07 June 2007
With somewhat disappointing activity on Sherdley Park lake this year, it’s been down to the Sutton Mill Dam to fly the flag. As reported previously in this blog, a pair of mute swans have once again been breeding at the Dam. However, there was disturbing news in the St.Helens Star last week of the male cob getting snagged in a fisherman’s line and consequently unable to feed himself for several days. As an impending father-to-be, this was all that he needed!
Four new-born cygnets fresh on the water at the Sutton Mill Dam
When I was there last Friday the pen was still sitting on her nest incubating her eggs but was noticeably unsettled, no doubt missing her partner who was nowhere to be seen. I suspect the cob had been removed by the RSPCA for treatment. But as of Monday this week the pair were back together on the lake proudly showing off their new brood of four gorgeous, fluffy cygnets!
Wherever Mum goes, the four cygnets have to go too!
Whilst I was there I was told of a boy that had used a brick to "cave in a duck's head " over the half-term holidays, decapitating it. Later as I was taking pictures of the four cygnets from the west bridge, I spoke to a friendly chap who wondered whether the quartet would be able to survive the actions of the yobs. A very good question indeed.
People often stop and talk to me as I photograph or video the dam. I’m regularly impressed by the affection that the locals have for the place. I recall in 2006 someone stopping to say that they'd witnessed a grey heron swoop on an unsuspecting moorhen and carry the whole creature off in its beak. With a lot of heron activity on the Dam at the moment, it's not surprising that the circumspect moorhens tend to keep their young safe under the branches of fallen trees by the side of the lake. However, I did manage to snap some pictures of the moorhen brood with mother moorhen feeding her bedraggled-looking young. (see above)
The great crested grebes have also been breeding. Initially they carry their new-born on their backs as the mute swans do with their very young cygnets. In no time at all though the young grebes are almost as big as their parents but still dependent upon them for food. Mum and Dad grebe can regularly be observed diving into the waters of the Sutton Mill Dam for fish for their babes. Their young’s stripey head and neck (pic above right) does give them a certain pyjama look! Or is it toothpaste? Totally bald they’ve yet to grow their distinctive ornate head plumes which in the past have been a great attraction for hunters and which almost led to the great crested grebes becoming exterminated from the UK.
The mallards have also been breeding with nine ducklings observed in one brood. Constantly under threat from herons and yobs, the duck numbers on the Sutton Mill Dam never seem to increase. Ducklings do have another menace to contend with, female mallards, who sometimes kill youngsters who've strayed from another brood. The deadliest of the species…? This is not nice but it's nature and happens. You can't similarly excuse those who like to kill the wild fowl on the Mill Dam for kicks.
AS USUAL CLICK ON AN IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW AND FOR A NEW MILL DAM PHOTO ALBUM (15 pictures)
14/06/07 - A FLASH SLIDESHOW VERSION IS NOW AVAILABLE - CLICK HERE TO VIEW MILL DAM SPRINGWATCH '07
26 March 2007
With last weekend being the official start of British Summer Time and with the sun shining brightly, I thought I would wander down to the Sutton Mill Dam to see how well it had survived the winter months. It was good to see quite a lot of activity both on and off the water and I was especially pleased to see that the pair of mute swans have finally returned. They were busy annoying the fishermen on the banks of the Dam, attracted as always by their fish bait. The great crested grebes were there (pictured left) diving for fish. They are wily creatures - a fixture on the lake now - but almost hunted to extinction for their feathers. With a number of youngsters at the wildlife park enjoying themselves, butterflies flying around and buds on the trees, it was all looking very promising for the Summer.
The Peacock butterfly adding colour to the Sutton Mill Dam
The downside? Well considerable damage has been caused to a number of the angling platforms during winter with at least one set on fire. A few trees were damaged during the January gales with one now sprawled across the lake. Another fallen tree on a woodland path is inhibiting access to Clock Face Road (edit 3/4/07 it's now been cleared) . However, it's the dumped rubbish and overall condition of the wildlife park which is the main cause of concern. Standing on the west bridge I could count five tyres and one waste bin that had been dumped into the water nearby. I do wonder how often the council retrieves rubbish from the Mill Dam. It clearly happens but it doesn't seem to be more than a few times a year.
Several of the angler's fishing platforms have been damaged
In 2006 I spent many days at the dam making a video and taking photographs. I was very impressed by the number of locals who would regularly stop to talk to me. They were so passionate about the site and upset at its deterioration. One said "Prince Charles wouldn't recognise it if he came back ", referring to HRH's visit to the Sutton Mill Dam in 1988. Another wondered why those undertaking community service weren't delegated to improve the dam.
This web site was created to celebrate, not denigrate, the areas of beauty in Sutton, St Helens. However it has to be said that sites like the Sutton Mill Dam could be so much nicer if given some TLC. One local told me last year that he'd seen a man dismantling some of the railings near the west bridge. He passed the iron rails onto his young children who put them in the back of his van. Upon being challenged, the guy said he was going to construct a garden swing out of them! Many years have passed since that incident but as can be seen from this picture (right), nothing has been done to repair the railings. The photograph (left) shows the sign at the entrance to the Mill Dam in Mill Lane. It's a dreadful advert and has been in this state for some time. Of course people shouldn't vandalise and dump rubbish in the first place. But if the impression is given that noone cares, then some will take that as tacit approval for their acts. I will be writing to those with responsibility for the wildlife park to see what they are doing to improve it and report back.
However, the Sutton Mill Dam gets a positive health check overall from me. It's just in some desperate need of that TLC. But then aren't we all!
CLICK ON AN IMAGE ABOVE TO VIEW A NEW SUTTON
MILL DAM PHOTO-ALBUM
