Who is moving about in the woods this midwinter?
A roe deer |
Pa Swan. |
Mute swans are amazing birds. They are the biggest British birds and one of the biggest flying birds world-wide. They are so heavy that to take-off they need a watery run-way to fast paddle along- speeding along with wings outstretched like some sort of avian boat-plane.
They are mute in flight - not calling out like other swan species - but their wings make a characteristic noise as they sweep up and down and, when on the ground, they also vocalise, including the insistent fluting whistle of the youngsters asking for food and the warning honks, grumbles and hisses of protective parents.
Last year the boating people of the Somerset Coal Canal were caught up
in something of a swan saga when a swan couple decided to nest within the
marina. The couple (and mute swans mate for life) chose an area off the main
public walkways but close to the bustling point where the old and narrow coal canal
meets the far larger Kennet and Avon canal.
***
Three of their eggs hatched and, in the weeks that followed, it became
apparent that in a busy waterway on the edge of a city it really 'takes a
village' to help raise three hungry accident-prone fledglings. This included
simple things like guiding people around them if they were blocking the path,
intervening when yobs were threatening to hurt them and providing quite a lot
of food!
***
Here are some images from their story in 2022 - from egg to
fledgling:
Ma turning the eggs whilst Pa stands guard. |
All the incubating was down to Ma. |
Freshly hatched. |
The cygnets rapidly put on weight and are soon swimming up an down the canal in a family group. They often swim with one leg cocked over their backs. I suspect this may be to help them cool off. |
Now a family of three. Queuing for a handout at the local cafe. |