Whooper Swans, Breeding Confirmed. 2 June.
Finally got to see the Whooper Swan cygnets, mega shy parent birds! Since the nest was vacated on 26 May, I had only seen the adults a couple of times ...and then just peering over reeds and promptly cruising off. All signs pointed to chicks in tow, but never did I actually see and, with growing days, I began to worry a little that perhaps that had no actually hatched any youngsters.
On 2 June, approaching quietly, I spotted the adults back on the nest. Still couldn't see any cygnets! Quietly climbed my new observation tower, no alarm among the birds, they didn't see me. Still not a cygnet did I see. Hmm, doubts as to the existence of cygnets grew. After quite some time, one adult spotted me, off into the water it went, then the second, both slinking into a channel vanishing into reeds. There, however, views all too brief, but grey fluffy blobs following the adults! Cygnets! Yay, breeding confirmed, a very much welcome new species for my land, top day.
Finally got to see the Whooper Swan cygnets, mega shy parent birds! Since the nest was vacated on 26 May, I had only seen the adults a couple of times ...and then just peering over reeds and promptly cruising off. All signs pointed to chicks in tow, but never did I actually see and, with growing days, I began to worry a little that perhaps that had no actually hatched any youngsters.
On 2 June, approaching quietly, I spotted the adults back on the nest. Still couldn't see any cygnets! Quietly climbed my new observation tower, no alarm among the birds, they didn't see me. Still not a cygnet did I see. Hmm, doubts as to the existence of cygnets grew. After quite some time, one adult spotted me, off into the water it went, then the second, both slinking into a channel vanishing into reeds. There, however, views all too brief, but grey fluffy blobs following the adults! Cygnets! Yay, breeding confirmed, a very much welcome new species for my land, top day.
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