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Another trip to the pier lighthouse resulted in some Rainbow magic !
Went down to witness Penny and Duke chasing the cygnets out to sea, then away to the west.
Shortly after, the skies darkened and the predicted rain showers began.
Minutes later, one of the most vivid full spectrum rainbows I have ever seen, appeared right in front of Duke and Penny as they sailed right into it ! Was pure gold !
Today was the first time I have seen the cygnets having a proper flight around the town.
Right place at the right time, but a pity the skies were so leaden for photos.
Popeye and Penny were already at Merryton bridge, but the 8 cygnets were happily circling Fishertown several times before making a beautiful approach and landing.
Sequence of shots tells the story.
Two of last years cygnets decided to return home last week, they looked healthy and obviously not starved. they were followed by 5 more cygnets today but they were not our last years offspring.
Popeye was on nest guarding duty and Penny was too busy foraging for minerals to notice them. That all changed when Popeye was freed from nest guarding duties and he promptly set about getting them out of the river !
One of them was determined to stay and kept coming back, which gave me the chance of a few overhead shots.
The sound from those magnificent wings was just musical !
The Cygnets are still hanging in there, but the split between the parents and offspring is all but over, save the final parting. They are still flying short bursts up and down the river, with wings being strengthened all the time.
I will be sad to see these three go !
( Short video of Popeye harrying them in the moat below)
This morning I was surprised to see Popeye and Penny on their own, cygnets nowhere to be seen ! Anyway they both seemed to be enjoying a break from the kids !
I checked the harbour and the sea but no sign of them. A local resident saw them all flying earlier this morning, so it's possible they were taken to join a nearby flock by the parents, who then returned alone. I will be surprised if they have gone already, since they are not quite 5 months old - but if they have joined a flock then they may well be gone for good.
The last two broods were not given the push until January, and the parents have shown no sign that they wanted this brood to go yet. We will see if they return tomorrow.
Meanwhile our lone white duck is still without a mate and looks very vulnerable.
