13 May 2026

We had family staying with us on Saturday. In the evening, we walked down to the East Sands via the Kinnessburn. At the bridge at the foot of the steep brae leading up to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, we stopped to look at a duck with her ducklings.

She had six altogether. She was sitting on a stone beside the running water. Five of her offspring  were sitting underneath her  wings. The six was busy swimming in the burn, darting here, darting there, snatching lots of insects flying above the water.

Underneath a nearby blossom tree sat the heron. She was awaiting her chance to gobble up the tiny duckling playing so innocently and cheerfully in the nearby waters. The mother kept quacking, trying to alert her sixth  to come and enjoy the fulfilment of the Psalmist’s prayer, ‘Hide me under the shadow of your wings.’

But to no avail. Gradually a small crowd gathered on the bridge mesmerised by this tense triangulation of fear. It was better entertainment than the streaming companies. We couldn’t wait. Suffice  it to say that on our return, there was no sign of duck nor ducklings.

But yesterday, I spotted the duck with only one duckling further downstream. The heron was there again stealthily walking towards the duckling. The enraged mother few out of the water and like a kamikaze pilot dive- bombed the heron. She flew away disorientated and disappointed.

On my way back from the sands, I saw a similar scenario. This time a drake was pestering the mother. She got separated from the duckling. The heron seized its chance. The duck came to her senses and attacked the heron. She was fearless, courageous and successful. It is hazardous being a mother, dying to preserve life in dangerous waters!

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