One of the most cheering aspects of being on the reserves at this time of the year is looking out for new arrivals and now the season of chicks is approaching full swing. Of course as hard bitten conservationists the sight of ducklings and such like is viewed solely with the pragmatic reality of seeing another generation on the cusp – of a slight but significant conservation success. Certainly there is no place in conservation to view recently hatched chicks with the cutesy-pie, woollen headedness reserved for soft focus Athena prints of puppies or fluffy bunnies... Ah who am I kidding? Check these out!
Shelducklings with their doting parents. No apparent lack of cuteness noted here. Picture Allan Neilson.
A parent oystercatcher with one of the (currently) four chicks wisely staying close by. Picture Allan Neilson.
Now if you can't be moved by this you truly have no soul. Mum, dad and two piggy-backing, humbugesque great-crested grebe chicks on Radipole. Picture Sean Tanner.
If all this weren't enough there are also several parties of cygnets (each sufficiently cute to make 'The Ugly Duckling' - at best - conceptually flawed) and dozens of mallard broods on the reserves. With tuftlings, gadlets, potchlings and shovelets to follow, we really are approaching the very peak cutesy period… I can't wait and neither should any aspiring Athena photographers amongst you!
Now that I have successfully - and without fear of contradiction - established that we are all in essence, soft-hearted sentimentalists may I just point out that Mike Tyson is a pigeon fancier. In a strange way that gives me some comfort.