Out walking recently I encountered a couple of old friends of this blog....
....the pair of Mute Swans who raised six cygnets last summer. The family have now departed the tender care of their parents - chased off by their father in all probability. But the bright winter sunshine has already turned the thoughts of the parents to this year's brood perhaps; the male was passing choice pieces of weed to the missus when I saw them at Long Meadow.
Long Meadow
The meadow is an old water-meadow, a phrase often used and heard but seldom understood. These riverside meadows were designed so that they could be flooded throughout the harsh winter months. This was excellent news for the many waders and ducks that flourished on these lands despite the attentions of the wildfowlers. But the real reason for the flooding was to keep the ground just a degree or two warmer, giving the grass an earlier start to its growing season. Interestingly the land on the opposite side of the river is being returned to its former glory, not for duck-shooting or for early pasture, but as a nature conservation area.
To see earlier posts about the swan family click on the 'Swanwatch' label to the right of this post.
Take care.
Wonderful to see old friends again! Chasing away the children is behaviour I have witnessed among humans as well. I know a family whose sixteenth birthday present to their many children was to throw them out. Personally I could not imagine doing so to mine.
ReplyDeleteI am always impressed at governments returning tracts of land to nature.
I still can't get used to considering mute swans as native fauna. We see them in parks and zoos with pinioned wings so they stay put. Bless the government that continues to set aside land for nature in the face of expanding populations and economic panics.
ReplyDeleteJohn, your photo of the swan pair is excellent. They posed for you and the light is terrific. All in all, just about perfect.
ReplyDeleteThe swans are beautiful. I would enjoy having a few moments with them to photograpgh.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of the swans,John. We have beautiful water meadows around Salisbury and our village is taking over the care and ownership of a small section, to make it into a Nature Reserve. Jane x
ReplyDeleteLovely photo of the swans. It's good to hear that part of the land is being returned to water meadow too.
ReplyDelete...happened across your blog. Looks like lots of interesting posts to explore. Love the swans. The white blossoms look much like a fruiting blossom i.e. stone-fruit or even apple perhaps? Life regenerates (maybe a differing post to this, I'm not sure which I'm answering on now), and the lady-beetles, both lovely captures.
ReplyDeleteThe Cob is quite ruthless in chasing off their immature offsprings to the point of killing them if they hang around and put up a fight.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent image of the Swans John. The Mute Swan pair at a lake/pool that I visit had four Cygnets last year and they are still with their parents, no doubt they will soon be sent packing.
ReplyDeleteInteresting information about 'water-meadow', thanks. Good to read about the nature conservation area too!
I dare say that now this cold snap has arrived Mr Swan has given up passing Mrs Swan these goodies - he will no doubt wait for warmer days to arrive John.
ReplyDeleteI am happy for the wildlife... we need to be good stewards of the land for them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments. I didn't realise that the cob could be quite that ruthless, Roy, though having seen the vigour with which they chase the youngsters it doesn't surprise me. The land returning to a Nature Reserve is an initiative from a large farming company, though I suspect that government grants and public image are involved in the decision - the birds won't care about that though!
ReplyDeleteNice to make your acquaintance, Carole.