Thursday, 16 June 2016

Duckling and Cygnet Update from Aberystwyth

The female Goosander, still with 6 ducklings, that Chris saw on Monday, seem to spend most of the time on the Rheidol near the police station.  They were there this morning  (15th), on the north bank, just behind the TA Centre, and this evening on the other side of the river by the Plas yr Afon flats and Glanyrafon Terrace.  Lovely to see.
Fingers crossed the ducklings are now too large to be a tempting snack for the gulls ?
But the mortality rate of other ducklings on that stretch of the river has been very high, a white Aylesbury duck had 8 ducklings, none survived more than 3 or 4 days, and there were 12 Mallard ducklings that also very quickly disappeared. 
The swans had 3 cygnets, but now only have one.   
We all like gulls, don't we.
Dave Purdon