Poor thing.

Just look at this little fellow.
Look at the state of him.
I know exactly how he came to look like this.

As I approached the steps to the lake this morning, two dogs came racing along either side of me, down to the lake as fast as they could, their owner some way behind jogging along and shrieking at them at the same time.

Too late. One of the dogs leapt straight in and almost landed upon an unsuspecting swan, which moved away as quick as it could. The dog then spied this little thing and jumped upon it in the water. It was gone.

The owner yelled at her dog repeatedly, then continued jogging on, at which point the dog decided, after causing certain havoc, to climb out of the bank and chase after her.

Meanwhile I looked everywhere for this little coot. No sign. I couldn't bear to think that this poor little bird had been injured by the dog.

And then he appeared.
Looking so bedraggled but in one piece and making his way over to Mum.


Mum: "What have you been doing?"

Baby coot: "Mum, Mum, it's not fair, that big, daft dog jumped on me....splutter, splutter...."

Mum: "Well watch where you're going in future!"

Baby coot: "Aw, but Mum..."