Maw, Paw and the Bairns

Nowhere to go on a dull showery day so I reverted to my fallback sites of Arbroath Harbour and Keptie Pond. Nothing of any note at the harbour but these photos below show some of the new life at Keptie, all of it showing an orange tinge due to the algal bloom on the water. No doubt there will be more questions in the local press about the water level and the weed but Angus Council doesn't seem to think it's a priority, maybe they could try "crowd-funding" a solution if one exists.

The duckling on the right is a Mallard and has been adopted by the Tufted Duck. I can't find a Mallard with ducklings that size so it's likely if it was one of a brood that they've been predated

This Mallard has done exceptionally well for Keptie Pond and she still has eight quite large ducklings with her which look to be too big for most gulls except perhaps the Great Blacked-backed

A male Mallard in eclipse plumage just lazing around near the popular feeding spot, the one nearest the road. In the water beside the duck were two large carp and I couldn't decide if they were showing mating behaviour or just being boisterous

One of two Moorhen chicks in a second brood

Mum or Dad not far away and keeping an eye on two youngsters

Just a single Coot chick with a pair, the Coots normally manage to avoid predation from the gulls but there is at least one large Terrapin in the pond and last seen nearby

The orange algae is obvious on this Coots chest and plumage