Country Corner

OVER the last weeks there have been a number of posting with comments on the condition of a mute swan on the loch at Tweedbank.

His individual has been keeping itself to itself, was working along the edge at the Lochend side of the loch and submerging its head and nibbling at the new edge.

It would swim along and then retrace its swim path along the edge and still looking for food. The comments on Facebook suggested that the bird had become blind.

A close look at it and photographs showed that the eyes were cloudy looking. The photographs were submitted to a retired vet who agreed with the comments about the bird being blind as the eyes did not look right.

A cataract condition was suggested and also associated with lead as the bird has a link in its neck a feature of lead poisoning.

Whatever the cause it would not treatable. The vet suggested leaving it where it is as it is managing at present.

There are a number of regular visitors that make sure it receives extra food and also monitor its condition.

At the end of last week, the council sent two men and a boat to the loch in an attempt to retrieve the dust bins that had been thrown into the loch.

The bird is mobile, and was aware of the boat, and swam out of its way and joined up with the other swans.

opefully, it will manage to continue to sense when a threat is around and stay out of trouble.

To rescue it, because of its mobility would be difficult, judging from past experience.

Last week saw the posting about the first summer migrants, Chiffchaff near Walkerburn with a second from Birgham and an osprey from the Tweed Valley not far from Innerleithen.

Geese are beginning to be seen in numbers again with one report, from near Greenlaw, commenting that it was the biggest flock the observer had ever seen.

These were predominantly pink-footed Geese but two keen observers of goose flocks found two Russian white-fronted geese and a possible Tundra Bean goose among the pinkfeet.

On Monday morning this week two Canada geese passed over Tweedbank heading north.

Later the same day a cross Canada/Greylag was found at Harelaw Loch beyond Lilliesleaf.

These cross breeds have been seen before in the Borders not doubt due to the increase in numbers of feral

Greylag Geese and Canada’s that now spend the whole year in the area.

There are still reports of small flocks of waxwings from the Selkirk area along with sightings of crossbills.

The male smew that has frequently been seen at Yetholm Loch for the last few weeks appears to have been joined by a female. A displaying goshawk was note over Tweedbank at the end of last week.

Last weekend a field bordering the old railway at Innerleithen received a dressing of slurry which soon attracted a large number of birds including carrion crows, common gulls, lesser black-backed gulls, and a number of other species frantically feeding.