Swan watch - From Stanwick Lakes

Ok, set myself up for this one nicely. However they are so adorable, how could I not share?

The swans have been sitting here for quite a while now, when I went up on Friday I notice an egg shell out of the nest. As you can imagine this made me very excited at the prospect of finally seeing so newly hatched cygnets

That's such a lovely photo ..................................................... more please ................................................


Lai

Went to the lake bright and early on Saturday to see if I could spy the cygnets and first thing i saw was an empty nest.



Slowly walked up to the bank and peered over the edge and this is what I saw.









Heheh! They are just so cute. Didn't get there yesterday, but I will be up there this evening with camera for Swan and Goose watch!! There are two other swans nesting so I'll be checking on them too!!

Oooooo you've got to keep us posted on this one AM. Lovely photo, but dont get to near they can get nasty when they have young so be careful
WS

Oh no, I won't!! They hiss enough when they don't have babies!! Luckily they are down quite a bank so can't get close to them anyway oh they are so cute!!

Those cygnets are just so adorable looking - thanks so much for all the photos.

Lai

We still have 6 cygnets!!

They were all in the bigger lake today. After feeding, they headed over to the waters edge, got out, crossed the path and went into the smaller lake which holds the island where their nest is. I don't know if they headed back to the nest as it was over the other side to where we are (used the digital zoom on the camera, apologies for the poor quality)



Bottoms up from babies

Oh my!

Aren't they just the most adorable balls of gray fluff you have ever seen. They are perfect.

This will be a great thread to watch as they grow. Hopefully you will be able to keep up with them AM. No pressure

Thanks for sharing.

SM

No pressure at all!! They really are adorable though!! The cutest things I've seen for ages!!!

If you want to see them SM, they are in the lake behind the visitors centre and they nest in the lake to the right of that!

Excellent. Thanks for that AM. I was hoping to get out with the camera this weekend (depending on the weather!), might head to Stanwick.

SM

Oh WOW, what beautiful pictures and adorable Cygnets, they are simply lovely Anne-Marie, so excited about this thread. Cygnets are just the cutest aren't they, I love the bottoms up picture it so made me smile. Thank you so much for starting this thread, it's going to be a lovely one to watch, hopefuly they wont go into hiding like the Geece and Goslings did and I'm keeping my fingers crossed you are able to catch up with them too......it's like our own little Spring watch.

littlewid-x-

Ok, I got a bit snap happy last night so still sorting through photos. Pleased to say all 6 cygnets were there. Also one more family, with newly hatched cygnets still in nest ... we counted 4! Will post in a bit

Excellent AM. Always like it when you are snap happy!

Another new brood of sygnets as well, fantastic.

SM

I'll start with a picture from our new family. She is incredibly well hidden!!

And on to our first family.





'What you doing mum?'



'So it goes a bit like this?'

Those are wonderful photos Anne-Marie - i just love those little cygnets what a brilliant photo of mum with her b.. in the air - that was a fantastic shot.

Thanks for keeping us up to date.

Lai

TWO families to watch, how lovely Anne-Marie. I'm pleased that all 6 cygnets are all ok and hope the same goes for our new mums cygnets too. Wonderful pictures again and like lai I love the one of mum B.. in air and the cygnets look so cute don't they. Loving this thread, be as snap happy as you like......more piccies please.

littlewid-x-

Brilliant pics AM, and a new family to watch as well. It's really great to see them coming on. They are doing better than the Mute Swan family on S W. They started with 7 eggs, and their now down to one cygnet . That Swan's a lady after my own heart Bottoms Up is my favourite saying
Thanks for all the pics AM
WS

Family 1 (6 cygnets) had gone to bed when I arrived at the lake yesterday! No pictures of the cygnets, but we did spy them under her wings when she moved them. She was to darn quick for a photo though!!



Family 2 (4 cygnets) were not about when we arrived. We popped to have a look just as we were leaving and she was back on her nest. No sign again of cygnets, but would imagine they were all tucked up for the night! No picture of her because the reeds are just too tall and I haven't figured out how to focus through them yet!!

Family 3!! yes there is a family 3!! We think again 4 cygnets, but only got three in the photo. These hadn't hatched on Wednesday as she was standing and we could see the eggs!!



She is very well hidden and had to get on my bum and pull branches out of the way to get this snap!!

lovely photos

Lai

Brilliant Anne-Marie, 3 families to watch, we are being spoilt but I love it.
That last photo is so beautiful, those cygnets are so adorable. Thank you again for keeping a check on them all and posting the pics, your doing a fantastic job.

littlewid-x-

Oh too many photos!!!! Hehe!

Family 1.
All 6 cygnets still present and correct. Do swans recognise people because they are very comfortable with us around but as soon as someone else comes past they swim further away?

Starting with a video clip. Click on it to view








Up to the bank for a little rest in the sun




Back out for another swim

No sign of family 2 yesterday. We haven't worked out where they head from their nest. As soon as I find them I will be able to get some piccies!!

Family 3! 4 Cygnets. Again these were sunbathing. Mum and Dad are very tame and will normally feed from your hand (I've never tried it) didn't want to get to close but managed to get some nice snaps as I arrived, and when I left!









The proud parents






I'm determined to get a photo of a cygnet either on Mum or Dad's back or poking out from under a wing! That would be wonderful!!

Lovely photos - they really are gorgeous. That would be amazing to get some pics of them on mum or dads back - very Springwatch - can't wait for the next installment.

Lai

Just brilliant Anne-Marie, again wonderful pictures you are spoiling us and I love it, cant get enough of these gorgeous Swans and their Cygnets, I just love the proud parents photo. Again thank you for posting them and yes it would be amazing to get a picture of one of them on either mum or dads back.....no pressure Anne-Marie.

littlewid-x-