Look what I've got!

Mother and seven cygnets on Driffield Beck

Saturday 3rd October 2015

A dull, cool day today, big change from yesterday. We visited Bell Mills Garden Centre this afternoon and to our surprise swimming along the Driffield Beck was mother, father and their seven cygnets. My image shows mother and the cygnets; father was about twenty metres ahead looking for danger. We have been observing the swans over the months and it is the first time I have seen all seven cygnets. It was as if the mother had brought her young to show us. It is good to see that the swan population has increased, but what I did notice was both parent birds and five of the seven cygnets have developed 'Angel wing'. Apparently, this condition can be passed on genetically or as a result of poor diet and too much protein. It is caused by rapid growth of the wings when the bones cannot support the feathers. It means the birds will never be able to fly. Read more about the condition here.