It’s getting harder to mow the top lawn. It’s not so bad when the female swan is sitting on the eggs, but the male is very aggressive, and I decided to leave the bit nearest them
This morning we watched Mrs S get up from her beautifully soft nest, carefully turn and then cover the eggs. She stopped to take a drink from the ‘Miniature Heroes’ water container that the neighbours have thoughtfully provided, and then advised Mr S that she was going to cool off and it was his turn to sit in the heat
At first he looked a bit surly. But she wasn’t stopping so he stomped over, resigned
He hesitated, looking at the nest
He looked at me. I nearly backed off
He looked at the nest again. She made her break, waddling down to the river
And then, in a very un-swanlike manoeuvre he sort of ‘flumped’ down over the eggs, arse in the air, and settled himself in. It was less than graceful
Of course, he soon recovered his composure, and looked serene
My neighbour tells me that swans, like dogs, cannot sweat. When they are hot they open their mouths and they pant. They have picked a particularly sunny spot to nest in, and I imagine that she really needed to cool off. I was tempted to join her…
Poshbird with Passion 