A family of swans caught by the swan uppers three weeks ago now appear to have six cygnets. The swans were initially seen with four cygnets before and at the swan upping, but they have since been seen with six cygnets.
I was told that the swans had been using the same territory as the family with four cygnets, from Abingdon Bridge to Wilsham Reach. Today, I saw the swans myself. One adult swan was preening at St Helen’s slipway; the other was out with six cygnets. I could see that at least four of the cygnets had rings, suggesting that they were caught by the swan uppers.
Two cygnets may have joined the family. Has anybody a better explanation of what has happened?
That’s been puzzling me since I saw two adults and six cygnets in the stream by Thames Street a fortnight ago. I had seen the pair with four cygnets by the wharf a few weeks ago. The pair of swans that live in the Abbey Stream had three cygnets but in recent days I have only seen one. Is this a coincidence?