Tag: cygnets

May 4th – The swan family from the new pool in Clayhanger, whose four hatchlings I noted earlier in the week, have somehow moved the 30-odd meters to the canal, and were up near Walsall Wood Bridge, just near the High Street, when I spotted them yesterday evening. Clearly growing and bright as buttons, the little grey and white cygnets were clearly being taught to forage by mum and dad, who seemed to be finding clumps of vegetation for them to sort through, although their offspring didn’t seem too interested. Swans typically live on algae, reed grasses and small bugs and tadpoles, so learning to forage is critical.

Further up the canal in Brownhills, Mrs. Swan is still sitting. She seemed unsettled yesterday. Hatching must be imminent, I’m sure…

May 2nd – First of the year. These four healthy cygnets are with their mum near the central island on the new pond in Clayhanger, behind the big house. Safe from foxes and predators, they should be fine. The pair nested in the reeds near the island. Four isn’t a huge clutch, but it’s respectable. I was 30 metres away on the opposite side of the pool, with dad hissing at me from the other side of the reed bed. He wasn’t screwing around.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Swan up the canal at the back of Sadler Road was fast asleep on her nest, no sign of hatching there, yet…

April 28th – I see Mrs. Swan is still sitting on her nest at the canal bank at the back of Saddler Road, Brownhills. She must have eggs there, this has gone on too long for a dry run. One or other of the couple has been on that fantastic reed construction continuously for weeks now. I’m getting quite gripped by the suspense, now. Formerly, swans here have had very large clutches – one year, there was a mum with nine cygnets. I’m interested to see what happens now, and have started taking diversions down the canal just to check up. ho needs reality TV when you’ve got reality nature on your doorstep?

May 26th – On a windblown canal near Catshill Junction, I noticed the swans had two very young cygnets. These cute balls of grey fluff were relaxed and happy to be fed by their parents, who didn’t show any of the usual signs of swan aggression towards me. Not sure if this is the pair from by the Watermead Estate or the former mill at Catshill, but it’s nice to see. I do find myself wondering why we’re no longer seeing the broods of 8 and above as we did a few years ago, though.