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Nine Swans observed flying over the Dunbar golf course this morning, most likely Penny, Duke and the cygnets.
There have been signs of Penny distancing herself from the youngsters lately, it looks like she is preparing for the final goodbye to this years brood.
The timing is about right, as this would give her 6 months R and R before the next breeding season.
The cygnets are in great condition, having had an exceptional start to life this year.
They have been flying for a month now and quite capable of life without Penny and Duke.
With rain forecast for the next 18 hours, the river will be high tomorrow and might suit the departure of the cygnets at this time. In any case, I think they will be gone this Autumn and unlikely to remain until spring.
Penny is the Matriarch and will dictate the course of events, as she has done for the past 11 seasons - she is one remarkable Swan !
There have been a pair of new swans checking out the estuary in the last couple of days. Penny disappeared for the entire day on Sunday leaving Duke to defend the territory.
It seems I named him well after John Wayne, for he tackled the two young swans himself when they ventured up to the Merryton bridge.
Pouncing on the back of one, he grabbed it by the back of the neck and paddled at the same speed as it tried to escape. Eventually he let it go and both the youngsters headed back to sea.
Penny returned yesterday which is the anniversary of Popeye's demise last year. Perhaps she flew off to check on last years brood, she looks stunning in her new plumage.
Have just had an update on Duke from SPCA down at Fishcross. Duke is now in an Indoor pool and has started eating on his own. Colin the Manager says he is now much brighter than when he arrived. Duke has a swollen foot, but an x-ray shows no sign of a break. He is being given antibiotics for infection meanwhile, and the Vet will check him on Tuesday. Fingers crossed he will soon be well enough to return to Penny who is definitely missing him.
She was sharing the Harbour with the little grebe again today
Ever since Penny turned up with our new Cob, I have been asked several times what his name was. I had not yet thought about a name, and Popeye the second was too much.
However he has certain characteristics which reminded me of John Wayne, who's nickname was"Duke".
From what I see, he is fearless, very relaxed, friendly and laid back for a male Swan, so the name Duke seemed just right.
Penny and Duke are getting to know each other really well, I watched them this morning as Penny approached from the island where Duke was standing under Merryton bridge.
She was confident, relaxed and in control, as he observed the protocols by raising his wings and eye-balling each other, as they mirrored their movements in unison.
He also let out a loud grunt of approval at her approach.
Things are looking good for the pair of them. I also managed to get a close look at the underside of his bill for an indication of his age, I don't think he is as old as Penny but nevertheless not as young as I initially thought, perhaps around 10 or 12.
He most likely lost his mate and rejoined a flock where Penny probably met him when she dropped the cygnets off. Widow meets widower - It looks good, but time will tell between now and spring.
Every year out of the cygnets brood, there is always one that stands out and loves being on top.
This year is no exception, and Penny has yet another Mummy's boy..or girl.
This is the first time in 9 years I have actually seen one sitting on Penny's back from the nest all the way down to the moat.
Then after a feed climbing aboard again.
What a great mother Swan is Penny !
Penny has a definite air of melancholy, Popeye her lifelong partner is nowhere to be found and she is at a loss. The only thing keeping her going are the Cygnets.
I am hoping I will get Popeye returned to her this coming week. He will be stressed at being kept away from his family, and this will not help his health condition either.
He has lost everything, his partner, family, territory and usual food supply. I hope the SPCA rehab centre will be taking all this adverse effect on his health into account !
The settled weather continues and sunshine lifts the spirits !
The wildlife sense the coming of spring and pairing up is well under way.
The snowdrops add confirmation.
It's almost 10 years since I first saw Penny and Popeye on the river. They arrived in May 2005 looking for a nesting site, I believe they were newly paired up and about 4 years old.
This makes them 14 years old this season.
What a pair they have turned out to be, they have raised 49 cygnets to date and have claimed the river territory as their own.
Today I watched as two new swans tried to fly in, only to be met by Penny and this years offspring, it was no contest so they headed away - they might well have been some of her previous offspring.
The swans island is extremely attractive when the tide is in, and no doubt looks an ideal nesting site for any pair of swans.
Penny has made full use of the Island since it's construction, and now knows the river and tides better than anyone.
In celebration of her many productive years contribution to the river, and the pleasure she has given to all who traverse the riverside,
here are some classic poses of this beautiful and remarkable Swan.
Three weeks and already the cygnets are the size of Mallards, a few more pics showing the growing family. Short Video clip below.
Penny set the alarm bells going this evening in the Harbour and the Cygnets quickly scrambled to get onto her back.
An Otter was spotted fishing along the harbour entrance wall, and Penny quickly got the cygnets out of the water and onto the harbour beach.
I suspect this Otter has been resident around the Harbour for some time, and is probably the killer of 2 young ducks in the harbour earlier in the year.
It is noticeable that few ducks use the harbour these days with an Otter resident !
Penny our Resident Pen is still having to play the waiting game for what is surely the longest incubation period for a British bird. However next week should see the cygnets emerge, and we all await to see how many new arrivals we have.
Meanwhile our only surviving ducklings so far total 9 with a loss of 26 to predators and flooding. We should get quite a few more broods before too long since most of the females are nesting now. I had a report yesterday of a brown and white Spaniel chasing the ducklings, and the mother duck frantically diverting it away from them, another case of an uncontrolled dog after the wildlife ! Sadly I was alerted by a concerned Harbour St resident, to a small bird on the path near merryton bridge yesterday evening, it appeared to be sick.
On inspection I could see it had lost it's right eye, perhaps to a cat or another bird. I took it home with the intention of calling the Scottish SPCA in the morning if it did not improve. Sadly it was dead by morning, I think infection of the missing eye socket was probably the cause. I think it was a juvenile Chiffchaff according to my book of birds.
On a happier note, sounds of Spring recorded the other evening when the white duck and Popeye looking magnificent showed up, a blackbird was singing away in the background. Short video below.
