Cyn's Nature Notes: Swan Antics

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Swan Antics

Down to the river with my son to feed the ducks, however I forgot the bread!

We were well wrapped up and enjoyed the usual sights and sounds of the river, as we headed for home our attention was caught by the antics of a pair of swans. They were banging on the closed door of a barge with their bills, when this had no effect they swam to a window and started banging on that. Still no effect, back to the door. This went on for several minutes with them swimming between the door and window and constantly banging.

Eventually the door swung open and a man appeared, he spoke to them and then moved away, soon reappearing with some bread, the swans became very excited, bobbing their heads up and down quickly, he held a small piece high in the air and commanded, "Speak" they were clearly used to this because they stretched their necks, held their heads and bills high and made a small strangled noise. They were instantly rewarded with bread, this continued for a few minutes and then the bread all being used up, the man shut the door.

The swans clearly wanted more and continued to bang on the door and window, after a few minutes the man reappeared and we watched a second performance.

Serendipity, a clear case of being in the right place at the right time, and most enjoyable.

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About this Blog

When we moved to our present home in December 1987, I was very ill and bedridden. My garden was a life-saver, although it was very different then. The first thing I did was to put up bird-feeders, and long hours were spent lying indoors in a recliner. This was when I discovered many things. Do you know the underside of every blue tit’s tail is differently marked? Gradually, over the years, the garden changed. We put in shrubs and plants that would not only enhance the garden, but would also be good for wildlife. The first rabbit we saw was so joyful for us. The deer eat the flowers, prune the apple trees, eat the marrow, and are wonderful to watch. Foxes have been a major part of our wildlife. We have fed them each night for more than 20 years. They are such a delight, especially in late summer and early autumn when there are youngsters. They behave like puppies and are great fun to watch.

I love all wildlife: the mason bees that nest in the brickwork of the bungalow, the hornets that last year made their home in the roof above our bedroom, the bees currently nesting in the roof above the bathroom. On a hot evening, if you stand quietly in the bathroom, you can hear this amazing sound: it is very rhythmic and reminds me of the waves at the seaside. It is made by the beating of the bees’ wings as they fan their nest to keep the temperature at the right level -- how many people have heard that sound? I feel so privileged.

Obviously, I feed the birds. When I open the window in the morning I call “Come on Bobby and Blackie”, and one followed swiftly by the other they fly immediately to the bird table. Each morning, on rising, I make my way to the kitchen and find the squirrels already sitting on the window ledge waiting to be fed. Winter brings the moorhens and spring time the mallards. Our pond is a poor effort from a human point of view, but wild creatures see it differently. On summer days, the grass snakes spend long hours in the pond: eating the fish, froglets, toadlings, newts, and any other living creature they can swallow. Although I hate to see the pond emptied this way, I do enjoy the snakes and feel they are an important part of the balance of nature in the garden. Watching a dragonfly nymph climbing out of the pond, up a plant stalk, and then over the next few hours gradually transforming into a beautiful dragonfly -- these are contented hours well spent.

It has been my pleasure to write and publish a nature column each month. I am always delighted to hear how much pleasure this brings to my readers. I have often been asked if I have written a book, so I am making more of my writings and photography available through this web site and blog.