Back at the pond

A lovely morning for the early Thursday walk. I set out early to enter the St Ives  estate from across the cricket pitch and up the field. I met my neighbour coming up the same way but didn’t see any deer. Not early enough and I knew I wouldn’t see any when I saw someone coming down the field with a dog.

A full compliment of 6 ladies and one man, no dogs sadly at the moment. Lots of chat as usual and then when we arrived at Coppice Pond a couple stopped to feed the swans.  I haven’t had any duck and swan food since the girls used it all up at half term. I’ve looked to get some a couple of times but they’ve been out of stock. The two swans waiting were juveniles that have been outcast by the breeding adults. You can see this one still has dark feathers on it’s head. Last years brood but only two, the others must have been moved on. There was a Greylag goose, the usual mallards and lots of Tufted Ducks. They don’t usually take the food preferring to dive so I’m not sure why they come to see us.

I headed round the far side of the pond to follow the others when I heard the distinctive sound of the adult swan flapping his wings to fly up from the island (where we think they are nesting) to drive off the juveniles. He’s very aggressive.

After breakfast we headed out and managed to find some Duck and Swan food. A few other chores were dealt with and it was nearly lunchtime by the time we got back. I’d intended doing some gardening but have run out of steam. 

Out to the village Panto tonight! 5 years ago, pre Covid, I was in it! Time flies.