Dangerous Times

With The Pen nesting and the Cob on Patrol it can be dangerous times for any other Swans that venture into the river. Many young swans are flying along the coastline at this time of year for the annual flocking, these flocks can get quite large. This is the opportunity for immature Swans to get gregarious, and some 3 year olds will find new partners to bond with. They will then seek out a new territory of their own to inhabit and nest on. The cobs primary role is protection of the territory, and he will take on all comers when the need arises. Last week he fulfilled his role to the letter by chasing off 5 young swans in one go, two aborted a landing and another three got shown the skies pretty quick !

There are other dangers too, like lethal litter in the form of a folding bicycle which I hauled out of the island moat, potentially with the folded wheels a swan could get it's head stuck in the spokes and drown.