A view up the Long Water from the bridge shows the invading male Mute Swan patrolling the water while his mate ...
... is on the gravel strip with the five cygnets.
It's been decided that the orphaned cygnet of the original residents can't stay on the lake by itself. It's tolerated by the other swans and feeding well, but almost certainly the big bully will try to kill it. So it's going to the Swan Sanctuary.
However, there was a mixup in rescuing it today as the other cygnet on the Serpentine, belonging to the pair on the island, was captured by mistake. It's an adventurous young bird and goes off by itself for much of the time. Here it is with its mother.
I also made the same mistake in yesterday's blog, though I have now put in the right picture of the orphan, which is a bit older. Although the island cygnet is the only survivor of four after the bully killed the other three its father is defending it strongly and it has a good chance of survival.
The Canada x Greylag Goose hybrids on the lake are a motley bunch. I don't think these three can be related, but they turn out so various that you can't be sure.
When Great Crested Grebe chicks have grown a bit they follow their parents as they dive, and then start diving by themselves. They're having fun but they're also learning to hunt.
A Moorhen in the Italian Garden crossed the fountain pool with one chick. There may be more in one of the planters.
A Coot pecked irritably at a carp. This year's carp have grown to a foot long, and the number of hungry Cormorants is building up.
The male Little Owl at the Round Pond was on a high branch in the horse chestnut tree.
The female at the Serpentine Gallery was in her usual lime.
A young Reed Warbler came out at the front of the reeds by the Italian Garden.
A Blue Tit in the Flower Walk waited impatiently on the corkscrew hazel bush for me to give it a pine nut.
A Wood Pigeon hung upside down to reach for elderberries. A second later it lost its grip and fell out of the tree.
No latest adventures from the Dabchick?
ReplyDeleteSean
I imagine the chicks' piping will eventually get on the Grebe parents' nerves, but I find it so delightful and pretty.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how it is possible that a lone cygnet, still not fully grown, should be considered a danger by the big brute. That's too much, even for swan bullies' standards. BTW, I assume the excellent folks from the Swan Sanctuary did manage to catch the correct cygnet, right?
Tinúviel
The grebe chicks stop piping when they grow up more, though they are still fed by their parents for some time.
DeleteThe swan seems to deliberately try to wipe out whole families, and cygnets are easy targets.
Good evening Ralph, Are you familiar with a seemingly orphaned cygnet on the round pond? Do you know anything at all about this lovely bird who appears to have been alone since it was very small? There are a number of us keeping a regular eye on him or her, and he or she seems to be doing well. Any information would be appreciated. Many thanks
DeleteThere are two cygnets on the Round Pond now. One escaped being killed by the murderous swan by walking from the Long Water to the pond with its mother. The other is an already airworthy teenager which flew in from some unknown place. I've seen it with an adult female that may be its mother.
DeleteThank you, Ralph, I appreciate your reply and the information you have provided. Our little friend, then, is the cygnet that walked the long walk to the Pond with its mother. Have you seen this cygnet with its mother? I have only seen it with a swan on a couple of occasions. I visit with my husband most days when out for our morning run and we were concerned that it was on its own. Thank you anew, Lisa
DeleteYes, I have seen it with its mother, several times. I think it's all right.
DeleteThank you for confirming. I am relieved and happy to hear this.
DeleteGoodbye Cygnet!
ReplyDelete