No Awa Tae Bide Awa

Briget apparently used the trip to Findhorn as an away day...for she was back under the Merryton bridge this morning! 

Looks like there's no place like home for our born and bred Nairn river Swans. It's around 10 miles from Nairn to Findhorn as the Crow flies, for a Swan about 12 minutes flying time. The Trust will not take her back into care, and just let Slim and Sue sort it out between them. 

Was fascinating to watch the interaction this morning after I fed Briget, Slim and Sue came up for their feed as Briget slowly moved about 10 yards above the bridge, folded her head down between her wings and pretended to sleep. 

Sue had her wings up but ignored Briget until she finished eating, all very civil. Once the feed was over Sue could not resist slowly venturing up to Briget.

 Was a moment of amazement for me, as Sue and Briget looked at one another almost as if each recognised they were related and Sue gently turned away to re-join Slim and the cygnets. 

Perhaps Sue could see Penny, her mother in her sister, I am pretty sure some recognition took place, that a human could not comprehend.

My feeling now is that a level of tolerance will be allowed until the cygnets are fledged and away from the river. As spring draws nearer and testosterone levels rise, Slim and Sue will seriously drive Briget away.

The series of photo's show the encounter between Sue and Briget this morning.