The Lone Cygnet

Amongst Talkin Tarn's 'residents' is a pair of swans. Every year they produce a new 'brood' and it is always a delight to watch them as they bring up their youngsters.

Most years, the pair have done well but last year, sadly, only one signet survived.

Here is the cygnet, photographed close to the edge of the Tarn where it had been taking food from passers-by. Notice the mixture of grey and white feathers as it had still to reach maturity. When it did so, however, it was obliged to 'fly the nest', leaving the parents to concentrate on the next season's brood.

The good news is that this year they have hatched 6 cygnets and so far all 6 are doing well.

They grow incredibly fast and I have been taking pictures of them since they first appeared on the Tarn with their parents. Watch out for the series of photos coming next .....

Proud Parents

Amongst Talkin Tarn's 'residents' is a pair of swans. Every year they produce a new 'brood' but this last year only one cygnet survived. Swans are naturally protective of their young, but this year the parents have more cause than usual with just the one youngster left to protect. The parents are never very far from their offspring but the cob (father) seems to spend most of his time with his feathers fluffed up and wings semi-arched as he swims ahead and monitors for would-be predators. If he sees another swan (and there have been several that 'drop in' to the Tarn on a regular basis) he picks up speed and swims very aggressively in their direction. I've seen this happen countless times in recent months and it's truly admirable how hard the pair work to protect the one cygnet they have left. Here is a short video clip I took where you the cob's pace visibly picks up ... the pen (mother) and cygnet following a short distance behind.