Swans Loss

Sun shining and a nice blue sky with contrasting white puffs of cloud.

Had another look at the freshwater lake today to see how the youngsters were coping.
Unfortunately I could only see the one cygnet with the parents very close. I guess pike or some other predator had taken the others . Very sad really and a terrible experience for the parents who cannot do a lot to stop it.

The Goslings at first sight seemed to be doing much better. I counted sixteen with six adults . On second glance though, six of the goslings were much smaller, more yellowish and were not part of the eighteen I counted a few days ago. They were being guarded by two adults and were always a little distance away from the others.
It looks as if the Canada Geese could have lost eight goslings in the last day or so.

The only newcomer around the Lake was a Dunnock.

The Beach yielded up a Lesser Black-backed Gull among the Herring Gulls with a trio of Pied Wagtails scampering and hopping about on the gritty sand.
Turnstones and Oystercatchers which are often seen pecking around the seaweed were both absent and will have to wait till another day.