The patch of snow on the flood plain was slow to thaw at least thats what we had assumed until today Sadly.I was able to make out the snowy white feathers strewn across in a straight line from the river to the center of the field.The size of the wings left behind could only be those of a swan and I can only assume that this was another victim of the electricity pylon slung across the river.
At the beginnig of this week we had seen what we thought was a family of 4 cygnets with two adults.The behaviour of the swans towards one of the cygnets would now suggest that it was not a sibling but an orphan! We had been away for four days and had not seen the obvious drama unfold.
Not a good start to the year
Lis Collison