How cute.....??

We've lived close to the moat around Fort Brockhurst now for around 24 years. In all that time i can't remember seeing "Any" ducklings. There's been plenty of sygnets and young coots, but no ducklings. This year, there has to be three or four sets of ducklings, now whether or not it has anything to do with the exceptionaly high water level in the moat due to all the rain we had over the winter months, i don't know. But the high water levels meant that all of the fishing platforms have been unfishable since November last year, which means less disturbance to the resident wildlife.
At the moment there's an exceptional amount of thick weed / algal growth on the moats surface, if it's left un checked the fish stock will begin to suffer.
English Heritage, who run the fort, and Portsmouth Angling Society, who have the fishing rights to the moat, both seem unconcerned about the high level of the water and the increased amount of algae on the waters surface.
It would be a sad state if the moat was to become totaly lifeless, due to inaction of these two organisations.
This, is currently the largest "brood" on the moat. Do you call a collection of ducklings a brood..??
Hopefully some will survive, if the swans don't beat them to death, the huge gulls don't swoop down and pick them off one by one, or the Pike don't take them from below...............

I'll try and keep tabs on this brood, and keep you updated.

Larger image......

j.