Looks like Slim and Sue's offspring of 2020 have moved back closer to home. The small body of wetlands known as the Ministers pond not far from the river, has a pair of Swans and 5 cygnets hatched about 2 weeks ago. This was the area where Slim and Sue offloaded their first youngsters. Nature played a hand in this when Storm Arwen blasted tons of sand along the coastline and blocked off the escaping water from the Ministers pond. This had the effect of enlarging the pond and providing new habitat for waterfowl. The reeds and grasses extended and the swans took the opportunity of building a nest. My guess is one of Slim and Sues female cygnets got herself a mate, and returned to the territory she knew when nature fortuitously provided a nesting site.
They brought their 5 cygnets into the river a week ago but were escorted back out by Slim Sue and their 6 cygnets. Thanks to Trust members John and Linda for the photo's of the extended swan family.
2 comments:
I was looking for some advise, the swans close to my home have had 7 signets, probably a couple of weeks younger than the rivers. 1 of them seems much weaker than the rest, unable to follow the others out of the water but keeping up in the water. Should I report this?
There is sometimes a runt in a brood, but given time and feeding they can come good although develop later than the rest. I assume it has already survived a couple of weeks... does it have a bank to climb up, and have you seen it's feet and legs at all ? I would observe and see how it goes before reporting to the SSPCA. The parents will protect it unless it gets so weak and cant stay with the family.
Post a Comment