May 3rd – Spotted in the dusk, swans nesting. Frantically busy in the dusk, they’re on a mission to obey their biological imperative. Their nest is just in front of the Watermead estate in Brownhills, 20 yards of so from the canoe centre.
That’ll make for an interesting introduction to birdlife for some young canoeist…
June 4th – A terrible day of botched plans and failed attempts. However, the riding was good. Heading out to Chasewater late morning, I noticed that as the abandoned swan nest on the canal near Sadler Road sinks, it’s now evident that they had eggs for sure. There seem to be three remaining, but some could have been lost to vermin and predation. I have no idea why they were abandoned. It’s silly, really, but this makes me very sad when I think about it. But it’s just nature.
May 17th – Sadly, I have to announce that Mr. and Mrs. Swan seem to have abandoned their nest at the back of Sadler Road. I’ve popped past a couple of times this week, and although in close proximity, neither bird has been sitting, and I think they’ve abandoned the eggs, but can’t see from the opposite bank. I know there were eggs, as I saw the female fretting, turning them last Friday. Either they’ve been predated by rats or (very brave) foxes, or have just been barren, I don’t know which. I feel oddly bereft by this, as I was so looking forward to recording the growth of the cygnets… yet this couple had a false run last year, too. Maybe they aren’t old enough yet, or just haven’t got it together. Sad.
May 13th – I returned via the canal. Not to check out the swans, whose eggs I now felt lost, but to best get some respite from the biting headwind and ride some level ground. Passing the nest, I was shocked and surprised to see the female back on the nest, fast asleep, with her partner milling around foraging in the nearby reeds. I don’t know if this is normal swan behaviour or not, nor if the eggs will survive the periods of their mother’s absence. Can anyone help here? I found the whole thing quite baffling…
May 13th – I checked out the swans again today. When I passed by at about 2pm, neither bird was on the nest. Had predators had the eggs? Had Mrs. Swan decided they were barren and not to hatch? I’d been really looking forward to seeing the young hatchlings and it seemed all was lost – the pair were loafing in a garden don the canal bank. What could have gone wrong?
May 12th – I took great ride out through South Staffordshire, but it started by checking out the swans on the canal at the back of Sadler Road in Brownhills. I was concerned to see both birds off the nest, and feeding from bread left by walkers nearby. `it was a warm day, but having seen Mrs. Swan fretting over her clutch of eggs the evening before, I felt sure this was bad…. I went on my way with a somewhat heavy heart.
May 11th – At least I know now that Mrs. Swan has eggs. When I took a look tonight, the nest site behind Sadler Road, Brownhills, still had no hatchlings, but mum was standing on the edge of her nest turning the olive-couloured eggs in a gentle, determined fashion. I hope they’re OK. I didn’t know they did this, but having spoken to a seasoned birder since, it seems this is perfectly normal. Here’s hoping for little ones soon…
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?
April 7th – As is customary when you buy a new camera, one of two things happens. It’s either dull and overcast for days afterwards, rendering all your handiwork and testing grey and horrid, or you take hundreds of pics not having spotted the packaging fluff on the lens wrecking every image. I think this time, we’re settling for the ‘dull’ option. I set out yesterday lunchtime with a heavy heart; it was drizzling steadily and Brownhills looked dark and moody.
I was cheered, however, by Mrs. Swan, who was still sitting intently in her impressive nest at the canal bank at the rear of Saddler Road. She’s had a couple of dry runs in previous years, but I think this could be her first clutch. She seems to be shuffling a lot, and quite concerned for what’s beneath her. In previous years, pairs of swans here have had broods as great as ten. I feel unusually gripped by this… it’ll be interesting to see how the couple do this year. At least the nest this time is well out of reach of foxes and rats.
March 25th – It must be spring, the swans are back. This young pair built a nest last year, but didn’t raise a brood. Common behaviour in young swans, they often ‘practice’ for a couple of years before raising young. Mrs. Swan was still building her huge nest in the reeds at the back of the houses on Sadler pad, near Catshill in Brownhills. Carfully pulling stalks and fronds of reed and placing them around her, her mate drifted idly on the water, one leg up on his wing, unpeturbed. Swans are remarkable birds.
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