I took a walk to the dam today.
At first I was pessimistic about the ducklings, as I couldn't see any. It has been cold with winds predominantly out of the north and east, which are cold directions here, and last summer, with similar cold winds, there wasn't one single duckling survived on the whole dam.
Anyway, eventually there was one duck with two mid sized ducklings, that had obviously grown since hatching, then a bit further round there was another with eleven mid sized
and eventually, there was a duck with eleven that had got their proper little duck feathers, so there must be some insects for them to eat.
I cut back across the fields, and was serenaded by the lapwings. peering over the stone walls, I could see some with chicks. right from the time they hatch, the chicks have little crests, and they stay as fluffy balls until they're almost full size.
one of the advantages of having heavily managed grouse moors in the area - there aren't many predators to worry the wader birds chicks.