Recent heavy rain caused quite a dilemma for our Swans today. This was the biggest spate on the river since Slim and Sue moved in to claim the territory.
They have been lucky their cygnets are now big enough to fly and avoid a worse case scenario.
Nevertheless, the ferocity and speed of the water at one point had Sue and two cygnets washed away to get marooned on shingle on one side of the river, while Slim and the other stuck on the opposite side.
Ironically the appearance by the recent incomer changed the dynamic, as Slim felt obliged to chase it away, at the same time joining Sue and the two cygnets on the opposite side.
The incomer craftily flew round the Fishertown and landed back where the single cygnet was, in the safety of the backwater.
I was at the opposite side trying to feed Slim , Sue and cygnets as one of them kept calling for the lone one on the other side.
After 15 minutes it took the plunge and swam across the river barely making it safely - whew!
Keen to get back to the island, they tried in vain to sneak up the side but the current was too strong.
They ended up waiting until the tide came in, enough to swim back to the island.
This was not the end of the drama, as Sue was determined to chase the incomer away.
This she did successfully, but the incomer once again flew around and landed back up river! Short video below showing the trapped swans on the east side of the river.
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