Ducks and Coots on the Kennet

For the past couple of weeks there has been a female mallard with 4 chicks living in the reeds near the mouth of Gunter's Brook.  Quite a few times as I have been walking home in the evening there has been a group of people stood looking at them.

This evening I think the first of the coots eggs are starting to hatch out.  As I walked over the bridge at the mouth of Gunter's Brook I stopped to look at the coot nesting there.  There was a distinct peeping sound coming from underneath her and she seemed to have her wings slightly more spread out than usual.  I think that at least one of her 9 eggs has already hatched.