A swan (pen?) has nested on one of the small islands just below the weir. She'd clearly been sitting for a while by the time I arrived. She pulled some more nest material from the matted reeds, then she dipped her beak into the river, and raised her long neck several times to swallow. Much to my surprise, she then left her eggs exposed in the bright sunlight and paddled off to forage for food. My offer of piece of apple was rejected, and she must have been gone for at least half an hour. I worried about the dangers of passing dogs: her nest wasn't more than a good jump or splash from the bank. But I guess she was never far away - and maybe he (the cob?) was too. The white water is falling down the weir, top right. |