Wildlife affected by flooding
While I was walking to work today, I was blessed enough to see the effect of the flooding on the local wildlife. During the hard time I had seen the entire cow population of Port Meadow standing on one solitary piece of dry upper ground looking very put out, and I did feel sorry for the suede ones, but cows aren't interesting.
The ducks are what I'm talking about. They're out enjoying themselves. Where I stay the water is still going fast, and for the first time I saw ducks out on the rapids. They went flying past, approaching speeds of up to 50mph, and the look on one ducks face from the momentary glance I was able to get from the speeding yellow green and brown blur was one of pure enjoyment. I would swear that they were even paddling to go faster!
Moving down to Osney Lock, where all the sluices are open there were some ducks, that looked remarkably like the ducks I had seen before, playing dare with each other. It seemed the game was to get as close as possible to the mini waterfall created by the sluices, without getting carried down with the current. The last to try while I was there got within half a foot of what shall now be known as the "Duck ride of death", before paddling for all its little ducky might! It looked for a while that it wasn't going to make it, but lo, paddling with every ounce of strength left it its tasty, yet gamy body, it managed to break free and join its friends.
Alas I had to come to work, so was unable to see what was next on this daring pack of duck's adventures.
Posted at 07:00PM Aug 01, 2007 by Braveheart in Play | Comments[0]