Archives: September 2005
Fri Sep 30, 2005
I wonder ...
Having just got back from the Slea and seeing the 2 intruders but no cygnets, I am wondering if we will ever knowingly see this years cygnets again, I feel quite sad if that is the case as I have watched them from egg to flight with one or two potentially disasters avoided by timely intervention by a number of people.
So this picture of the white cygnet fleeing from the 2 intruders may be the last one...
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Thu Sep 29, 2005
Business as usual ...
The brown cygnet was nowhere to be seen this morning, which is very unusual as he/she normally stays on the Slea or goes off with the white cygnet, but it must have gone off on its own today.
The white cygnet was being chased downstream to Cogglesford Mill, well I say chased but probably should say 'followed' as there were no attempts to have a go at it at this time. After a little while the cygnet headed upstream and the 2 intruders followed. It was only when the cygnet got to the Hub that the male intruder decided to have a go...
White cygnet being chased by intruder this morning ...
The white cygnet is very stubborn because he/she (I think it must be a male because of its attitude :) gets chased off but always goes back for more, it almost seems to be saying that it was born and brought up on the River Slea and these intruders are not going to take it over without a lot of annoyances :)
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Wed Sep 28, 2005
I wish I knew what was happening...
Basically the same thing happened today as what happened 2 days ago. The brown cygnet and the white cygnet were chased downstream by the 2 intruders who stopped as soon as they got to the Leisure Centre bridge, I believe this bridge denotes where the 2 intruders think their territory ends. The white cygnet thought he/she wasn't having this and went back upstream to annoy the intruders once again (something this cygnet seems to enjoy). The 2 intruders chased the cygnets back down stream again but this time didn't stop at the bridge and chased them all the way to Cogglesford Mill. The brown cygnet, who is not as brave as the white one, was soon sent packing and he/she flew upstream just past the bridge. Again the 2 intruders treated the white cygnet with respect and all 3 stood their ground with nothing really happening. The white cygnet decided to take off and the 2 intruders also followed just like they did the other day. A couple of laps flying together and then landing just upstream from the bridge.
The white cygnet coming into land today...
The 2 intruders went upstream to the hub and the 2 cygnets went to Cogglesford Mill. The white cygnet couldn't let go though and swam back upstream to annoy the intruders again. The intruders chased the white cygnet back down stream but stopped at the bridge again. I REALLY wish I knew what they all were thinking especially why the 2 intruders have been for 2 flights (that I know of) with the white cygnet - are they chasing it in the air or perhaps just keeping an eye on it ???
I have looked very carefully at my photographic records and can confirm that the 2 intruders are not the same pair as came over to the Slea between February and April. These 2 seem quite young which could explain why they are not that aggressive about the territory they think is now theirs-- YET.
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Tue Sep 27, 2005
Quiet...
It was all quiet on the Slea this morning, the brown and the white cygnet were at Cogglesford Mill and the 2 intruders were at the Hub. The 2 cygnets took off, did a couple of circuits and then headed in the general direction of Mareham Lane lake. I hung around for a while but it didn't seem that the cygnets would be returning in the next little while so I went home :)
The 2 cygnets in the air this morning...
UPDATE: the cygnets seem to have been away all day so I will go down again tomorrow morning to see if they have returned. Also this afternoon there was no sign of the 2 intruders, again I will see what happens tomorrow.
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Mon Sep 26, 2005
What did I say about them not being aggressive ...
I had a very interesting couple of hours this afternoon on the Slea. The brown and the white cygnet were preening themselves by the Leisure Centre, which I think is in the intruders territory. The intruders came along and chased them down stream. Our cygnets went all the way to Cogglesford Mill and the intruders followed, once there the male intruder soon sent the brown cygnet packing and he/she flew upstream to get away.
The 2 intruders were now with the white cygnet and they appeared to be much more tolerant with it and all 3 stayed at Cogglesford for a while without any real antagonism. All 3 then took off (see picture)
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I have never seen this before where 2 intruders actually went flying with the 'enemy' and I am not sure whether they were chasing it or not ??? 10 minutes later all 3 landed, our white cygnet 30-40 yards nearer Cogglesford than the intruders. The intruders then started to swim back upstream where they meet the brown cygnet who dodged past them and the intruders went upstream to the Hub and the brown cygnet continued downstream.
A little while later (after chatting to the Miller at Cogglesford for half an hour) I went back upstream and the brown cygnet was keeping out the way the Cogglesford side of the Leisure Centre bridge, the white cygnet was just past the New Street bridge and seemed to be trying to see how far he/she could go until the intruders came after it. The intruders seemed to tolerate the white cygnet until it came too near and then would start to swim towards the cygnet who then swam a little away until the intruders went back to the Hub ??
The white cygnet is certainly much braver than the brown cygnet and the intruders seem to give it a lot more respect, I wonder whether they think that as its white it may be an adult swan and are then much more cautious because they believe it may fight back ???
All in all it was intriguing even though I don't really know what was going on and the above is only a theory.
Terry
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The white cygnet is back...
Yesterday the brown cygnet was at Cogglesford Mill and the 2 intruders were at the Hub.
Today I parked at Cogglesford Mill and walked upstream to the Leisure Centre without see any swans/cygnets and I wondered if the brown cygnet had flown off but them saw him/her about 150 yds further upstream in the intruders territory so I wondered if the intruders had gone. As I walked towards the hub I saw a white cygnet near New Street bridge, this one hasn't been seen by me for a couple of days so where it goes I don't know but would love to find out. Anyway this strengthened my thought that the intruders may have left but a few more yards walk and I saw them. When they saw the white cygnet, the male puffed himself up to look fearsome and busked towards the cygnet. The cygnet started to swim away but not in any great rush, the male intruder made sure the cygnet was about outside 'Quackers' and then left it alone.
The 2 intruders do not seem very aggressive; assuming they are a pair, my thoughts are that they are very young and inexperienced and just feeling their way through life at the moment.
All we can do is wait and see what happens but I would love to know what has happened to the original Pen and 5 the other cygnets.
The male intruder busking towards the white cygnet.
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Sat Sep 24, 2005
Interesting morning on the Slea...
It was an interesting morning on the Slea today, when I arrived there was only the 1 brown cygnet up near Cogglesford Mill, however I was told that the white cygnet was also there this morning so I assume he/she has gone for a fly around. The 2 intruder swans were just down from the Hub. I watched as the 2 intruders swam up to the Leisure Centre bridge and then turn around. It seems to me that they think the stretch from the Hub to the Bridge is theirs.
Then I noticed the intruders coming into land near the bend at Cogglesford Mill (see above photo), they had a look around and then paddled back towards to 'their' patch, this worried me a little as I know they had to pass the brown cygnet who was between them and the Leisure Centre bridge. I rushed around to try and see what had happened when they met but was too late as they had already passed. The intruders didn't seem to be in an aggressive stance as though they had just had a fight so I have to assume the 2 intruders just swam past the brown cygnet without any problems occurring. This pleased me as it looks like there is at least tolerance between the 2 intruders and the remaining cygnets, I do wonder what would happen if the Pen returns though.
It continues to amaze me what interesting wildlife situations go on along this very small stretch of the Slea if you have the time to take it all in instead of rushing along to to shops and then back home etc as I suppose 90% of the people do.
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Fri Sep 23, 2005
Its all quite civilised ...
I went down the Slea early today (well 8am is early for me :), the 2 cygnets were about 100yds downstream from the Leisure centre bridge and the 2 intruders were about 100 yds upstream of the bridge. They could not see each other but it looks like they will each tolerate the other as long as they don't get too near, so it all seems quite civilised :)
This evening the 2 cygnets were at Cogglesford Mill and the 2 intruders were near the Hub, I just wonder what will be the next thing to happen ?
Some children feeding the ducks and cygnets at the Leisure Centre bridge today.
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Thu Sep 22, 2005
Trouble brewing ???
I went down the Slea again this afternoon to see if any swans had come/departed. I saw a brown and a white cygnet towards Cogglesford Mill and then walked down to the Hub where I found 2 adult swans which are not normally on the Slea. This worried me as I wondered what would happen if these 2 and the cygnets saw each other, probably a fight. One thing that made me think that this might not happen is that the 2 adults seemed quite young to me and therefore may not be too territorial yet. I waited about 1.5 hours to see if anything happened but they seemed to be not only out of sight of each other but also happy to be where they were, so I had to leave them hoping that nothing would happen between them.
On my way back to the car I spoke to a lady (Ann) and a gent (not sure of the gents name) who take as much interest in the swans as I do. Ann said that she had seen the 2 cygnets earlier 'running' on top of the water away from the 2 adult intruders. On reflection I think this may be a good sign that a fight wont break out as all 4 obviously know the others are also on the Slea and seem happy just to keep apart at this time.
Ann also wondered if the 2 adult intruders were the same 2 as visited in the spring. These 2 had chased our resident cob away and also attacked the pen and cygnets who were rescued and luckily reunited with the cob upstream. They certainly could be (its very difficult to identify a swan with absolute certainty) but they didn't seem as aggressive to me, but this could be just down to the time of year. If they are not a 'pair' and are just going around together then I suppose its possible they are 2 of last years Slea cygnets ? but swans do not normally 'pair' up with a mate for 3-4 years.
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Never seen this before...
I have never seen a moorhen 30 foot up in a tree before. Walking along the Slea this morning an adult moorhen chased a '2005 model' moorhen along the river and the juvenile hopped onto an overhanging branch, he then continued to scale the tree and was at least 30 foot up in the air before I carried on my way. The adult didn't chase the juvenile after it hopped onto the first branch so why it continued up the tree I don't know. I have read that sometimes moorhens do actually build a nest and rear young well off the ground in trees.
Only 1 brown swan was on the Slea this morning, the white one on the pond in lollycocks field had also vanished, all I can do is go down there every so often with the hope that some of the cygnets and the pen will return.
I also saw this bird which I assume is a blackbird by its body and mannerisms, but I have never seen on with a head like this before, its not a good image as it was quite dark but I will endeavour to get a better one a.s.a.p
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Wed Sep 21, 2005
Interesting development...
I went down the Slea this morning for the first time in 3 days, there were still only 2 cygnets on the Slea, HOWEVER one was brown and the other white. 3 days ago there were 2 brown cygnets, so either the 2 brown ones have flown away and a white and a brown have returned or one brown has flown away and one white returned ??
I followed the 2 cygnets down stream to Cogglesford Mill and they then took off (see picture)
They flew upstream and out of sight. A minute or so later I saw the white one heading in the general direction of the lake in Mareham Lane. I walked back upstream to the Hub to see if the brown cygnet had landed but he had also gone but not with the white one ? When I was almost back at my car (about 10-15 minutes later) I saw a white swan (I am assuming it is the white cygnet above) fly from the general direction of the Mareham Lake towards the general direction of Priory Lakes at Ruskington.
Having nothing else to do I went to Priory Lakes but not a swan in sight, so I then went to Culverthorpe lakes and again not a swan in sight, so where they go is a mystery to me. I wonder if any of the cygnets or the Pen will reappear on the Slea in the next few days ??? We still don't know if anything has happened to any of them but I will think positively :)
Just as a matter of interest I saw 3 dabchicks on my wander along the Slea, I also saw the mother the other day so hopefully they will stay.
UPDATE:
I went down the Slea again this afternoon and spoke to somone who saw the 2 brown cygnets yesterday and also saw a white one fly in, so there are at least 3 still around. This afternoon I saw a brown cygnet by the Hub and while I was on my way back to the car a white cygnet flew into the pond in Lollycocks field, why it landed there instead of the Slea I dont know, the pond and the Slea are only 150 feet apart ?
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Sun Sep 18, 2005
Just for interest...
Just thought I would upload images of the Dabchicks (aka Little Grebe) and Tufted ducks on the Slea this year, it is a number of years since either of these 2 breed on the Slea in Sleaford :)
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Still No Sign
Still no sign of the Pen and 5 cygnets this morning, only the 2 browny signets are on the Slea, this makes 2 nights they have been 'away', although I am worried about their safety I would be VERY worried if the Pen came back alone, I think she can look after herself so the chances of something having happened to her are hopefully slim.
BUT...I thought I would have a look at the nearest expanse of water to the Slea which is in Mareham Lane, a largish lake. Firstly I must say that telling 1 swan from another is not easy so identification can be very difficult if not almost impossible. But I did see 1 WHITE cygnet on its own at the lake. White cygnets are very rare so I personally think the chances of having another family nearby with a white cygnet (known as a 'Polish' swan) quite small, so without any evidence to the opposite I am 'hopeful' that this is one of the Sleaford cygnets but I obviously cannot be absolutely sure.
My feeling is that this is one of ours, so only 4 more cygnets to track down and also the Pen.
Not a good photo but I am hoping this isnt the last one I get showing ALL the 7 cygnets and the Pen - taken less than 2 weeks ago.
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Sat Sep 17, 2005
Stayed out all night...
I went down the Slea at 8 am this morning and there were still only the 2 browny cygnets, so the other 5 cygnets and the Pen stayed out all night. This worries me a little as I obviously don't know what/if anything has happened, but I would be even more worried if the Pen had come back without some of the cygnets, with her also away they may all be together and hopefully will return today.
I saw 4 of the 6 Dabchicks (aka Little Grebe) which are now as big as mum but a slightly different colour. I also saw mum yesterday and as these are quite hard to see sometimes I am hopeful that all 6 have survived.
I am not sure what has happened to the 6 Tufted ducks and mum as I have not seen these for a couple of weeks. I would not think anything has happened to them on the Slea so perhaps they have flown away, but I hope they come back if they have.
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Fri Sep 16, 2005
A little worried...
Today is quite windy and I am a little worried for the cygnets. When I went down the Slea this afternoon there were only 2 brown cygnets to be seen. Speaking with the Miller from Cogglesford Mill he said that there were more swans a little while earlier practising their take-off. Well I assume that they were not practising but doing it for real as 5 cygnets and the Pen are nowhere to be seen. I am obviously hoping that they are out for a joy ride but the thing that worries me a little is that this must be the first/second/third time in the air for the cygnets and the wind could cause problems especially when coming into land. I may go down again this afternoon to see it any have returned otherwise it will be tomorrow morning.
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Sun Sep 04, 2005
Apology
First an apology because I have not kept the blog up to date this year - sorry :)
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Pen and cygnets recently practising their run up at Cogglesford Mill.
Resume so far this year (2005) About the end of April we had 8 cygnets hatched from 9 eggs. A week or so later the Pen, Cob and cygnets were between the Hub and Cogglesford when 2 interloping swans arrived and fought the Cob who had to flee. The male interloper then attacked the Pen and even tried to kill the cygnets and I personally witnessed 2 cygnets in the interlopers beak as he shook them. To cut a long story short the 8 cygnets and Pen were rescued, the cob was found sulking up stream near Sleaford Castle as he had been beaten in the fight with the interlopers. The Pen and cygnets were reunited with the Cob. If these swans kept upstream everything would be ok but if they went downstream to the interlopers there would be mayhem and most probably deaths.
The interlopers went away, came back and then went away again. Our swan family then came downstream to their normal stretch of the river which was ok as long as the interlopers stayed away, which they have done to date.
One cygnet went missing and I have been told that it had a 'fit' and had to be put down.
The Cob also went missing, I have been told that he broke his leg and was taken away but had to be put down.
This leaves the Pen and 7 cygnets who are all doing well and sometime this month the cygnets should start taking to the air.
The Pen was seen to take the 7 cygnets downstream from Coggledford Mill by walking around the weir, on their return 4 cygnets didn't follow the Pen back past the weir and were stranded. 2 days later the 4 cygnets were getting into a state trying to get up the actual weir itself (instead of walking around) but were just getting drenched and their lives were in danger if they continued. To cut a long story short again, I along with others managed to catch and carry the cygnets around the weir and they then went upstream for a reunion with the rest of the family. So we still have the Pen and 7 cygnets :)
Between the Hub and Cogglesford mill we also had numerous moor hens and coots mate and bring up their young. Last year was the first year for a while that coots had bred on this stretch so hopefully this will now continue each year.
Two EXTREMELY good bits of news is that we also had a female Tufted duck bring up 6 little ones sucessfully, I still see these but as they are now spread out along the river and sometimes hard to spot, I therefore cant verify that the female and all 6 still survive but I do believe that they have. Again it is a long time since Tufted ducks bred on this stretch of the Slea.
The other good news is that a female dabchick (Little Grebe) reared 6 youngsters and again I am unsure how many have finally survived but certainly most, these are even harder to spot than the Tufted ducks. Again it is a long time since Dabchicks have bred on this stretch of the Slea, hopefully this will also carry on each yearl.
That's bringing things up to date but I will try and update this blog more often in future :)
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