Tag: swan

April 22nd – I headed out for an afternoon ride, still tentatively fiddling with some mechanical issues. I first called in to the Watermead swan family, to see if their clutch had hatched yet, but apparently not, but on the way, I found this longhaired hunter stalking a little mallard.

Annoyed I’d spotted him and therefore ruined his chances of a waterfowl for tea, he was hunting not 20 yards from the swan nest. Whilst puss here is no threat to the swans (or the mallard for that matter, despite the seriousness of his intent) I can’t help feeling he’ll be in for a short, painful shock if he fancies a little cygnet.

A swan peck on the head comes very sharp and swan parents don’t mess about!

April 1st – While I’ve been obsessing over leaves and flowers, the canals have, as ever, been doing their own thing, and the birdlife is following it’s spring imperative.

Herons, scarcer during winter, are out and about again, and birds are nesting, from coots to the Watermead swan couple.

Everywhere, life if kicking off again for the coming summer, and I love every single sign of it.

March 19th – I thought today that it was time to check to see if the swans were nesting yet at the Watermead in Brownhills, where they’ve previously raised several successful clutches – and I was surprised and delighted to note that the swans had already rebuilt their nest, and one was sitting.

Swans here always seem to do well, even if they do present a hazard for the canoe club who get pecked if not careful; they get fed and the locals keep an eye on them to see if they’re OK. 

I shall look forward to watching another family hatch and grow on this stretch of canal over the coming months.

January 9th – Later in the day, back in the Black Country, I had to be in Walsall for an appointment, and rode up the canal from Darlaston. It had been raining, and everything was quiet, but near Bentley Bridge by the old Anson Branch, I couldn’t resist crossing the canal bridge to give this cheeky beggar some of my pocket corn stash. One of the 2016 cygnets, he (or she, I can’t tell) is maturing well and in fine fettle.

I note the aggressive begging technique is coming along well too…

December 4th – A bitterly cold day, but it was sunny and bright and I felt Cannock Chase calling me – so I wrapped up warm and went for it.

On the way, checking out the condition of the rosy earthstar fungus at Clayhanger Common, I passed this juvenile swan on the canal between the Pier Street and Catshill Junction bridges. This is very probably one of the large brood hatched here in the summer, which have mostly now migrated into the large flocks at Chasewater and Stubbers Green where they regularly get fed.

Still in juvenile plumage, this was a large, healthy bird, clearly used to admirers as it approached me eagerly chattering for food, yet drifted away when the realisation that I was empty handed dawned.

I’ve not seen many swans on the local canal recently, so this was a pleasant change…

August 27th – As I travelled home along the canal, I listened to the rain singing on the water, and enjoyed the peace and quiet. Near the western side of the Watermead Estate, I came upon the swan family, still at a huge nine, still growing.

They were clearly feeling a bit chippy as momma swan took exception to my footwear and pecked at my feet continually, and the offspring seemed to be quite tetchy as well. 

These gorgeous, truculent birds remain beautiful, and their antics made the afternoon, really, as did the canalside life and noting that the Canal and River Trust cleanup crew – usually mostly volunteer staffed – had been out doing their thing.

Thanks, people.

June 22nd – On the canal at Walsall, the single cygnet family are doing well, and their offspring has positively rocketed in size since I last saw them.

Still travelling in single file with clear purpose, they patrol canals throughout Walsall, and if I stop, they always pop over to seen if I have food.

I love how the little one is resting it’s leg.