I have been meaning to mention that we have a resident breeding pair of gossanders and that this year they have done really well .I last saw their offspring flying low up stream in perfect formation but making quite a stir,all 6 of them. Mum has obviously gone on a well earned holiday!Dad always has one!
On a sadder note we have had our fatalities and the most upsetting was discovered last evening around supper time .I noticed a single mute swan gliding up stream and then disappear out of sight I had not expected to see her a few minutes later come back down stream and get out onto the stone beach and up into the field where she seemed to be grazing in a strange manner.
Later after supper whilst washing the dishes I spotted something white on the side of the river but thought perhaps it was some plastic. I went down as far as I could to check and to my horror saw another swan but this one was most definitely dead.I checked on the first swan and she was still in the field tugging at the long grass in a very strange way.
This morning we were about to try and retrieve the dead swan or at least check its identity, if it had one but it had vanished.I looked up stream and there was the other swan gliding slowly out of sight.I don't know what caused this tragedy but we think perhaps the electricity pilon situated nearby might have been responsible.
Elizabeth Collison
Elizabeth Collison