Today’s thirty minute walk was along the stony seawall path of Keyhaven Harbour. Jackie drove me there and back and waited in the car park while I strode out and crawled back.
As I began to open the gate leading on to the mallow lined footpath I noticed a woman carefully following the ungainly swan walking ahead. I did not see the little legs behind the mother.
From the car Jackie yelled “she’s got a baby’. Looking at the container the woman was carrying, I wondered what my wife was talking about, especially as there wasn’t much activity in the transparent tub.
In order to obtain a view from Jackie’s perspective I slid along the front of the Modus and saw the little imprinted cygnet.
I exchanged greetings with a number of other walkers and cyclists availing themselves of this mallow-lined stony path leading to Lymington with its views of the harbours, the Isle of Wight, Hurst Castle and associated lighthouse. The gentleman at the rear of the group in the fifth of these pictures is awaiting a knee replacement, and asked me what to expect. I gave him the benefit of my experience.
I’m not sure what kind of duck this is with its babies bobbing about.
I passed more walkers on my return to the car park,
on the other side of which the cygnet was learning preening.
This evening we dined on minty lamb burgers with roasted mushrooms; creamy mashed potato; crisp cauliflower and carrots, and tender runner beans. I realise I have been regularly remiss in not mentioning the delicious aroma emanating from steaming bowls of perfectly cooked vegetables. Today my nostrils gave me a wake up call. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Malbec.
The ducklings are so cute. Lovely photos as always,Derrick. 😃
Thanks very much, Sylvia. I see you are enjoying London
Yes, indeed. Leaving in a few minutes. ✈️
https://youtu.be/lcMTk4EjMLU
The image in my mind of Jackie yelling, “she’s got a baby,” and you looking around gave me a much needed laugh. Mother and babies in photos are lovely. It looks like a pleasant day–and a delightful sensory experience at the end.
And Derrick thinking it was in the bucket! I laughed out loud.
So funny!
🙂
🙂 🙂
Very many thanks, Merril. I’m pleased to have provided a laugh when you needed it
🙂
Ooo, baby birds are just the best! 💞
Thanks very much, Lesley
‘Striding out and crawling back’ What an image!! 🙂
🙂 Thanks very much, Pauline
I’m glad you’re striding out and hope you’re soon striding back again! It’s funny that the swan has only one cygnet. That is an invasive species in my area and it’s unusual to see any with less than a pair of offspring. The males have tremendous battles in the nearby marsh in the spring.
Oh, wow – we see swans as precious. But I will never plant Morning Glories again because they take over the garden. Funny how and abundance of one thing or another makes it invasive.
We have two native species that are spectacular: the huge whistling (aka tundra) swan and the shy trumpeter swan, which is slowly coming back from endangered.
Oh, morning glories! I dug quite a few from the garden recently, but they are fewer in number every year. The really tenacious invader was a Virginia creeper (I killed it off last year) and a thorny berry-producing shrub that my neighbor has been battling for three years. 😉
Thanks very much, Jean. I googled your tundra swan
We feel like that about Canada geese – even their guano stops the grass growing
Ugh! Virginia creeper. We have it everywhere.
We had quite a lot when we came here. We’ve just left some on a fence
Rather like our Canada geese 🙂 Thanks very much, Jean
Oh, I didn’t know you had those! How terrible. They carry the parasite that causes swimmers itch and are so messy, particularly a nuisance on golf courses and playing fields in public parks.
Yep
Delicious dinner.
Thanks very much, Cinnamon
You’re welcome
I love that you stride out and crawl back. That shows you are pushing yourself. That’s the only way to gain ground, just push a little further each time. (Of course, you know this, Mr. Athlete.) And I love that Jackie will come to your rescue. . . (That binocular story from before just feels so good.)
Love the swan mama and babe. I have never seen that.
Thanks very much, Jodie. That Jackie wouldn’t be able to drive up the path added a turn of the screw 🙂
: )
We’ve lots of baby ducklings on our two lakes, they’re just so sweet. Lovely photos as always Derrick.
Thank you very much, Sheree
What a beautiful path to explore. The photos are gorgeous, Derrick. I always enjoying seeing lighthouses.
Thanks very much, Jill. I’ll remember the lighthouses – unfortunately I haven’t seen one on a lane
That looks like a pretty fantastic walk 🙂 Love the little babies! So cute. Great pictures
Thanks very much, M.B.
That’s a great line from Jackie. Wonderful photos
Thanks very much, Gary
I am glad that your walking is developing well.
Thanks very much – from one who knows, Tootlepedal
How beautiful Derrick, how sweet her baby is too.
Thank you very much, Holly
You’re welcome Derrick 😊
What beautiful vistas to see while walking. It was no doubt lovely salt air that wok up your nose to the vegetables!
Could well be, Lisa. Many thanks
That is a quiet place, the stony path to Keyheaven Harbour. The walkers along the stretch both human and anatine infuse colour and warmth to the pictures.
Thanks very much, Uma – not the least for adding anatine to my lexicon
Surely, I owe you a megaton of thanks to you on that count! 😀
🙂
Another menu of a perfect day.
Thanks very much, Judy. I like ‘menu’ 🙂
Beautiful photos of a beautiful day!
What Jackie yelled, and what you thought, made me laugh! 😀
Love the babies, of course! So sweet! 🙂
Keep striding, even if you have to crawl back. So worth the effort. 🙂
‘Twas nice of you to share your knee-replacement-journey with that man.
I can smell the veggies from here! Lovely! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
PS…How is your Mum doing?
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Mum is doing very well – has put on much-needed weight and her favourite pictures on her walls. X
Oh, good! I think of her often and wish her good health and joy!
I miss my own Mum.
🙂 Sorry about your Mum
Someone mentioned their surprise at only one cygnet. Swans always lay a clutch so I wonder what happened to the others.
Ah! Shame. Thanks very much, Sue
Such a beautiful place Derrick!
Thanks very much, Arlene
Nothing like a walk by the beach to get the nostrils working – salt air is good for the sinuses! 😉
Beautiful swan and cygnet photos, not to mention the other users of the pathway. 🙂
I think it’s safe to say it is a female duck but beyond that is a matter of conjecture, unless there is any more detail available. In the absence of same i’d be inclined to go with female mallard. 😉
Hope the knee is getting stronger and less of a pain.
Thanks very much, Bob. Knee always better the next day
Looks like a great place to take a nice walk around and to see nature at it’s best!
Thanks very much, Gary. I look forward to completing the circuit again
Baby ducks and cygnets are a real delight. I’m also quite partial to a lighthouse.
Thanks very much, Paol
You manage to find interesting things to see no matter where you go, Derrick. Animals seem to be favorite findings of yours, and I love those posts.
Thanks very much, Ronnie
Enjoy your posts Derrick, your pictures are always a pleasure, your descriptions on your suppers are certainly tantalizing, virtually smell the aroma. You are a very lucky man with a live in Gourmet Chef.
I am, indeed, Ian. Cheers
Sweet swan.
Thanks very much, Flower
Wonderful picture of the swan and cygnet. Made me a little sad, though, to see just one. Unless just one cygnet hatched, I suppose the others were eaten. Sigh.
Yes, it seems she should have had more. Thanks very much, Laurie
How lovely to see the cygnet – that’s a trusting mummy.
Thanks very much, Helen. I think you are right
😊
Looks like a beautiful walk with the ugly duckling (who will in time become a swan). What are the purple flowers?
Mallows. Thanks very much LL/PS
Why did you crawl back? Were you out too long? I’m glad you had the opportunity to give some insight about knee surgery to someone else. Derrick, these photos are so beautiful.
Yes – about ten minutes too long, Crystal. Many thanks