Murder at the duck pond.

Look at this little duckling - cute, isn't he? Yesterday afternoon he was merrily swimming around the pond with his mum and six siblings, and I sat and watched them for ages, sitting on the grass beside the pond. They had their fill of bread, and were enjoying the summer sun, as was I.

Today there was one duckling. We walked around the whole of the pond, and there was just this one. Seconds after I took this photo, which was tricky, because he was swimming so fast, and I couldn't focus, he was pulled under the water and eaten by the resident pike. Mum and I were so shocked we were still wondering exactly what had happened, when a teenage boy of about 14 came up with his fishing gear and asked if we'd seen any fish in that spot. We'd seen a few carp, so we said yes, and he sat down and started chatting. When we asked if there were any other fish in the lake, he said that there was a pike, which all the local anglers are trying to catch, and we mentioned the duckling, and the fact that since yesterday afternoon the pike had obviously had all seven ducklings. Apparently, there is an outlet pipe from the river to the lake, and when the river (tidal) is high enough, small fish, including young pike can get through to the lake. Of course, if the level drops, or they stay long enough to grow bigger, they end up stuck in the lake, which certainly helps explain why there are rarely any ducklings most years.

I'm really sad now, especially as although I know that many years, the ducklings and moorhen chicks don't make it, I've never actually *watched* one be eaten, or seen a brood of seven one day and the last one get eaten 24 hours later. :-( I wish I hadn't gone for the walk today now, though the kid did promise that if he catches the pike, it's destined for the barbecue! That made me feel slightly better!

Sometimes, I really hate nature!