Oh my word! Those are some shocking images there Paul! Congratulations on making your 100th post by the way!
Wow, amazing pictures! Thanks for posting them. When I saw the thread title I was dreading what had happened to another swan, very pleased there hasn't been another dog attack.
Wonder what made the swans attack? Were there any cygnets around?
Kingfisher
If you look at the last photo Kingfisher, then the bird on the right looks like a swan cygnet
Don't really know why the duck was being picked on? Maybe due to its colour? The Swan in the last photo is indeed a first year bird (not really refered to as a cygnet at this time of year)
Oh my word! Those are some shocking images there Paul! Congratulations on making your 100th post by the way!
Blimey, already! I must get out more!
Great series! showing us the harder side of life amongst our wildlife....thanks for sharing.
I'm glad the duck lived, and surprised the swans let it get close enough to attack without warning it off. You can understand it with cygnets around, they are incredibly protective of them!
Great pictures!
Guys, i feel i just need to clarify the Cygnet situation. Young swans are only 'cygnets' while they have the grey downy feathers and are quite young and small and yes the adults are very protective while they are at that stage in their lives. Once they have fledged and have their 'adult' feathers they are no longer eally refered to as cygnets. at most they are young swans. The ones in the last photo shown above are probably about 7-8 months old and are fully fledged, although not moulted into fyull adult (all white) plumage. At this age they are known as 'first year' or 'first calender' birds. They are independant and their parents would not be protective of them.
but they are still around the parent though?