Nairn Swans Home Alone.......Not Quite !

The Nairn Swans have almost managed to say goodbye to the Cygnets and reclaim their river home once more. I had a look from the end of the pier today and about 200 yards offshore were the whole Nairn Swan family. The pen rose up followed by all the others and they took to the skies, the wind was light from the southwest and I thought there they go ! They flew west towards the Swimming pool then turned, headed back and landed up river - the parents under the bailey bridge and cygnets over it. It is amazing just how well organised the parents are, the pen immediately turned downstream and sat blocking the entrance to the harbour, while the cob set about chasing the cygnets back down stream to sea ! One by one they all headed past the harbour entrance giving the pen a wide berth, then the cob rejoined the pen when the cygnets were back to sea !