Swan Watch and into town and back, Worcester: Monday, 18th June, 2018.

12:15-ish.

16 days old, me.

If I can keep going for another couple of weeks I should be big enough 

by then to fend off those cowin' gulls on me own.

It's funny how popular you are when you have a bag of swan food to dish out.

1:00-ish.

In town at Elgars for a well deserved cup of tea and a spot of lunch.

3:00-ish.

The view from Vicky's Bonce Cam confirms all is well.

Fingers crossed 'til tomorrow.

Birmingham & Worcester (Swan Watch): Sunday, 17th June, 2018.

10:15-ish.

Witton Cemetery.

Fathers Day.

11:30-ish.

With Auntie Louise in Erdington.

4:00-ish.

Vicky feeds the swans and ducks in Gheluvelt Park with Swan Food.

They like it.

15 days old.

Chatting with fellow swan watchers.

Note the council workers in the background who are now removing the nest.

Stuff learnt from today's chats:

There were 7, not 5, eggs originally.

They were laid about 5 weeks ago.

2 eggs were taken by rats.

The first born cygnet was taken in the first 24 hours by a gull.

Our fingers remain firmly crossed for the surviving cygnet.

The nest has been removed (the mallards will miss it).

Feeding swan food to the mallards.

Tasty. Much better than bread.

Swan update, Gheluvelt Park, Worcester: Saturday, 16th June, 2018.

12:00-ish.

Two mallards are using the swans nest as a comfy place to get some rest.

Looks like the swans have finally abandoned the last egg (of which there is no sign).

Mallard nice and relaxed now the swans aren't boppin' him 

every time he came too close to the nest.

Swan family out on the pond.

Take my photo, I'm 14 days old.

Things learnt from chats with folk today:

* there were 3 cygnets but the first one was predated within 24 hours.

* no cygnets have survived in the park over the last 5 years.

We'll keep our fingers firmly crossed then.

Swan watch, Gheluvelt Park, Worcester: Friday, 15th June, 2018.

11:10-ish.

The egg is covered but Mum is not nearby.

Has she finally abandoned the last egg?

She is on an adventure with her cygnet and husband on the other side of the pond.

12:15-ish.

When's the band coming on Dad?

I'm eating grass, me.

Swan update, Gheluvelt Park, Worcester: Thursday, 14th June, 2018.

11:10-ish.

Cygnet is alive and well.

Dad's preening and so only has one eye on it.

Definitely not a narrow boat.

12:05-ish.

Mum is still sat on the nest.

She's the only one with any faith in the remaining egg.

Swan update, Gheluvelt Park, & Croome Park (with Roger): Wednesday, 13th June, 2018.

9:20-ish.
The cygnet is with Dad on the pond.

Mum is still incubating her one remaining egg.
At this point I got chatting to the chap who conducts a weekly bird survey on behalf of the local nature trust and he told me that she laid 5 eggs. He suspects that rats have predated two.
He believes that the remaining one will not hatch now.

11:00-ish.
View across Croome Park towards The Malverns in the west.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Mute swans with four cygnets.

Canada Geese in the shade.

Roger has been told to look intrepid.

Swan watch update, Gheluvelt Park, Worcester: Tuesday, 12th June, 2018.

10:15-ish.

Come on Dad let's go along here.

We're always relieved to see that the cygnet is still alive and well.

Mum has gone for a swim on the pond and left her remaining egg uncovered.

That's a bit worrying.

The swans have eaten the last of Vicky's Swan Food now.

The proud father.

Grey squirrel poses.

1:00-ish.

We're pleased to report that Mum is back on the nest 

and that she hasn't abandoned the remaining egg.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Leaving the park and heading for home.