Since Eric’s unexplained departure on 23rd June, the 6 cygnets have been well-looked after and protected by doting mum, Dotty. Although she still keeps a close eye on them, they are more adventurous and independent now – swimming off to do their “own thing”, exploring all the corners of the pond, away from Dotty. They do, however, spend most of their days paddling up and down the pond under the watchful gaze of Dotty or “sunbathing” on the grassy slope in front of the Leisure Centre.
In early autumn Dotty was giving them flying lessons, which they ignored, just paddling behind her, not bothering to take flight. However, after this initial reluctance to follow Dotty’s example, they increasingly began undertaking their first “test” flights up and down the pond from early September onwards: West to East orvice versa, depending on the wind direction to give them lift!
The cygnets are now almost 6 months old. They still have lots of grey plumage, except for under their wings which are mainly white, noticeable when they flap them prior to flying.
Drama on the pond!
And so, the days merged together with not much excitement on the pond. It is always dangerous to say that and tempt fate as past experience has proved so it was true to form that local residents reported that, on Friday 31st October, all 7 swans flew towards the marsh end of the pond and 2 cygnets overshot their landing on the water, instead landing on Lockharton Crescent, from where an unsuccessful attempt was made to herd them back to the pond.
Dotty and 2 cygnets subsequently returned to the pond, while the other 4 cygnets were seen flying off to the west, over the gym and tennis courts. Despite extensive searches locally and even along the Union Canal as far as Lochrin Basin, the other 4 cygnets were not found.
Then on Sunday 2nd November, 3 cygnets flew in; one of them remained and was reunited / accepted by Dotty. The other 2 flew off. So, currently we have 3 cygnets on the pond – half the original family.
Watch this space…
Meanwhile…
In a separate incident, on Saturday 1st November, a report came in that another adult swan arrived, wings up in aggressive mode. Dotty chased the invader to the nest end, from where it took off over the gym, leaving Dotty in charge once more.
Never a dull moment!
No news was ever forthcoming regarding Eric’s whereabouts. We will never know his fate which is a shame – he was a good swan, looked after his family and always came up for a “chat” when oats and swan pellets were on offer.
The big question, of course, is will Dotty get a partner for the 2026 breeding season and not be chased away by another breeding pair. And when will the remaining cygnets leave the pond and fly off to “pastures new” to make their own life.