Thames Nature Notes

Farewell to Goldeneye and several other female ducks

2009-06-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

The last picture I took of Goldeneye before she disappeared

Sadly, I have to presume the worst as regards my old friend Goldeneye. I haven't seen her for weeks since the night her nest was disturbed and she normally returns to visit after a few days away if she's been frightened. What Dave probably saw in the early hours of the morning when we were woken by her alarm calls, was a fox carrying her off. She's been with us for a good few years now and I shall miss having her and Gobi around. Mrs. Speckles has also vanished, presumed dead but, at least I was able to save Lonely from drowning, when she was being attacked by seven males at once. She still visits regularly but times her arrival carefully when there are no males about.

The Cygnets are growing up

Last week the swans turned up with only six cygnets and I thought it odd that one might have disappeared, considering the size they now are. However, all seven arrived for supper and they are all now showing signs of independence from Mum and Dad. In a few months they'll be driven away if they don't drift off of their own accord!

Female Mandarin duck dozing on our railing

This female, who's leg is tagged, spends much of her time with us at the moment. She's very tame and stays close to the front door when she wants to be fed. This is the first year that we've had a Mandarin duck spending so much time with us.

Four of seven baby coots

Coots are great parents, generally speaking, though we have seen some peck their own youngsters to death, presumably because they recognize that the young one isn't going to survive. These parents are fearless in their defense of their young, seeing off Canada geese as well as ducks of all kinds. Only the swans seem to stop them in their tracks. Last week a cat managed to reach their nest and carried off one of the babies, much to the distress of both parents. There are still six youngsters and they are growing rapidly. They look so funny with their ridiculous 'punk' red and yellow heads.

Young Great Tit asking to be fed

This youngster made quite a racket in the garden as it followed its parents around demanding regular food. It's almost as big as its parents but appears so helpless when it opens its beak and flutters its wings.

Sunset on the homeward stretch of river

We've been out in the boat most evenings as the weather has been lovely and the sky looked so attractive as we turned the corner of Taggs Island and headed for home the other night. We love our evening trips as the river is quiet and peaceful.

Sunset on Taggs at the upstream end

Hampton Church with the sailing club in the foreground

A view of our garden last month

The garden deck looking towards Hurst Park

Astoria being towed past Taggs Island

The houseboat, Astoria, originally belonged to Fred Karno who owned the Karsino on Taggs Island. This elegant Edwardian houseboat is now owned by David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd) and is normally moored upstream of Taggs Island on an attractive stretch of river beyond Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare.

Astoria on the move

Astoria on its way back from Huck's Boatyard

Successes and Failures

2009-05-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

The swans have seven cygnets

This year the dominant swans have done well again, hatching seven cygnets and, so far, managing to raise them all. The previous dominant pair were hopeless parents, taking their newly hatched cygnets over the weir several years running. Those the heron didn't help itself to, the dominant swans on the lower stretch of the river attacked and killed.

Greater spotted woodpecker (image by Chris Wittenberg)

The woodpeckers also reared at least one youngster though it was almost as big as its parents when I last saw it accept food from them at the nest entrance. The tell tale signs of nest building could be seen at the base of the sycamore tree! Over the last few days we've heard and seen the parents flying to and fro with beak-fulls of insects and we've spotted at least one youngster. Our neighbour, Chris, managed to take the lovely image of one of the adults at the nest.

This persistent mandarin duck failed to impress

We get three or four pairs of mandarin ducks at the moment and this 'spare' male did his best to persuade one of the females to abandon her partner. Somehow his pose didn't quite do it for us either - not so much dashing as daft!

Silverduck enjoys a quiet five minutes in the pond

Silverduck managed to shake off some of the marauding males that lie in wait to attack the female ducks when they turn up to feed and she had a good five minutes to herself in our pond.

Our neighbours, Sue and Peter, successfully released the three ducklings we helped rescue and they are now part of a larger family. Sue and Peter's own 'mother duck' adopted several ducklings and then our three, and is now the proud mother of eleven ducklings. We sometimes see them all on Duck Ait, an island just upstream from us, where they separate into distinct groupings. Our three tend to stay together slightly apart from the others and there's always one duckling that doesn't snuggle up with the rest.

The pair of pochards never brought any youngsters to visit so I assume they were taken by predators. We were surprised to see another male turn up the other day, much to the annoyance of Madame, who did her best to see him off. Her mate didn't seem too bothered by the intruder, however.

We finally found out for sure that it's the magpie that has been raiding the nest boxes. When the ducks aren't there it's been dragging out the straw and pecking into the eggs. Poor Goldeneye lost four eggs to this remarkably intelligent thief and has been guarding her nest for most of the day for the past few days. Last night we heard a commotion and Goldeneye fled her nest and squawked for ages nearby. Dave saw something slope off down the deck at speed in the dark but he was unable to identify whether it was a fox or not. The eggs were still all there this morning but we've seen no sign of Goldeneye. We're sure she survived the attack but she may have abandoned her eggs (again). Like Mrs. Speckles before her she's been regularly attacked by males while occupying this nest box. On the subject of Mrs. Speckles, we haven't seen her for at least 10 days and I'm concerned that she might been attacked once too often! I just hope she hasn't drowned.

Chives in the herb bed

The chives have been magnificent this year and attract a large number of bees. I'm glad to see plenty of bees in the garden; I do my best to make the garden bee and butterfly friendly and never use chemicals.

Part of the garden at dusk

The scent of roses and syringa (mock orange blossom) fills the air as one walks down the garden path. Red cabbages grow amongst the flowers in this part of the garden. Elsewhere there are beans, peas, carrots, radishes, chard, lettuces, tomatoes, potatoes and herbs. The soft fruit is looking good, too, and the cherry and fig trees have a healthy crop. The biggest surprise, though, is the size of the strawberries. I've never seen such massive fruits in my garden.

The mallard that can't count!

2009-05-12T00:07:00.000-07:00

Out of the nest, into the river, and up the ramp!

All seven newly hatched ducklings make it back into the garden

Newly hatched ducklings in Sue & Peter's garden

Several days after taking on the responsibility of rearing three orphaned ducklings, Peter phoned to say that 'their' mallard, who'd seemed quite interested in the 'ready made' family, had just hatched her own seven ducklings. I went over immediately just as she was leading them to the river. After swimming around for a few minutes, she led them up a purpose built ramp back into the garden, where they nestled against the netting placed around the three rescue ducklings to protect them from predation.

The newly hatched ducklings alongside the rescue ducklings

The youngsters were immediately drawn to the rescue ducklings and nestled up close to them while 'mother' rested for a while. In the evening, the mallard led her ducklings to a safe haven overnight but returned with only five ducklings the following morning. To the amazement of Peter and Sue, however, she later acquired four more ducklings! Meanwhile, she seemed drawn to the rescue ducklings and every evening it took ages for her to lead her family to safety upstream torn, it seemed, between her own family and the three rescued youngsters. Sue thinks that if she allows them to mix the mallard might attack the older ducklings, but she might consider taking the risk when the youngsters are a little older.

Half an hour old and already at home in the makeshift duckling pond

Time to leave the nest

The robins in our carport nest box had been busy all hours feeding their youngsters and finally the day came for the fledglings to leave the nest. We did our best not to disturb them but the box is next to where we park our car. However, the birds weren't the least bit bothered by our comings and goings. This one was reluctant to take flight but we assume it managed to leave the nest eventually.

We were a bit disappointed to have no bluetits nesting in their box (also in the carport) this year, or so we thought! Yesterday, however, to our surprise we saw a bluetit with a beakful of bugs, flying into the nestbox. They've been very secretive until now. This morning the parents have been busy catching insects for their young before heading for the nest.

A brief moment of affection

Coots aren't renowned for their harmonious lifestyle. In fact they are querulous creatures more often involved in domestic disputes than any of the other waterfowl. This display of affection, didn't last for long, and they were soon squabbling about whose turn it was to groom the other.

Bidou's nest

When Bidou, the black swan, needs to feed she has to leave her nest unattended because there's no mate to take her place and protect the eggs. It looks like there are four goose eggs in with her own eggs. It seems highly unlikely that these will hatch now and she is spending longer periods of time away from her nest. The mute swans that started nesting at the same time as Bidou have seven beautiful cygnets (photos to follow).

Meanwhile, after a break from failed parenthood, our two female mallards are nesting again. Mrs. Speckles (with four eggs now) has returned to her former nestbox but Goldeneye has decided to lay two eggs in the newer of the two boxes on our garden deck. Perhaps she doesn't like being watched by Dave when he sits at the computer! The puzzle is that both ducks occasionally wander into each other's nests and this morning, the duck siting in Mrs. Speckles' box didn't look like Mrs. Speckles at all.

Where have all the ducklings gone?

2009-04-26T00:44:00.000-07:00

The three rescued ducklings

Thanks to Sue Beck and Peter, these three ducklings have more chance of survival than all the others. They are being kept warm and safe indoors at night, and allowed an element of freedom during the day in a pen that's netted on top to protect them from marauding crows, magpies and herons. There is an unexpected complication, however. A female mallard that is sitting on a nest close by seems to have decided to adopt a ready made family rather than hatch her own eggs. She keeps leaving her nest to spend time with the ducklings and Sue has to 'shoo her away' and encourage her to return to her nest. Her eggs are due to hatch in a few days' time.

Bidou taking a break from her nest

I think the eggs should have hatched by now and I'm not optimistic that Bidou will have any cygnets after all her time and effort! Perhaps, one day, she'll find a male black swan to settle with. So far she hasn't taken to any of the black swans we have seen pass through the area.

Mandarin ducks getting annoyed with a pidgeon

A number of wood pidgeons visit the garden and they are becoming quite aggressive. I'm amazed to see that the ducks seem scared of them and let the pidgeons 'hog' the wheat while they stand back, unsure of themselves. The Mandarin ducks are less inclined to be bullied by a mere pidgeon and fight back . . . and even, sometimes, win!

Deer in Richmond Park

I met up with a friend in nearby Richmond Park during the week and had forgotten just how lovely it is. Unlike Bushy Park, which is across the road from Taggs Island, Richmond Park is vast and hilly and has many interesting aspects.

A stream in Richmond Park

The park has a beautiful garden called The Isabella Plantation and at this time of year it is more stunning than usual, a blaze of colour from the many azaleas and rhododendrums. It's very popular with visitors, but somehow it never feels over-crowded.

Mrs. Speckles looking bedraggled

Poor Mrs. Speckles has had a horrendous time of it since she started to nest. She has lost many feathers and is bald in places where she has been attacked on her nest and dragged from it by various 'rogue' males. Her partner is hopeless and hasn't defended her. As I mentioned in my previous brief blog, her last remaining egg turned up on the table of our motor boat cracked but with a formed duckling inside. We think she must have attempted to carry it from the nest because it was damaged. Either that, or one of the drakes 'stole' it and dropped it on our boat. We have no idea what could have happened to all the straw that lined her nest. She may have eaten some of it when she was sitting on her eggs but surely not all of it? She has been back to the nest several times as if to check and make sure that there's nothing left.

Goldeneye on the day her ducklings hatched

I spoke too soon when I mentioned that Goldeneye appeared to be taking her motherly duties more seriously. By Wednesday only two ducklings remained and they seemed to know that the nest box was safe when their mother wasn't around. However, it was as if Goldeneye got bored with the whole concept of motherhood, and she left the ducklings for hours on their own. By late afternoon on Thursday only one duckling remained and Goldeneye left it swimming around on its own while she and Gobi had a 'nap'. The last I saw of the duckling it was running around our neighbour's garden while a magpie watched with interest!

Goldeneye with the first duckling out of the nest

Goldeneye had problems persuading the ducklings to leave the nest. Several of them waddled or slithered down the plank but the rest were reluctant to emerge so Goldeneye had to keep going back to the box to encourage them out.

Goldeneye checks all around to see whether it's safe to lead the ducklings from the nest box

There are many false starts before all the ducklings emerge from the box. It's great fun to watch but, if her previous form is anything to go by, none survive more than a few days. This year she had lost them all in five days. To see their 'launch' click on the link in the blog entitled "The ducklings are hatching".

On Thursday, the day Goldeneye lost her final duckling, Lonely's brood hatched and she took over Goldeneye's nursery box that evening. Mrs. Speckles' nest was abandoned on Wednesday but became a brief refuge for two ducklings the next day. We think they belonged to Lonely who hatched 10 ducklings but only had five by the following morning.

Since Friday, there have been many comings and goings in the two waterside nest boxes but no takers. The female we call Silverduck has investigated both boxes and has also spent time on our garden deck checking out Goldeneye's nest box and some of my plant pots. Much to our surprise, Goldeneye has also been back to check on her box - it probably won't be long before she starts nesting all over again!

Ducklings

2009-04-22T23:52:00.001-07:00

Just a quick few lines to bring you up to date with the duckling news. Images will follow.

Goldeneye lost seven of her ducklings by Tuesday but has started to behave more responsibly. She leaves them in the 'nursery' nest box while she goes off with Gobi to feed. It's great to see them wandering up and down the plank on their own.

Mrs. Speckles was doing fine with her remaining egg until yesterday. We're not sure what happened but we found the egg, semi cracked, on the table of our day boat. How it got there we can only guess at but the real puzzle was that her nest box was completely empty, no straw left!

Yesterday evening we had a call from our friend and neighbour, Corinne, saying that there were three ducklings under the boat next to us. The duck we call 'Lonely', is sitting on eggs on the houseboat between Corinne's boat and ours, and Corinne could see ducklings in the pot and thought, perhaps, that the three in the water had left the nest early. We were worried because they tried to join up with Goldeneye's ducklings but she didn't want them and kept pecking at them to chase them off.

With the help of neighbours Josie and Barney, who managed to net the three, we took the ducklings back to Lonely. When I saw the size of her ducklings I realised that the ones netted were more than a day old whereas Lonely's ducklings were still in the process of hatching!

With no obvious mother duck in sight, we called on neighbours Peter and Sue, who are experienced at raising orphan ducklings, and they very kindly took them in and prepared the incubator to keep them warm and safe for the night. Sue mentioned that she'd noticed three abandoned ducklings further upstream while she'd been out in her boat and reckoned these must be the same three.

Meanwhile, Lonely is due to launch her brood anytime now! Pictures and more news to follow but, in the meantime, our thanks to Corinne and family, Josie and Barney, Peter and Sue.

The ducklings are hatching

2009-04-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

Goldeneye heading for the final vigil

Goldeneye took only minutes today to drink, grab a bite to eat, wash and race back to the nest.
Dave had a quick look in the box during her absence and saw that the eggs were beginning to hatch. Two hours ago I saw three ducklings wriggling around and disturbing her and every now and then we saw a little head next to her wing. The eggs should all hatch today/early tomorrow and, in theory, she'll lead them to the edge for the plunge to the river (via a bounce on our lower deck) tomorrow morning. We think it will be all over by tomorrow lunchtime but it could be anytime from first light. If you'd like to look at the webcam go to tinyurl.com/duckcam

Mrs. Speckles minutes before another attack

Last night was horrendous for the number of times Mrs. Speckles was dragged from her nestbox. This morning she had a restful twenty minutes in the garden, feeding and taking the time to drink from the pond and preen. As you may be able to see her feathers are bedraggled and at close quarters she's almost bald on the right of her neck and back and on one area of her side.

We've finally worked out which duck is to blame for most of the attacks - it's Gobi, Goldeneye's partner! He's always been territorial but now that his ducklings are due to hatch he is doing what Nature intended and seeing off all rivals. Poor Mrs. Speckles must have had very little rest last night - I know we did - and today she was driven from her nest and it was over two hours before she could return. I'll be surprised if the egg finally hatches.

Dave's raised the gang plank to her box a little and we're hoping it may deter Gobi but there's no guarantee. Perhaps, once his ducklings take to the river tomorrow, he'll be too busy to attack Mrs. Speckles. On the other hand, she is nesting in the box Goldeneye used as a nursery last year!

In between sleeping and waking during the many duck attacks we heard the most horrendous shrill calls of panic from somewhere upstream. It wasn't a call either of us recognised but some poor creature met with an untimely end. It was horrible listening to the distress calls . . . and then there was silence.

Mrs. Speckles' ramshackle nest and solitary egg

Unlike Goldeneye, Mrs. Speckles never gets the chance to cover up her egg because she is always being forced off the nest when Gobi attacks her. When she'd been absent for so long today I thought she must have abandoned the egg but, just in case, I added some extra hay for her to protect it a little better.

Mandarins at the pond

Two pairs of Mandarin ducks regularly visit the garden as well as a couple of spare males.
They are amazing to look at and bring extra colour to the garden. Today the female spent some time in the pond after feeding at the plank.

Bidou after bolting down an early supper

Bidou visits most days and by the looks of it is famished when she gets here. She let out such a desperate shriek today but did spend time grooming after her meal. She is still being seen off by the dominant mute swan and we're beginning to wonder whether this might be another ' 'phantom pregnancy' so to speak - in other words, the eggs may well be infertile. I'm still hoping for cygnets, though.

By tomorrow Goldeneye will be a proud mother protecting her ducklings and the webcam will be switched off until she starts her next brood in a few weeks' time - unless a miracle happens with Mrs. Speckles!

Only one egg remains

2009-04-12T03:05:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Speckles after a night of disturbances

Mrs. Speckles must be the Marilyn Monroe or Liz Taylor of the duck world. The drakes never leave her alone. All through the night she is regularly attacked on her nest by a number of 'thugs'. We hear her fly from the nest in distress and it sometimes takes her three attempts to get back to it without being 'jumped'. The other morning we found an egg yolk on the front deck quite some way from her nest box, and when I checked on her eggs during one of her many forced absences she had just one egg left. We can't work out whether she is removing the damaged eggs or whether the rival male ducks are raiding her nest.

One egg left and no attempt to return to the nest

Following a further eventful night Mr. & Mrs. Speckles spent a long time in the garden feeding, drinking and resting. She, at least was attempting to rest; he's partly to blame for her problems as he hangs out with the bully boys that attack her and seldom tries to defend her. She was away from the nest for so long that we thought she'd decided to give up on it, but then she returned and she's still defending her one and only egg. During the day we do our best to drive off the drakes but there's little we can do at night to protect her. Twice I've managed to save her from drowning during a frenzied attack by as many as seven males and now she's careful to avoid being caught in the river. She has taken to using our walkway to approach her nest box, jumping from the deck onto her gang plank and up into the nest. Unfortunately, with all the rain, the plank has been slippery of late and she slithered off it into the river yesterday. Fortunately she got back before the drakes were able to grab her. She prefers to be fed on dry land so that if she does get jumped on she won't drown, and today she appeared reluctant to even wash in the pond. She spent no more than a few moments at a time having a wash, immersing herself for as little time as possible.

Goldeneye, meanwhile, has become wiser with age and now is very secretive when leaving the nest. She opts for very early in the morning and just before dark and makes no sound. Her eggs must be due to hatch within the next few days so Dave has set up a camera on the deck to capture images of the ducklings waddling down the gangplank.

Song thrush

It's been lovely to have the song thrush visiting the garden on a daily basis. It's surprisingly tame as it hops around looking for snails, worms and slugs. I never use pesticides or poisonous slug pellets and it really upsets me to think that so many beautiful song birds die because people unwittingly poison them by putting down the toxic type of chemical slug pellets. Between the ducks, thrushes and blackbirds my slug and snail population is being kept to a reasonable level at present.

A quick foray in the herb bed

I've 'dressed' some of the garden soil with the contents of my compost heap and the birds love to see what they can find to eat. The compost is full of worms and some, I'm sure, go to feed the robins, thrushes and blackbirds.

Bidou the black swan is still sitting on eggs and we're not sure how much longer she will do so. The eggs may well be infertile, in which case she's been wasting something like a month of her time. She turns up most days desperate to be fed and if we aren't aware of her arrival she soon lets out a massive high pitched call to let us know.

Mystery of the disappearing eggs

2009-04-07T01:12:00.000-07:00

Lovely evening light

We've had some wonderful sunsets recently and the days have been surprisingly bright. Temperatures, however, fluctuate dramatically. One day we can sit in the garden enjoying the warm sunshine, the next, we have to wrap up against the chill wind.

Male pochard duck

A pair of pochards have 'taken up residence' in the area and they are very tame. They visit regularly to feed and make no bones about their feelings of superiority, seeing off any mallard that tries to share the food. Some drakes are brave enough to take them on, but usually the pochards reign supreme . . . until the coots arrive!

Robin with nesting material

A pair of robins have been keeping me company while I tend the garden and they decided to nest in our shed. We were a little concerned but left the window open to allow them access even though it was not an ideal situation. The next day I was watching the shed to check whether the robins were definitely nesting there and saw a robin disappearing, with a beakful of leaves, into the recesses of a folded tarpaulin close to the shed. This was decidedly unsafe as a potential nesting site and I commented to Dave on how ironic it was that they had ignored a nest box close by. He moved the box, placing it next to the tarpaulin, and made the entrance wider. We had hardly turned our backs when the robins took it over and within a day had completed their nest.

Great crested grebe with fish

There are times when grebes catch fish that are just too big but this one was not allowed to get away and I watched the grebe manoeuvre it into position before swallowing it.

Male mandarin duck investigating mallard's nest

What is it about this particular nest box? Last month, the mallard that now occupies this nest tried to take over Goldeneye's box on the top deck. She finally decided on this one at water level but is constantly pestered by other ducks hoping to occupy it. There is an identical box a few feet away which they all investigate but for some reason this box is the 'des res'. Every evening for several weeks, before Mrs. Speckles began to sit on her eggs full time, the male mandarin wandered in and out of both nest boxes and tried to tempt his partner to take one over. It was so funny to watch. He seemed keener than her but occasionally they would both squeeze into one or other of the boxes. The hybrid female duck we call Lonely also regularly went in and out of the boxes as did Silverduck. Finally, Mrs. Speckles spent more time in situ, sitting on 10 eggs and she would huff at any 'would be' intruders in an attempt to protect her property. One morning we heard a commotion, the sound of a female mallard in distress, and we were just in time to see Mrs. Speckles being chased from her nest by a drake. The approach plank was splattered with egg yolk! I looked inside the nest while she was still away and she had only nine eggs. As the days went by she had fewer eggs in the nest and tell tale signs of egg yolk on the plank. Then Dave saw her fly off with part of an egg in her beak. At first we thought that a crow or magpie was stealing the eggs but we started to watch the nest more carefully and realised that Mrs. Speckles was being attacked by a drake while sitting on her eggs. Inevitbaly some eggs got damaged and she had to dispense of them. Now she has only three and is still being attacked daily but she has learned new tactics. As soon as the male approaches she flies off the nest and, so far, has managed to save her remaining eggs over five days. Meanwhile, Silverduck (a pretty white hybrid female) and several drakes continue to harass Mrs. Speckles on her nest. Nature can be so cruel.

One of the mandarin ducks whose partner is now nesting nearby

Our pond showing signs of spring

I placed two waterlilies in the pond in early March as there had been no ducks or coots visiting it to damage the plants. I should have known better! Four days after planting, the ducks decided to see what was edible and I looked out one morning to see one of the lovely waterlilies floating at the surface and about to disappear down the cascade into the river. The other had been eaten. I shall have to find a way of protecting the plants from the ducks. At least Thunderthighs, the coot, isn't chomping his way through every green shoot. He's still alive but daren't venture into the dominant coots' territory. The garden birds, meanwhile, love bathing in the shallow areas and drinking at the pond. They are lovely to watch and their behaviour can sometimes be quite comical.

Florimania comes to Hampton Court Palace

Spring is a lovely time to visit Hampton Court Palace. There are delightful displays of flowers inside the palace during Florimania week and the wilderness gardens, close to the maze, are always stunning at this time of year. We're lucky to have such a magnificent historic building with its beautiful parks and gardens on our doorstep.

An aspect of the wilderness garden at the palace

Squatters Rights And Territorial Fights

2009-03-01T06:48:00.000-08:00

Mute swans mating

The dominant mute swans have been patrolling their territory more regularly in the last few weeks, driving off any rivals with determination. They had just seen off a male intruder (tagged JKC) and were rather pleased with themselves. After displaying for a while with their beautiful synchronised 'wash and groom' routine they mated.

The female growled just like a cat in a fight as they reared up

An exuberant show of mutual affection

Bidou believes she's a mute swan

When the male mute swan, JKC, turned up earlier this week Bidou did her best to flirt with him. Unfortunately for her, he showed no interest and continued to eat his breakfast. She kept calling gently and sidling up to him cautiously, but to no avail.

Whenever swans fly overhead she calls out to them, her neck stretched to its full length, but she still insists in driving off any black swans that might visit. A neighbour downstream sent an image of Bidou mating with the dominant mute swan earlier in the week, so she's still hoping to win him over. I don't think his partner will take to kindly to such behaviour! I was concerned for Bidou on Friday when it appeared that she was being attacked by, rather than mating with, a mute swan. She certainly seemed distressed and was trying to escape. She might be nesting on a tiny island inside the lagoon on Taggs Island. Whether the nest is of her making or has been 'assembled' by optimistic islanders, I'm not sure.

A pintail visited with some mallards for 10 minutes

I managed to grab this shot through the patio doors when I spotted this pintail. We don't normally see them here. Sadly, it didn't stay long and hasn't been back since.

Which duck will claim the nestbox?

In the past nine days the ducks have started staking their claims for nest sites. Golden Eye (emerging from the box) has nested on our garden deck for at least four years and, until now, was 'queen' duck. This year, however, a younger mallard (Mrs. Speckles) and her partner are attempting to usurp her territory, and Gobi (Golden Eye's partner) isn't as young and fit as he used to be. There are regular stand-offs between the four of them, although Golden Eye seems to get on ok with Mrs. Speckles and Gobi with Mr. Speckles. Mrs. Speckles loves to perch on top of the box or on the railing above, while Golden Eye and Gobi prefer to sit side by side next to whichever box Golden Eye favours on the day. It can't be long before she decides on her nest and starts to lay eggs. For the last two days, Golden Eye and Gobi are spending most of the day kipping on our garden deck. Perhaps ducks, too, have squatters rights?! Whatever happens, we can look forward to weeks of ducks thundering along our flat roof doing 'touch and goes' as they chase each other away from their chosen sites.

A triumph of optimism over experience

No doubt she'll learn, but this coot is trying to build a nest on our normally very busy feeding plank. How she is able to lift such a huge stick amazes me. Once coots start to build, the messy nest soon takes shape but this is hopeless as a platform. Every time a boat goes by the twigs are washed away. This pair of coots are taking their territory VERY seriously and are vicious when seeing off intruders. Poor old Thunder Thighs daren't come here any more and is 'confined to barracks' two doors down from us by River Dream. A young male coot had also started to visit regularly but has been driven off completely now.

Taking a chance

This young coot had been risking life and limb to come and feed here but has finally been driven off. It never attacked Thunder Thighs when it came on to the deck, but recognised danger when any other coot appeared and would vanish at the speed of light. I'm pretty sure it survived but has been driven away from the area by the two pairs of rival coots.

Italy and home again

2009-01-28T04:54:00.000-08:00

Snowy egret on Lago Varano

We had a wonderful month in Puglia over Christmas and the New Year but I did miss being surrounded by wildlife. We thought we would see plenty of waterfowl and general birdlife on the shores of Lago Varano and in the Foresta Umbra, but I saw virtually nothing until our last day. It was a beautiful day so we had a picnic at the water's edge in the hamlet of Bagno. When we arrived there were several little grebes close to the shore but no sooner had we walked over to photograph them than a noisy family appeared and frightened the dabchicks off. At least we saw a heron, several egrets, some cormorants and three mallards, as well as a collection of coots in the distance.

Geese hurrying past some local dogs

While we were relaxing in the warm sunshine some geese appeared and were given a hard time by a couple of local dogs. The geese tried to defend themselves then thought better of it and ran past the dogs.

Safe at last

The geese finally made it to the safety of the lagoon and the dogs turned their attention to a cat which refused to be intimidated by them, flattening its ears and spitting at them till they left it alone.

During our month in Peschici we also spent time in the beautiful Foresta Umbra. The forest was deserted most of the time, except on the days when it snowed, and the silence was profound. In fact, aside from the drumming of a woodpecker, the call of a blackbird and the chattering of some chaffinches, there was no sound at all. We had expected to see plenty of birdlife there but, apart from the birds mentioned and the appearance of an impressive buzzard, we saw no other wildlife. Ironically, on the last day of our holiday, as we drove from Langres to Calais, I saw more wildlife than on any other day. The sky was an icey blue, the temperature a bitter - 13 degrees at 9.00am, and the countryside was shrouded with snow as we set off for the last leg of the drive home. A fox trotted warily across a field as we dropped down into the valley outside Langres, there were buzzards at regular intervals both on the back roads and at the sides of the motorways, and I spotted deer in the fields on three occasions during the drive. I also saw a huddle of seven or eight herons, all hunched up against the cold, close to the edge of the motorway. After six weeks away, with very little wildlife, we were really pleased to see our swans, ducks, coots and grebes again.

The swans are still fighting over territory

The battle continues

Time to see off the trespasser

I nearly had to duck when this one headed off his rival close to where I was standing

Thunder Thighs is still alive

Thanks to Claudia, who volunteered to feed the ducks and garden birds for us while we were away, our 'regulars' weren't left to starve. As the weather was so extremely cold in UK for most of our time in Italy, we were really glad to know that they were being looked after. Claudia emailed us to say that the old coot (Thunder Thighs) had disappeared, but fortunately he turned up again a few days later. It didn't take the 'usual suspects' long to get back into the habit of demanding food more than twice a day! We had several chats with friends from the island while we were away, and were told that the ducks had come 'mob-handed' into the lagoon to 'beg' for more food in our absence! They get spoilt when we're here.

Blackbird having a quick wash in the pond

The weather has been mostly wet and dull since we've been back, so it's been difficult to take decent photographs. I grabbed this shot through the kitchen window one rainy day.

A poorly parakeet

This parakeet must have been quite unwell as it spent several hours asleep on our bird table, and then perched inside the window feeder and nodded off there too. I hope it recovered. There were no signs of a corpse the next day!

London and Italy

2008-12-15T03:11:00.000-08:00

Cob on patrol

Most of the territorial battles between the rival mute swan pairs seem to take place in the early morning. This cob only stopped briefly for his wheat 'fix' before heading back to the main stretch of the river to see off any opponents foolish enough to head in his direction.

A frosty start for the rowers

We've had some fabulous sunny mornings and the river looks beautiful in the early golden mists. This particular morning about 7 or 8 crews took to the water for training.

Parakeet waiting for its turn at the peanuts

During these chilly mornings the parakeets have arrived in force to warm up in the sunlight and grab some nutritious peanuts and sunflower hearts for breakfast. They often squabble and are quite vicious with each other but they are no match for a visiting greater spotted woodpecker. When he's there they have to wait their turn!

One of the more colourful sunsets of late

These bright, cold days are so beautiful. I'd far rather have chilly nights and mornings accompanied by brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies throughout the day. The heavy grey overcast skies are so gloomy.

A view from the Foresta Umbra in Puglia

We've deserted the daily dose of doom and gloom that greets us every morning on the Radio 4 Today programme and every evening on BBC TV and Channel 4 TV news. We're also tired of seeing Christmas items which have been on the shelves in the UK supermarkets since September. So we've decided to spend a while in Italy where, we hope, Christmas may be less commercial. We left a very sunny England only to encounter driving snow for two and a half days before we were far enough south for the snow to turn to rain. The storms have now passed and we're enjoying sunshine, warmer temperatures, wonderfully fresh food bought daily, and the friendliness of the lovely Italian people.

Peschici

A view of the lovely town of Peschici, where we are staying, which is on the Gargano Peninsular.
The people are very kind and friendly here and the house where we are staying is lovely, with wonderful views down over the marina. At this time of year all is 'tranquilo' but I should imagine that summers here will be chaotically busy. The beaches are beautiful and it's lovely to walk in the warm sunshine along the sandy bays and listen to the soothing sound of the sea lapping the shoreline.

A trabucco

This is one of the old structures from which fishing nets are lowered into the sea. There are plenty of them along this long stretch of coastline although not all are in use these days.

Fishing boat in late afternoon sunshine

Yessterday was a beautifully sunny day so we drove out to a nearby lagoon which is a haven for wildlife. From a distance we saw what looked like little grebes, and there were plenty of cormorants and gulls. The lagoon is supposed to attract flamingoes in winter but we haven't seen any so it may be too early in the season.

A quiet time on the river

2008-11-16T07:28:00.000-08:00

Fox on the prowl

It's been fairly quiet on the river over the last few weeks so I spent a little time in the nearby park. This handsome individual hardly spared me a glance, so intent was it on tracking a shrew or field mouse. Later I saw it pounce and run off with the tiny rodent in its mouth.

We had the unexpected pleasure of admiring a Kingfisher that decided to pose for us on our mooring posts, not once but twice. It's a breathtakingly beautiful bird and surprisingly small. I also had the pleasure of watching a single Goldfinch drink from the pond before feasting on a Fenell plant that's gone to seed. It spent some time wondering around the pond area and then rested on the top step for a serious drink. A few days later, a Grey Wagtail turned up and today I saw a Song Thrush scavenging in the garden for the first time in a while. Since my husband Dave picked the last of the delicious grapes, the Blackbird and Robin have been feasting on the remaining few we left for them. They've had more than their fair share, as usual, but who's counting? This year we had yet another bumper crop.

Swan patrol

It's hard work being the dominant swan. There are too many interlopers and they need to be seen off! This swan had just called round for breakfast but then noticed that it wasn't the only swan on the block. Spring isn't too far away and territory needs to be protected!

The offending pair also heading for breakfast

The guilty pair are heading here for their wheat fix. They were soon seen off by their rival but called around later for brunch.

It's bonfire night again

We had another great bonfire night on the island. The residents met up and brought their friends along to enjoy the spectacle. The weather was reasonably kind and we had dry weather for building and lighting the fire, socialising, setting off the fireworks and tucking into some food and drink, but shortly afterwards rain stopped play, and many of us headed home with friends to enjoy the rest of the evening in the dry and the warmth of home.

Training time

Whatever the weather, rowers at Molesey boat club turn up for training. This was one of the more atmospheric mornings in recent days. The club has a proud reputation and some of the Olympic rowers train here.

Single skullers enjoy an early morning warm up

An Egyptian goose

A grey heron in Bushy Park

There's obviously more to a heron's diet than fish. This one seems to spend a lot of time looking for insects in the grass But are there any at this time of year? Obviously the heron knows best.

Fire consumes Garrick's Villa

Several weeks ago Garrick's Villa suffered massive fire damage. It would seem that the fire started accidentally but soon took hold because of blustery conditions. Many firefighters did their best to contain the damage but were unable to put out the fire before it had damaged much of the building. No-one died but nonetheless those living in Garrick's Villa, a beautiful listed building, have suffered huge loss and great trauma. Some poor residents have lost everything they own.

Duck nesting boxes in demand

2008-10-17T00:45:00.000-07:00

A sunny afternoon in Hampton

At last we've had some sunshine to brighten up the end of a dull and damp summer. We've managed to take the boat upstream on a regular basis and I've been able to pick up the camera with a degree of enthusiasm. Wildlife looks so dull when the weather's overcast, unless something spectacular is happening.

A quick stretch after breakfast

The swans have been aggressively patrolling their territory, these last few weeks, seeing off any of this year's cygnets as well as any other intruding swans. Even Bidou, the black swan, has been severely attacked. One morning I watched with horror as she was pushed completely under water and wasn't allowed to surface. Three times she escaped, only to be forced under again. Finally, the action came close enough for me to be able to distract the attacking swan and Bidou made good her escape.

Oh dear, I'd better get the hell out of here!

This was one of many occasions when the dominant swans took exception to another swan on their patch. I've seen some fantastic chases, especially yesterday, when I watched amazed, as an intruding swan was grabbed by its tail feathers mid flight and nearly forced down into the river. Luckily it shed a few feathers, slowed a little, but then continued on its way.

Another day, another dispute!

A misty morning did nothing to dampen the desire for battle in the dominant swans. Here they are chasing off a pair that used to control this area but lost the territory several years ago.

More intruders appear on the scene

A little later during the same morning a powerful young swan, one of this year's brood, had the temerity to call by for some food. In spite of the fact that this youngster still has some grey feathers it shows signs of being able to stand up for itself and may even take over control in a year or so. On this occasion, however, it was wise enough to retreat at the sign of the two adults bearing down on it.

This means business!

When a swan adopts this pose subordinate swans need to take heed. It's quite a sight to see a dominant swan powering through the water towards its intended victim. If the battles are this powerful now, I dread to think what they'll be like in the Spring.

Thunder Thighs with his dodgy toes, arthritic legs and battered appearance

Coots aren't my favourite water birds, especially after watching the upstream pair kill Goldeneye's remaining duckling this summer. They are querulous and vicious in the extreme towards each other, even attacking their own young, but they can also be dedicated parents and amazing nest builders. As the weather has chilled down at night it takes Thunder Thighs longer to warm up in the mornings and his balance is quite wobbly first thing. He has become quite dependent on us for food (he loves wheat, sunflower hearts and peanuts as well as a few garden grapes) and we regularly have to protect him from a pair of aggressive young coots that object to his presence even though he poses no threat to them.

Staking a claim for next year's nest box

We can't make out what's going on in the duck world but our waterside nesting boxes are in huge demand. A while back we were surprised to see Gobi coming out of Topsider 1 (Golden Eye's favourite nesting site last year). Normally the males don't go inside the boxes at this time of year. Since then, we've been unable to keep up with the interest shown in the two boxes by dozens of ducks. Silver duck, Snake duck and the new Lonely, have all staked a claim with their partners, wandering in and out of the nest boxes and guarding the planks in an attempt to drive off rival interest. The problem is, we only have room for two boxes at water level, but they are proving incredibly popular. So Barney (a neighbour), please place your order for nest boxes now to give the ducks time to discover them and stake their claims for the Spring! If you have even half the fun we've had from ours, you'll be more than delighted.

Proud Bidou

In spite of several brutal attacks, Bidou still manages to look proud and pristine some of the time. She continues to mope around and we wonder why she doesn't fly off to look for a mate. Last week, when we went up to Sunbury Lock, we saw another black swan but we don't know whether it's male or female. It would be wonderful to see Bidou find a mate - who knows what the Spring will bring?

Stag defending his harem

It's that time of year again, when stags battle it out for dominance of the does(female deer). They sound like lovelorn cows as they posture to impress the does, seeing off any rogue stags that try to mate with one of their harem. This one was somewhat half-hearted about it all, but it was an unusually warm afternoon for October, and maybe he just wanted a nap to revive his stamina!

Great Crested Grebe

I love to watch the grebes at rest, they look so relaxed and snug, with their fine feathers keeping them warm. This grebe spends most mornings snoozing close to my bedroom window, occasionally paddling with one foot to stay in place, the other foot tucked under a wing.

Coot heaven!

Whenever anything large floats by you can bet it will attract the interest of coots. Often, as here, they 'climb aboard' and grub for food in the floating mass, until they realise that they've drifted downstream into another coot's territory, and then there's trouble!

Thunderthighs is back

2008-09-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

Golden Eye on her eggs as they begin to hatch

I was beginning to wonder whether Golden Eye's eggs would ever hatch. The weather wasn't particularly great and when they started to hatch it poured with rain. None of the ducklings would leave the nest box in spite of her frantic calls to them to take to the water.

A glance inside the box while Golden Eye was grabbing a quick break

At last they all reluctantly emerge

After half a day of doing her best to tempt them out the last duckling finally emerged from the shelter of the box. The weather was so vile I can hardly blame them for wanting to stay warm and dry.

Several days later with one of only two remaining ducklings

Every evening Golden Eye would take the young back into the box for the night but what a palaver that was. Gobi, her partner, was always there but never went inside the box. Every time it seemed like they were all finally inside, one would waddle out again and fall down the plank into the river. It was hilarious to watch and usually took between 30 and 4o minutes for Golden Eye to get them all safely tucked up.

After about 5 days Golden Eye was finally down to one lovely duckling and I so hoped that it would survive but it strayed into nesting coot territory and was pecked to death. I saw it floating downstream on its back and there was nothing I could do to save it. I was SO upset and so was Golden Eye. She spent the next two days calling for it incessantly and she kept returning to the nesting box to check whether it had returned. Every year I promise myself that I shall harden my heart to the natural wastage in Nature but it never works.

Bidou calls round for some wheat

Bidou's nest failed again and after sitting for six weeks she finally abandoned it. However, I subsequently heard that she'd been taken to a sanctuary for several days after she was found cowering following a severe beating, so her eggs would have gone cold if they were fertilised. We shall never know now.

She still follows the mute swans around but is not readily tolerated by them. Bidou chases the cygnets when she gets a chance, which doesn't endear her to the parent mute swans. Mind you, the cygnets are now nearly fully grown and will soon be driven out of the territory by their mum and dad! Recently Bidou has taken to calling forlornly, rushing up and downstream in search of suitable company! We all hope that a male black swan will turn up to keep her company.

Hampton Sailing Club

On one of the few sunny afternoons we've had this summer we grabbed the chance of a boat trip and enjoyed an hour on the river. It's been such a disappointing summer, not just because of the rain but because it's been permanently overcast.

Hampton Church with sailing club in foreground

Astoria and Garrick's temple to Shakespeare

The weir house at Molesey Lock

I've had so little chance to take decent photographs this summer because of the gloomy days and general lack of light and sunshine. Today is fine but hazy so we hope to get out for an hour before sunset. It's hard to believe that the weather has been so dreadfully dull and extremely wet. We've had rain, often torrential, most days for about two months.

We were surprised last week to see a familiar shape stumbling along our deck. Thuderthighs the coot, whom we all thought had been finished off in the Spring by other coots, suddenly turned up again. He still looks really scruffy and is unsteady on his pins, but I'm glad that he's still going strong. When he wants feeding he does his best to limp towards us (he's lost a toe so he's rather unbalanced) and he spends most of his time hiding from the other coots and making one huge mess of our deck! Still, I admire his tenacious hold on life and put up with the fact that I have an incontinent water bird to clean up after.

Will Bidou breed this year?

2008-08-05T00:31:00.000-07:00

Could this be mating?

Since Bidou's return to our stretch of the river the male mute swan has mostly ignored her and she hasn't been welcomed by the family, especially the cygnets. She's no longer encouraged to tag along with them and seems forlorn. Recently I haven't seen her with them at all except when she turns up for food at the same time. Several weeks ago she managed to flirt with the cob when he was on his own and it was difficult to tell whether they attempted to mate or whether he was attacking her. However, she is now nesting on Duck Ait and sitting on eggs!

Attack or an attempt at mating?

Shortly afterwards Bidou made a show of building a nest on our plank

Snakey returning to her uncoventional nest

Snakey has raised a second brood in this unusual spot. I would occasionally add a little meadow hay to the nest to cover the eggs and protect them from attack by magpies and crows but it seemed to disappear and we wondered whether she ate some of it.

Snakey returning for the final 'sit in'

She spent longer than usual in the pond, washing and grooming and seemed in no hurry to return to the nest. The weather was warm so we assumed the eggs would be fine on their own for a while. When we looked they were covered in her downy feathers. Two eggs looked like they were slightly cracked so we guessed that they were beginning to hatch. The next morning she flew down into the river and called to the ducklings frantically to follow but either they couldn't climb the steep sides or just didn't fancy the long drop. She kept returning to the pot in an effort to urge them to follow her. In the end Dave carried the pot downstairs and helped launch the ducklings into the river close to Snakey. Nine healthy ducklings rushed over to her and for a day stuck like limpets to her sides. That afternoon we watched with amusement as she rounded them all up and led them into the empty riverside nesting box, their little feet slipping on the plank as it got wetter and wetter. Like Golden Eye, who is sitting on eggs in the adjacent box, Snakey has found a safe and dry shelter for the ducklings to return to. By the second day she was down to seven ducklings, then she lost four yesterday and now she's has only one. Meanwhile, some of Golden Eye's ducklings hatched yesterday but, as it's raining hard she can't persuade them to leave their nest! So far we've only seen one of them. In fact, we're a little puzzled because it seemed to us that one of Snakey's two remaining ducklings clambered into the wrong nesting box and wasn't rejected. We'll know eventually because Golden Eye had nine eggs so we'll be able to work out whether this might have happened. It's unlikely, but we know that Golden Eye's partner was 'unfaithful' several times with Snakey so there could be a common 'dad'! If Golden Eye ends up with more than nine ducklings, we'll be able to tell what happened to Snakey's last but one duckling.

The Fab Four photographed through the glass patio door

At least these ducklings are a success. They're the only ones, so far, to survive on this stretch of the river. As you can see they're a reasonable size now and they've already grown since I took this picture of them a week or so ago. In fact, it's getting difficult to tell them apart from the adult ducks.

Neighbours Malcolm & Lyn trying out their new kayak

While we were in Portugal England had its summer and since then the weather's been very changeable, hence the dull light in most of the images.

Music Festivals

2008-08-03T07:59:00.000-07:00

We've been in Portugal, again this year, half way between Lisbon and the Algarve, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the wonderful Festival Músicas Do Mundo (FMM) in Sines. Held every year in July, FMM invites the most important names of the global circuit in world music, jazz and blues to perform at the biggest world music festival in Portugal. The festival kicked off in Sines for one night with music from Brasil, Mali and Galicia. It then moved to Porto Covo, a picturesque village in Alentejo, for three nights with a selection of bands from Portugal, Cape Verde, USA, Belgium/Finland, Italy, India and Belize/Honduras, before returning to Sines.

Danae

Danae, one of the many vibrant performers, wowed the crowd outside the Arts Centre with her amazing voice and performance.

Waldemar Bastos from Angola

The castle of Sines is a superb setting for many of the performers, culminating in a magnificent firework display on the final night of the festival.

Vinicio Capossela from Italy

A statue of Vasco da Gama, adjacent to the castle, overlooks the harbour of Sines

Asif Ali Khan & Party musicians from Pakistan

Each year an eclectic mix of musical talent entertains the crowd in a variety of locations including the Arts Centre, the Beach and the Castle at Sines as well as by the beach at Porto Covo.

Praia de S. Torpes

This is one of the most crowded beaches in the area but, as you can see, it doesn't look overcrowded for a sunny day in July. This is a view from the lovely beach restaurant/bar Trinca Espinhas which we can highly recommend for its lovely seafood and delicious starters.

Ashraf Malik behind his stall of crystals and natural stones

During the music festival the steps from Sines castle to the beach are lined with interesting stalls offering crystals, jewellery, ayurvedic massages, clothing and artefacts. Ashraf had a beautiful collection of crystals, pendulums, essential oils and the like.

KTU from Finland/USA

A view from backstage looking across the castle grounds

Alcácer do Sal

Bunting decorates one of the streets in Alcácer do Sal, a pretty riverside town an hour's drive from Sines. Seek out one of the riverside restaurants for some good Portugese food.

Colourful stalls line the promenade at Sines

One of the pleasures of Sines during the music festival is its collection of (mostly) hippie stalls by the beach. Another is its mix of 'tasquinhas' or food and drink stands next to the stage by the beach. Wander off the beach and you've a great selection of food and drink to chose from. This year we really liked the Kibes (minced meat patties flavoured with pine nuts, bulgar wheat and herbs, in particular mint) washed down with a mean mojito cocktail made by one of the stalls.

The Dizu Plaatjies' Ibuyambo Ensemble

This band from South Africa entranced the audience on the stage by the beach, giving the sunset that evening a special feel. It's a magical setting, a sea of happy faces bordered by the sea, and spirits are high!

The Vasco da Gama beach of Sines

The statue of navigator Vasco da Gama, which is adjacent to the town castle, overlooks this beach. You can just see the dark scaffolding of the beach stage to the left of the image. Although ringed by industry and large shipping piers, Sines beach and harbour remain unspoilt.

The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble USA

Last year the festival featured street musicians. This colourful ensemble proved popular with the crowds beachside.

Porto Palafito Carrasqueira on the Sado River estuary

Harry Manx on stage 2007

The wonderful Blues man and mohan veena player Harry Manx from Canada performing on the beach stage.

A magical moment between father and child

Lula Pena performs for a young audience in the Arts Centre in 2007

Lula gives a workshop at the Arts Centre

A view of Sines harbour from the castle walls

Mud Morganfield at the Mijas Blues Festival in Spain, June 2008

Music from another part of the Mediterranean - Mijas in Spain. We spent a great long weekend in June at the Blues Festival in Mijas listening to some excellent musicians, including eldest son of Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield.

Big Joe Louis and Wes Weston on stage at Mijas

If you love The Blues you'll love this festival, set in the lovely surroundings of Mijas.

Peaches Staten from Chicago

Sunday morning, after the festival

The streets were quiet on the morning following the festival. Mijas is a picturesque white village (pueblo blanca) in the foothills of the Costa del Sol which overlooks the sea. It attracts artists and tourists alike and has many tempting boutiques.

A street scene in Mijas

Winners, losers and the return of the prodigal swan

2008-07-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

Mouthwatering fruit & vegetables

It's that time of year again - the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show week. Set in the wonderful venue of Home Park and in view of Cardinal Wolsey's (and subsequently Henry VIII's) magnificent palace, the show is a visual feast. This year in particular the word feast springs to mind, with the emphasis on growing and cooking an array of fruit and vegetables.

Joe Swift chats with a delighted award- winning garden designer

Dorset Cereals Edible Playground garden is an inspiration to those thinking of starting vegetable plots in schools, inspiring children to grow their own fruit and vegetables. It also gets them thinking about where their food comes from . I believe it won best of show. It is full of edible plants offering colour, texture and taste and incorporating many environmental features.

The Thai floating market stand

This colourful spectacle, on the banks of the Long Water, is proving very popular with the public, who are able to buy a selection of Thai goods such as fans and hand-painted umbrellas.

The Spirits' Garden

This vibrant garden contains spiritual and symbolic elements, using reflective mirrors to reverse the world as we see it. The plants have been selected for their texture or their fragrance, and many have been handed down through generations. It is intended primarily for solitary contemplation, meditation and relaxation.

Bidou's back!

We may never discover where Bidou disappeared to for the breeding season but she's back, minus any cygnets, if she did manage to breed successfully. Our family of mute swans aren't best pleased at her reappearance and even the cob drives her off. Earlier in the year it seemed like he was a little partial to her flattering attention but, now that he has a family, he's taking his responsibilities seriously! As they are the only 'relatives' in the area she tags along behind them and calls mournfully when she is driven away.

One of this year's winners

The attrition rate for ducklings, baby coots and young grebes this year is dreadful once again. The Herring Gulls pick them off at leisure and what they don't grab the pike, herons and crows take. This is one clever mallard to have managed to keep four for this long but then she's incredibly wary and constantly alert. The ducklings have taken to climbing up our swimming ladder onto the deck in order to be fed and then they curl up together on a coir mat for a kip. It's so lovely to at least see one set of survivors.

A gentle sunset looking towards Hampton Church on the main river

We haven't had too many good evenings this year so when we do we try to get out in the boat for an evening meander round the islands. It's mid July and quite cold for the time of year, which means that the river probably won't warm up enough for swimming by the autumn.

Golden Eye with her last surviving duckling

When we came back from the Mijas Blues Festival our two nesting mallards had already hatched their young. The one we call "snake duck" had nine ducklings but lost them all within two days, and Golden Eye hatched seven. There were no signs of either ducks nor ducklings when we arrived home, but to my amazement Golden Eye was sitting in the lower deck nesting box with two ducklings. She'd obviously decided that it would do nicely as a nursery! We were thrilled to see that she still had two ducklings but after three days one of them disappeared and the other only lasted four more days. We were just beginning to hope that it might make it to adulthood. It was most amusing to watch her rounding them up at night and marching them up the plank to bed. Frequently she made at least four attempts before they would follow her to bed. Never one to give up Golden Eye has now decided to try for a third brood this year and has adopted the riverside nesting box with ramp as her preferred accommodation. "Snake duck" meanwhile has littered the patio deck with earth again having returned to her 'chimney pot' on the top deck. They are both currently sitting on at least six eggs each.

What happened to the seven baby coots?

The coots have had a hard time of it this year. Their nest was partially washed way with some of the eggs but they still managed to hatch 7 youngsters. They look so comical with their punk hair styles. The seven survived for about a week and then four disappeared one day, two the next and the last one the following day. I know that a pike lurks close to where they were nesting and presume that it was probably the main culprit.

One of the rare colourful sunsets of the summer season

Where's the fourth?

Three cygnets hang around while a fourth undergoes the indignity of being handled by humans. Their parents reared out of the water at us, which is quite threatening when you're holding one of their young and it's calling out plaintively to its mum and dad. When the family came for a spot of breakfast I spotted a large float twisted round it's wing and leg. I managed to grab the young swan from the river before being attacked and, while Dave held it I freed the line. Unfortunately it had swallowed the hook and it was too far down its throat for me to deal with so I called the local experts, Peter and Addie, and they popped down armed with the right equipment.

Addie holding the cygnet while Peter prepares to cut the line

Fortunately it was a very fine hook and although it was too far down the cygnet's throat to do anything without damaging the tissue Peter decided that it was probably safe to cut the line. I promised to keep an eye on the cygnet over the following days in case it showed signs of losing its appetite, but there appeared to be no ill effects. The cob made several attempts to attack first us and then Peter and Addie, but soon settled down once the cygnet was put back in the river. The four are thriving so it obviously coped with the tiny hook but the line would have been fatal had it not been cut away and disposed of.

Dad tries to impress us with his size and strength

Once the cygnet was released the cob 'attacked' Peter and Addie several more times and then followed them upstream with his wings flared in warning. Fortunately memories are short and the cygnets visit 6 or 7 times a day, with Bidou hovering in the background. In fact, they've just visited and to my amazement Bidou thought her luck had changed when the cob appeared to attempt to mount her. Unfortunately (or not) depending on viewpoint, he gave her a few sharp nips on the neck and when she realised that this was more of an attack than an amorous approach she 'shrieked' and made a bid for freedom! After chasing her off for a few moments they both started preening and the cob returned to his family.

Newcomers and old favourites

2008-06-01T01:19:00.000-07:00

Male Red-Crested Pochard

Preening Pochard

Mr. & Mrs. Red-Crested Pochard

This pair of Red-Crested Pochards have been on the river for about five weeks now and occasionally swim by, but they decided to stop off on our plank last week and were surprisingly tame. I should imagine they're visitors from the Woodland Gardens at Bushy Park.

Male Mandarin duck

This male Mandarin duck is still in fine plumage but one or two of the other male Mandarins that visit are looking decidedly sorry for themselves as they moult and lose their fine feathers.

The missing cygnet

During the week I was upset to discover that our swans only had three cygnets. Later that day, an islander called to say she'd found a cygnet on its own and rescued it. Peter & Addie Bayliff, who are so generous with their time and knowledge of wildlife spent several hours looking for the parents and the rest of the family but couldn't locate them. I was asked if I'd look after the cygnet and reunite it with its siblings the next time the swans visited. Dave and I then got a call to say that the lock keeper at Molesey lock had spotted the swans by the weir so we took the cygnet to the lock in our boat. We carefully made our way down the boat rollers with his help (armed with half a sandwich) and tried to attract the family of swans over to us. The cygnet was calling but the wind carried its calls away from the swans and we were concerned that if we put the cygnet in the river it might not join up with the rest of them. However, the lock keeper's sandwich did the trick and as the cob (male swan) headed over we launched the cygnet. To our relief and delight, they met midstream and then the pen swam over with the other three to join them. It was such a relief and there were hugs all round!

Was this the 'one that got away' for a day?

It's been great to see all four cygnets with mum and dad again and I've tried to work out which one we rescued but it's impossible to tell which was the recalcitrant one.

Grooming time for a Great Crested Grebe

Sorting out its wing feathers

The grebes have continued to use our plank for courtship but less frequently now. We were puzzled by the fact that during mating they reversed roles most days but we have since learned that it's quite common for grebes generally to practice reverse mounting.

Injured Tufted Duck

I spotted this male tufted duck staggering around the garden like a drunk and guess it must have been struck hard with an oar by one of the many rowers in this area. It was so sad to watch it arching up and tottering over, time and time again. If I 'd been able to 'rescue' it without harming it I would have done so but I didn't want it to return to the river until it had recovered. Eventually it jumped down of its own accord and swam away so I can only hope that it made a full recovery.

Egyptian Goose

Three years ago it was rare to see Egyptian Geese on this stretch of the river but now there are rather more than is good for our indigenous wildlife. Just as the Canada Goose took over and bred far too successfully, so the Egyptian Geese are now becoming too numerous.

Life and death on the river

2008-05-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

Great crested grebes just after mating

We've been away on The Isles of Scilly and when we returned it was to the joy of finding a pair of grebes frequenting our floating platform. We've never had grebes haul out before and to watch them courting and mating is quite a privilege. I've never seen a grebe out of water except when it's on a nest so it's fascinating to watch them at such close quarters. These two had just finished mating and the male slithered down her back into the river.

The male's second attempt at mating

The courtship is amazing, lots of head flicking - they mirror each other's movements. I haven't seen these two perform the dance they do after the male proffers his mate some muddy leaves or a feather, but presumably that happens when they're nest building and we're not sure where their nest is . We think it's upstream from us.

A sign of affection?

After mating the male grebe left his foot draped around his partner's neck. It almost looks like a human gesture but I'm putting my own interpretation on the gesture!

What a fine crest

It's easy to see how Great Crested Grebes' feathers were sort after to adorn ladies' hats last century. So many grebes were killed for their crests that they were put on the endangered species list in the UK. Fortunately, they have now made a come-back and we have a healthy population in our area.

One of four surviving cygnets

Our resident swans' young family

A sleepy cygnet

The kids with their dad

While we were away the swans hatched 9 or 10 cygnets but there were only four survivors by the time we returned. They are so lovely and are growing all too quickly. At least they are less likely to be taken by the herring gulls or the crows as they get bigger.

Sadly, our resident duck "Golden Eye" lost all seven ducklings within two days of hatching them. We watched some of them hatch on the day before we left for the Scilly Isles, and had to keep rescuing a recalcitrant one that kept leaving the nest. Twice it fell to the lower deck and I had to carry it back to its nest on the garden deck upstairs. "Golden Eye" wasn't amused and huffed and puffed at me. In the end we put a brick in front of the nest box opening so that the ducklings couldn't escape until mum was ready for them all. The next morning she tried a dozen or so times to get them out of the nest but only a couple would follow her. When most of them were out and had flopped to the lower deck and launched themselves into the river we gave the others a helping hand so that all seven joined their mum in the water. Apparently only two were seen the following day, one of which was grabbed by a crow. The remaining one may well have met the same fate.

"Golden Eye" is now sitting on eggs again but a magpie grabbed one while she was off the nest yesterday and we're now having to keep an eye on things. It's amazing that it dares to enter the nest box and raid the eggs. We've placed a decoy duck on top of the nesting box and hope that it will deter the magpie.

Wildlife from home and away

2008-04-06T06:24:00.000-07:00

Pelican with fish

After a long bout of bronchitis it was wonderful to escape the English winter and experience some Florida sunshine and exotic wildlife. Ironically, it was so cold for the first two days that we had to buy fleeces and wear our windproof jackets! After that the weather settled and we enjoyed exploring Nature Trails, strolling along shorelines, listening to the sounds of the ocean and, on our last night, watching the launch of the space shuttle challenger.

A great white heron with lunch

It's amazing to watch, first the stalking and then the successful lunge. This heron took its time over swallowing the fish, carefully positioning it before letting it slide down its throat.

A yellow crowned night heron

During our holiday we visited The Ding Darling wildlife sanctuary on beautiful Sanibel Island.
Sadly, there seems far less birdlife here than there was five years ago. The same was true of The Everglades. We gather it's partly because of the habitat damage done by hurricanes Wilma and Katrina, but also because of the lack of fresh water. With so many people moving to Florida each week that can only get worse I should imagine.

A red -shouldered hawk hunting

We had the pleasure of watching this magnificent hawk hunt for insects, lizards and snakes right in front of us for half an hour. It would fly from a nearby tree and land in the grass near our feet before heading back to a tree. It didn't seem the least bothered by our presence.

An osprey heading back to its nest

We came across an osprey nest in the autumn and hoped to be able to photograph its young on the nest but we were just two days too late. However, there was another nest nearby, though far less easy to photograph, so we had to content ourselves with watching the birds in flight.

A cormorant with an impressive catch

It was a rather grey day when we spotted this cormorant so the colours lack vibrance but its performance with this fish made up for that. It took ages to 'prepare' the fish prior to swallowing it but we gather it has to do this because of the spines on the fish.

A great egret dealing with an itch

These egrets look so lovely with their breeding plumage. This one was fishing only a few feet away from some large alligators. I was told that one of the alligators had managed to take a great blue heron the day before but the egret seemed indifferent unless a gator got really close.

An anhinga in breeding plumage

When we visited The Everglades in 2003 we saw so many of these fabulous 'snake' birds but there were considerably fewer this year and, apparently, none nesting along The Anhinga Trail a couple of years ago. They are given the nick name 'snake bird' because their long necks look like snakes underwater.

An osprey hoping to spot a fish

An alligator having a yawn

I watched this gator for at least half an hour and at one point when it yawned I could see right down its throat.

A great blue heron having a cautious scratch

The heron never took its eyes off a gator that was gradually moving closer and closer to where the bird was perched. When it got too near the heron squawked and flew to a higher branch.

A yawning anhinga

A brown pelican in flight

A great egret with its catch

I spotted the egret on a beach below as I was walking along a pier. I saw that it was about to 'strike' and was fascinated to watch how it dealt with its catch. Sometimes it would drop it by the water's edge but then pick it up again and re-position it. It took nearly five minutes before finally swallowing the fish.

The island garden after a snow fall in april

We've been having some very odd weather in the last couple of weeks, one day warm and the next few chilly. Today we had snow which looked lovely but didn't last.

Our resident mallard heading back to her nest

Every year 'Goldeneye" nests on our top deck and she now gives us a hard time if we don't get her nest box out in time. This year we asked a friend to build some proper nesting boxes but she wasn't prepared to wait for them to arrive so we had to dig out her old plastic box. We didn't have any straw or hay to put in it so she kept stomping up to the French windows and looking in at us with a resentful expression. In the end, I went to the local stables and cadged some old straw but she wasn't keen on the smell of manure. Nor did she like the shredded paper that Dave tried out on her! I gave in and made a special trip to the shops to get her some meadow hay. As soon as I'd removed the old straw and replaced it with the new she went straight in and starting shaping her nest. The ducklings are due to hatch on or around April 20th we hope, though we have reason to think that she or her mate might be infertile.

A view from the island bridge in late March

A male tufted duck in the early morning sunshine

Mandarin ducks heading for my feeding station

We don't know where these two are nesting but they fly in regularly for breakfast, lunch and supper. Several other male mandarin ducks also turn up and try to impress the female with their magnificent displays, to no avail!

Misty mornings, great sunsets and swan fights

2008-02-22T08:53:00.000-08:00

February sunset

The weather has been gorgeous for some time and we've had some wonderful sunrises as well as sunsets. Ironically, I've been laid low with bronchitis and haven't been able to get out with the camera during this time. The view from the bridge onto the island would have been spectacular had I been able to get out.

Territorial battles are hotting up for the Spring

The dominant pair of mute swans patrol this stretch of the river regularly and drive off any other swans foolish enough to stray into their territory, especially the younger ones. Bidou, the black swan, is allowed to keep them company and she sometimes drives off other mute swans too. Another black swan appears from time to time but Bidou prefers the company of her mute mates and consistently drives it away.

An early morning stretch in the mist

It's beautiful to watch the swans preening and then stretching and flapping their wings. Sometimes they do it in unison. I've been wanting to get a particular image for years now but I'm sure the swans know this and wait till I don't have the camera to hand before they oblige! One day I'll get the image I want but it's obviously going to take patience.

Thunder thighs in the pond

This is our 'pet' coot, if coots can ever be said to be 'pets'. It has lost its mate and is probably quite old now, and certainly not tolerated by the local dominant pair. It seems to be somewhat arthritic, but manages to thunder along the deck to greet us when we're dispensing wheat for the swans and ducks. Hence the nickname "Thunder Thighs".

Our dominant mute swans on the warpath

When you see the swans with their wings raised like this they are displaying. When they're courting they flare their wings at each other and they do likewise when they warn others off their territory. Swans weigh surprisingly little for their size but you'd never guess it when you see the way they power their way through the water with tremendous force when they're on the attack.

Double click on any of the images to enlarge them.

Winter Continues

2008-01-27T08:20:00.000-08:00

Reflections in a pond on an icy day

We managed to get out for a refreshing walk one chilly morning and I loved the reflections in the pond. There were little chunks of ice floating around, too.

A view from the bridge in Bushy Park of the Longford River and woodland garden

This is my favourite of the two woodland gardens. I've noticed that dozens of coots and moorhens congregate on the grass in winter. For most of the year they're not at all gregarious but, come the Spring, there are massive territorial battles, some very vicious.

Heron looking into the lagoon for supper

I spotted this heron approaching the roof of one of the houseboats. It hung around for a while on the roof before swooping down to the lower branches of a willow tree in the lagoon, one of its favourite fishing spots.

More reflections

Sunrise on a chilly morning

It was wonderful to watch the sun rising in this darkened sky on a misty late January morning. I love the atmospheric effect the winter light has at sunrise at this time of year.

Too much to do and too little time to do it in

2008-01-06T05:45:00.000-08:00

The weather hasn't been great over the last few weeks and when there is sunshine it isn't always possible to get out with the camera. This was a brief exception when I managed to get out for an hour.

A moment's pause to watch another fox

This is definitely the dominant fox of the two and is also more friendly and approachable. The other one slinks off when humans approach but is also a fine specimen.

On a mission

There was no mistaking the purposeful gait of the fox today. Perhaps it had its eyes on the Egyptian geese or ducks close by on the pond?

A lot can happen in two weeks

2007-12-17T10:13:00.000-08:00

Black swan in early morning mist

It's been a difficult two weeks with my husband falling seriously ill so I haven't been out and about enjoying Nature. Fortunately, he's gradually on the mend and we're both taking the time to get to the local park or out in the boat, weather permitting. The last week has been very cold here but at least there have been some bright and sunny days. This was an early morning shot as Bidou, the black swan, went about her daily business following breakfast "Chez Nous". If we're not there to feed her she soon lets us know!

A local fox pulling faces for the camera

What a fine specimen . . . and it knows it!

This friendly fox shows great interest in my husband and I as we wander through the local park. It's quite happy to come quite close but is still wary if you try to get too close.

Rowers passing Taggs Island on the Hampton side

A winter scene from Taggs Island bridge looking towards Hampton Church and the village of Hampton. On a cold winter's afternoon the river still looks attractive in the late afternoon sunlight.

Another misty morning downstream from us

We're fortunate enough to have this view from our dining and living room and Dave's upstairs office. If you like water and wildlife it really is paradise and we love the early morning light.

Hucks boatyard with it's beautiful Swiss Chalet lit by late afternoon sunlight

This lovely building is on the A 308 opposite the island and the boatyard is going through regeneration as The Thames is attracting more interest from many quarters.

If you wish to enlarge any of the images double click on them

You can tell it's winter!

2007-12-02T08:47:00.001-08:00

Gulls mobbing the ducks to get at the food

Newcomers to the island take delight in feeding the birds in the early morning light. As soon as the first crust is thrown the gulls appear from nowhere and raise a clamour with their shrill calls. It's definitely a case of "First come first served" where these aerial acrobats are concerned.

Why do rowers always look less aggressive in the early morning light?

The mornings have been crisp and colourful recently and the rowers are out most mornings regardless of the weather.

Another day, another bunch of rowers

The river seems so peaceful at first light and it seems such a pity that the rowers have to invade that sense of Nature at one with itself. If the rowers showed any respect for the wildlife, and took care not to strike the wildfowl that "happen to be in their way" I wouldn't mind. Instead they ignore the fact that they, as humans, are the ones out of place, not the swans, ducks and other waterfowl.

An attractive hybrid duck

Silver duck, as we call her, has been around for several years now and has bred successfully with a mallard drake. One of her offspring is so like her that it is difficult to tell them apart.

Male Mandarin duck

Now that it can be quite cold in the mornings and evenings some of the Mandarin ducks have started to drop by for breakfast and dinner. After they went into moult in the autumn they stopped coming to the garden and are probably basing themselves in Bushy Park. On chilly days, however, they fly in, feast on the wheat and then head back to the park.

Bidou in the flooded bog garden

The river levels have been pretty good this winter up till now. After heavy rains, however, the water has to go somewhere and the lock keepers are allowing excess water downstream. Our bog garden was under water this morning and Bidou and the ducks enjoyed rummaging through my plants!

Sunlight streaming through the garden fence in the early morning light