StoneRoad2013's photos with the keyword: Cygnus olor

At least ten adult swans are floating just beyond West Strand. I haven't counted the mated pair that are currently feeding on the far side of the pontoon to which the boats are moored ...

Six juvenile swans - these cygnets are the first that I've seen in Whitehaven in 2025. I was mildly worried that the bird flu had meant disruption to the breeding, so I was pleased to see these. When I first looked, they were lined up and all were nibbling at the weed fringe ... but it took me a while to get the camera out & into action. The wall is the inner [town] face of Lowther Basin in the Marina at Whitehaven.

The first stop on our "Sojourn Down South" was at Manton Bay, Rutland Water. The main point of the visit was to see Maya, 33(10) and their FOUR chicks [not long after we left, one probably did a proper first flight]. I've watched events on this nest via webcam for some years. This is the view form one of the other hides in Manton Bay - featuring mum swan and her three cygnets, a diving duck and what I think is a white / little egret in the right background. It was very hot, with only a little breeze. Also saw a lot of butterflies and a few bees.

Looking under the bowsprit on Island Breeze at the Old Quay watchtower's reflection, then noticed these four swans as they crossed over the waterway. The last one, by the pontoon is "busking" - a territorial or dominance display.

This morning's tide is very high, so part of the C2C sign is underwater.

part of the local swan population, plus a load of immature herring gulls.

Incoming - two swans just landing ! 15 swans - I think three or four of them were juveniles, as in still had grey / cygnet coloured plumage. Yes, the water is still orange with "rust" from mine water, and has been since about November 2022. Some of the swans are somewhat stained, but a trip out to sea seems to get them clean again.

A group of mostly adult swans on the little beach in the Lime Tongue corner of the Inner Harbour, a few more are in the area. Total swans I could see was 14 - there's another pair up by the Crow's Nest. Note that the Swans - and the beach sand - are getting stained, even over here, by the ferric oxide coming in from the Bransty Beck culvert.

Almost 100% sure that these are Lord Greedy-guts and his mate Lady Quiet. [3 of 3] Their behaviour was exactly as remembered when offered a small amount of bread crust. Since they have survived the lean times of the covid pandemic, and seem to have "got away with it" in terms of bird flu, when we re-start our boating visits as the 2023 refit comes to a conclusion, I'll stock up on some suitable feed for them.

Almost 100% sure that these are Lord Greedy-guts and his mate Lady Quiet. [2 of 3] Their behaviour was exactly as remembered when offered a small amount of bread crust. Lord GG having a go, he's a bit out of practice ! Since they have survived the lean times of the covid pandemic, and seem to have "got away with it" in terms of bird flu, when we re-start our boating visits as the 2023 refit comes to a conclusion, I'll stock up on some suitable feed for them.

Almost 100% sure that these are Lord Greedy-guts and his mate Lady Quiet. [1 of 3] Their behaviour was exactly as remembered when offered a small amount of bread crust. Since they have survived the lean times of the covid pandemic, and seem to have "got away with it" in terms of bird flu, when we re-start our boating visits as the 2023 refit comes to a conclusion, I'll stock up on some suitable feed for them.

Selection of mainly juvenile swans [last year's cygnets] plus a few fully adult birds, one of the males is busking as he approaches the three with their beaks together.

This is "our" pair of swans - they spend a lot of their time around the West Strand. We have nick-named them Lord Greedy-guts and Lady Quiet. He will take food from you but still snatch, and she has a gentle chirp to say hello to you. If they see us walking along the pontoon, they often come across to see if we have anything ... they haven't got to the stage of knocking on the boat's hull, yet !

Handfeeding "our" pair of swans - they shared one slice of fresh bread. We usually have more appropriate things for them. It really was almost dark and they were relaxed without the rest of the Marina herd competing.

Feeding the marina swans, 11th December 2016 - actually, we gave them some old breakfast cereal, not bread. Several cobs (males) are displaying to each other and the pens (females) with half-raised wings, this is "busking" but the wing posture can be used to "wind-surf" as well. There are several established pairs, but also several non-breeding adults, juveniles and cygnets in the marina population.

Feeding the marina swans, 11th December 2016 - actually, we gave them some old breakfast cereal, not bread. Several cobs (males) are displaying to each other and the pens (females) with half-raised wings, this is "busking" but the wing posture can be used to "wind-surf" as well. There are several established pairs, but also several non-breeding adults, juveniles and cygnets in the marina population. The boat visible is "Saltire" , she is an ex-lifeboat.

This many swans probably counts as a herd - guesstimated around 50 head ! They seem to be hoping that some of the tourists will feed them ...