Stanwick Lakes 2011 (Swan Watch)

It is that time of year again (infact almost to the day). My swan family, swan family 1 from last year, have a new brood of cygnets!! We thought they may have hatched yesterday looking how mummy swan had her wings. We caught them just in time today. Just after my last photo they all tucked under her wings I think we can see 4 so far











I was so excited about seeing them my positioning was poor for the first few! Got there in the end though.

And of course Goose Watch!!







There are a lot of geese and goslings this year

Brilliant AM is it really 12 Months. Those are great captures, and its lovely to see the family again. Thanks for showing us AM

WS

WooHoo.....AM's back on Goose and Swan Watch Like WS I can't believe it's been a year but how great you caught up with family no.1. Hopefully you will be able to keep tabs on them all ( I know you are busy but i'm keeping my fingers crossed ).
They are lovely photo's AM and thanks so much for posting them. They are so cute

littlewid-x-

Great that you'll be doing Swan/Goose watch again Anne-Marie and lovely to see your photos so far.

Lai

I'm sorry there has been no more Swan Watch reports. I'm sad to say that I haven't seen the swans since the morning of 10th June. To start with I thought she might just be hidden on another part of the lake, but nothing I still check every single day and hope. Its just so sad after so many cygnets last year. I do wonder if it has anything to do with the sheer number of geese about. I'm not joking there are loads!! 10+ families all with goslings. I need to do some research to see if they are likely to scare the swans off. I think I may also send an email to the trust who looks after the lake to see if they can shed any light on anything.

Anyway, in tribute to our little cygnets, here are the last photos I got of them.

That really is a shame AM. I suppose there may be some hope she has hidden them away some where, but it's a long time without a sighting. An email to the trust could be a good idea, they may be able to come up with an answer, and also know if the number of Geese are having an effect on the Swans
WS

What sad news Anne-Marie - I do hope it isn't bad news and that you get a reply from the Trust.

Lai

It is good if the swans moved to protect their young and they are now safe. I just hope that is the reason and there is nothing sinister.

Fingers Crossed xxx

SM

I've emailed them, fingers crossed for a reply.

There is another family further down in area where we don't normally walk. We have discovered they have 8 cygnets. They are a fair size now as well things aren't all bad :)

That's good news -

Lai

Lovely to see those last two photos Anne-Marie. I do hope they are ok and that mum has just moved them to a safe place. Like the rest of the guys I hope the trust responds to your email with good news, it would be horrible if anything had happened.
Great to know there is another little family though, fingers crossed they all do well.

littlewid-x-

Well I never got a reply for the trust that runs the lake!

BUT!!!!

Mummy swan (assuming Mummy swan, I didn't get close enough to check the beak) was there with two babies on Monday evening. Obviously with two dogs in tow I didn't have my camera but I was over the moon to see them. I wonder if she lost the remaining babies the last time I saw her ... and maybe even partner as the other swan was nowhere in sight. At least I know they are about and hopefully they will re-appear next week (both parents and babies) when I can have my camera with me

Great to here some of them have reappeared, but makes you wonder what on earth happened!!!

SM

Well thats some good news AM, but a bit of a poor do on the trust not responding. You'd think they would be only to happy to encourage questions, and news from people that use the site
WS

Shame the Trust never got back to you Anne-Marie. As WS say's, you would think they would encourage the interest, a bit of a poor show I think.

Glad you got to see Mummy Swan and babies. Lets hope you are able to see them again next week and hopefully get some pics. Thanks for letting us know.

littlewid-x-

Well the swans are still about but now only have one baby. They actually just abandoned the other one. We saw it happen!!! At the time, we were hoping it would climb out the water and follow the others into the next lake, but it didn't. It just kept calling for its parents.

As we were walking around the lake, the ranger stopped and checked on it. We had a chat with him when we got back to the car park and he confirmed there was nothing he could do and had to let nature take its course. Needless to say it must have done as its not been seen since

The other swan family which I think I have mentioned before, still have their 8 cygnets. Got some photos of them so I shall post them

Thats a real shame AM, I wonder if something was wrong with it and the parents knew and thats why they abandoned it. it must have been heartbreaking for it and for you to see as well, nature is cruel sometimes isn't it.

Good to know the other family are doing well though and look forward to seeing the pictures.

littlewid-x-