the time I saw them, I was waiting at train tracks and they swam happily behind their mother in a neat little line in the river beneath the bridge. Almost hypnotised by this happily unaware family, I suddenly remembered a particuar episode of last years’ Springwatch where they followed a family of seven cygnets with their two Mute swan (Cygnus olor) parents. Over the course of the next few days, the audience watched as the numbers of the cygnets dwindled until the last surviving cygnet, with a parent either side was carried away by a Carrion crow (Corvus corone) to its own nest. I looked on with dismay at the Mallard with her octuplets and hoped that I would see them all together another day.

Thursday
I hadn’t been near the Brayford for the past few days but whenever I passed a body of water, my curiosity got the better of me and I had a long peer in.  I unexpectedly came across Mrs. Mallard with Mr. Mallard today as I munched on my brown bread. I was both unsettled and releived to see that they were exploring a puddle with their remaining three ducklings. Unfortunately, the two pretty yellows had gone. As with most people who are passionate about animals (and soppy!) I didn’t have to think twice about sharing my bread with the tight family unit. None of them fought over the crumbs and they looked so content, enjoying their little meal. Admittedly, I probably looked like a bit of a loon as students bustled passed me discussing last-night’s events but I didn’t care. These gorgeous little delicate babies needed the best start in life. The amount of times I’ve watched nature documentaries and wondered how (I know its a rule) but how they can watch as a baby animal dies. I truly don’t think I’d be able to do it – as much as I know “thats just nature’s way”.

Friday
It has now become second nature for me to scan the river bank and bushes for a glimpse of any animal – my ducklings especially. I stopped short as I saw two bumbling laddish students play fighting whilst walking and not watching where they put their feet. Thankfully, the duckling I had spotted a minute earlier must have seen these guys and was wise in waiting by a tree stump until the coast was clear! I watched him dash into the undergrowth next to mother mallard and another duckling. Then there were two! I don’t beleive I like this game anymore! If I’d have known the fate that would befall the little darlings, I’m sure mother duck wouldn’t have minded me taking one home with me. (Although my Cockerpoo would have probably been insanely jealous!)

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