I’ve ‘acquired’ a pair of Swans
Discussion
Obviously I’m not the Queen but I’ve become rather protective over a pair of Swans.
Spending weekends building boats and messing about on the river I started chatting to a young Swan last year. Now I can’t be sure it’s the same one but he’s been around for quite a while now and always comes over to say hello. This weekend he wasn’t alone and brought his lady friend to meet me. She’s not as confident as he but happy to be near me and they’ve started making a next on the bank opposite.
I’m really hoping they’ll stay together and produce some Cygnets this year so thought I’d share their story here. Also offload the million photos from my phone I take of him/them.
Meet Fred and Florence (named after my Grandparents)
Spending weekends building boats and messing about on the river I started chatting to a young Swan last year. Now I can’t be sure it’s the same one but he’s been around for quite a while now and always comes over to say hello. This weekend he wasn’t alone and brought his lady friend to meet me. She’s not as confident as he but happy to be near me and they’ve started making a next on the bank opposite.
I’m really hoping they’ll stay together and produce some Cygnets this year so thought I’d share their story here. Also offload the million photos from my phone I take of him/them.
Meet Fred and Florence (named after my Grandparents)
We often walk into one of our local towns and there are a pair of resident swans on the quay.
They're had three lots of cygnets in the time we've been doing it and I love seeing them growing up from little grey fluffy balls into grey swans then finally vanishing when they 'leave home'.
They are a beautiful bird.
They're had three lots of cygnets in the time we've been doing it and I love seeing them growing up from little grey fluffy balls into grey swans then finally vanishing when they 'leave home'.
They are a beautiful bird.
Roofless Toothless said:
Fred does do something similar with me. He also chats away. Although he was dancing and mating with Florence in the sunset on Saturday night. I didn’t have my phone to hand at the time. I want to capture them embraced at some point if they’re not too embarrassed. A few passing boats have commented and asked if I was feeding them (I wasn’t) but I am going to invest in a sack of corn for them.
Swans are such magnificent birds and, based on our experience, seem to get to know and trust certain humans.
Mrs Jerry has become very protective of the couple of swans that live on the river just out side her parents’ house. We’ve not been as creative as Gretchen with the names and they are simply Mr and Mrs Swan. They recognise us (especially Mrs Jerry) and will immediately come if she calls for them, even if they are 50m away and paddling in the opposite direction. The male chatters away to her and will even come out of the water and eat from her hand.
Gretchen, when the inevitable happens and you get to witness something like this …
then if you are even half as excited as Mrs Jerry was it will be a sight to behold. It was fantastic watching the little fella grow and then a little sad when he turned white and the parents pushed him away. Mrs Swan is missing in action a lot at the moment so we are hoping she’s incubating an egg or two and we’ll soon see a repeat of the above.
Mrs Jerry has become very protective of the couple of swans that live on the river just out side her parents’ house. We’ve not been as creative as Gretchen with the names and they are simply Mr and Mrs Swan. They recognise us (especially Mrs Jerry) and will immediately come if she calls for them, even if they are 50m away and paddling in the opposite direction. The male chatters away to her and will even come out of the water and eat from her hand.
Gretchen, when the inevitable happens and you get to witness something like this …
then if you are even half as excited as Mrs Jerry was it will be a sight to behold. It was fantastic watching the little fella grow and then a little sad when he turned white and the parents pushed him away. Mrs Swan is missing in action a lot at the moment so we are hoping she’s incubating an egg or two and we’ll soon see a repeat of the above.
Thank you for the comments. I wasn’t sure anyone would be interested! And it’s lovely to hear other stories of similar encounters. I’ll keep updating over the coming weeks/months.
Last year I got all emotional over a drowned Duckling that turned out to be a Banana skin. So this is making up for that.
I’m sure they know my voice too as if he (now they) are further up the river they’ll come at speed when I call.
I’ve always thought they were elegant creatures but up close their eyes are mesmerising and they have such beauty.
He’s allowed me to stroke the back of his head and will take food from my hand although I’m trying not to do this. I’ll get too attached.
Last year I got all emotional over a drowned Duckling that turned out to be a Banana skin. So this is making up for that.
JerryEXE said:
Swans are such magnificent birds and, based on our experience, seem to get to know and trust certain humans.
Mrs Jerry has become very protective of the couple of swans that live on the river just out side her parents’ house. We’ve not been as creative as Gretchen with the names and they are simply Mr and Mrs Swan. They recognise us (especially Mrs Jerry) and will immediately come if she calls for them, even if they are 50m away and paddling in the opposite direction. The male chatters away to her and will even come out of the water and eat from her hand.
Gretchen, when the inevitable happens and you get to witness something like this …
then if you are even half as excited as Mrs Jerry was it will be a sight to behold. It was fantastic watching the little fella grow and then a little sad when he turned white and the parents pushed him away. Mrs Swan is missing in action a lot at the moment so we are hoping she’s incubating an egg or two and we’ll soon see a repeat of the above.
That’s adorable Mrs Jerry has become very protective of the couple of swans that live on the river just out side her parents’ house. We’ve not been as creative as Gretchen with the names and they are simply Mr and Mrs Swan. They recognise us (especially Mrs Jerry) and will immediately come if she calls for them, even if they are 50m away and paddling in the opposite direction. The male chatters away to her and will even come out of the water and eat from her hand.
Gretchen, when the inevitable happens and you get to witness something like this …
then if you are even half as excited as Mrs Jerry was it will be a sight to behold. It was fantastic watching the little fella grow and then a little sad when he turned white and the parents pushed him away. Mrs Swan is missing in action a lot at the moment so we are hoping she’s incubating an egg or two and we’ll soon see a repeat of the above.
I’m sure they know my voice too as if he (now they) are further up the river they’ll come at speed when I call.
I’ve always thought they were elegant creatures but up close their eyes are mesmerising and they have such beauty.
He’s allowed me to stroke the back of his head and will take food from my hand although I’m trying not to do this. I’ll get too attached.
garythesign said:
What a great thread.
Used to help out at a wildlife rescue and swans are not as fierce as is generally thought.
It’s the Geese you have to watch out for.
Please keep the photos coming
Unless you’re a duck!Used to help out at a wildlife rescue and swans are not as fierce as is generally thought.
It’s the Geese you have to watch out for.
Please keep the photos coming
https://youtu.be/z13uY3Xa3N4
garythesign said:
Used to help out at a wildlife rescue and swans are not as fierce as is generally thought.
It’s the Geese you have to watch out for.
Or to be more precise, their sIt’s the Geese you have to watch out for.
t...!My favourite riverside birds are great crested grebes and egrets. Kingfishers are 100 points in the I-Spy Book of Birds but you're lucky if you see more than a blue flash.
dirkgently said:
Simpo Two said:
Love and a desire for food are easily confused...!
Don't let my wife know that.
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