Feeding the swans

[wendy]

What a good brood.
I hope they will all survive, but can you find names for all seven Ann? do877

[annie]

Neither of our nesting pens has produced yet, 32 days now so any time in the next 10 days hopefully. However, our Canada geese have produced 7 gosling, but they were in the nest so couldn't get close enough to get a pic.
Sadly our ducklings seem to be disappearing, our pair only have one left now out of 4 and down by the wharf, there is a lone duckling about 2wks old on its own, but the folks from the Toll House Heritage Centre are keeping an eye on it & feeding it.

[wendy]

i hope no one is eating them.
I took a look at all the photos you have put on Ann about these swans, thank you

[maureenho]

Do you think fox's get the ducklings.

[annie]

Chap at the Toll House says there are a lot of carrion crows about & they are probably the culprits

[annie]

Hatching has begun!!!!Today, Gladys was near the nest with 2 new cygnets on the water and & Grumps was sitting on the remaining eggs.


Caught up with the Canada geese & they have 4 goslings


This little chap is on the escape committee!!


Watch this space, I shall see what happens over the weekend

[Rosalind]

Great photos Annie tha22222 .

[annie]

I was upset this afternoon, to find there was still only 2 cygnets. Don't know what happened to the other 5 eggs, whether they didn't hatch or another animal got to them, but both proud mum & dad were on the water, despite the wild wind & all came over to be fed

[wendy]

oh dear, only 2, I hope the others will turn up

[maureenho]

That is upsetting, 5 is a lot to go missing

[annie]

Still only 2 cygnets, but they are thriving. here they are hitching a ride on mum's back - cute - aren't they?





The Finsley gate pair have still not produced any cygnets & it is over 45 days now, so suspect something has done badly wrong & we will not see any young.. The pen is still stoically sitting on the nest, it is heartbreaking.

Sadly, the crows have picked off all the new ducklings & none have survived so far & the and the pair of Canada Geese have lost 2 more goslings

[annie]

There is good news, however, last week we walked all the way to Hapton & new life is abundant down there, we saw 3 big broods of ducklings, 3 lots of Canada goslings - & a pair of swans with 5 cygnets, so that made our day

However, I will not be able to keep an eye on these regularly, as it is a good 2 hour walk

Look at the size of this brood - fantastic!!!



Mum with 5 cygnets



The Hapton pair

[Rosalind]

Great photos Annie, lovely to see how they are getting on tha22222 .

[maureenho]

They are beautiful creatures.

[wendy]

thank you for taking the time to get these lovely photos for us.
I really appreciate it.

[annie]

Found these 3 youngsters on the canal bank today

[annie]

Grumps doing his" aren't I handsome act?" & little one following suit

[maureenho]

Really good photos Annie, it's lovely to read how they are doing tha22222

[wendy]

it makes my day, and the photos are lovely

[wendy]

I took another peek at these, as I find them so lovely
thank you

[annie]

Our little family is 9 weeks old now and growing up fast

Gladys, keeping a protective eye on me!


Grumps and son!


Hey, wait for me!

[Rosalind]

Great photos Annie, lovely to see how they are getting on, tha22222 .

[maureenho]

They grow so fast, lovely to see their progress tha22222

[wendy]

I love to see them

[annie]

I have some very sad news. Our swan family disappeared Bank Holiday Weekend, then we heard some swans had been shot about 2 miles down the canal. I had a walk down there and was horrified to see 2 dead cygnets in the water, around same age as ours. I cried all the way home!!
I spoke to a lady who lived on a barge down there & she said the adults disappeared after the cygnets were found dead. She rang the RSPCA who refused to come out. I made several trips up & down & to no avail over the last week & then yesterday, I did my usual walk & there were Grumps and Gladys, sat on the towpath, as large as life , whew, what a relief.

These are the last photos I took