2013 03 09 15.49.01

is this one climbing up your trellis too?

Oh, I'd take it home like a shot, but they prefer the canal for some strange reason

dont shoot it!!!!!! ;-)) you would be in trouble!!!

how far is the canal? there is one near where i work ~ the swans are on there too but they are scarily protective!

It's approx 1 & a half miles away.
They had 5 cygnets this yr, but poachers done for 4 of them!
They are fiercly protective of their young & were understandably hostile, until the last cygnet could fend for itself.

There were 3 cygnets on the canal here i think, trying to remember now, maybe 4 to start off with? but certainly 3 of them grew to adult birds, only the parents are there now, patrolling the canal!! well, im assuming its the parents?

It will be the parents, Sticki.
They tend to be very territorial & chase off their offspring once they've grown to adulthood.

i thought they might! there are loads of ducks on there too but last year very few ducklings ~ they dont seem to look after their eggs so well?

We get coots and moorhens on this stretch of the canal.
In fact, it's the end of the canal, Sticki.
I must try & get some pics this year.
Strangely, they (the ducklings, I mean) appear to be programmed to follow the first thing they see upon hatching.
Maybe that's nature's way of compensating for fickle parents.
Lol...looks like I've put this comment on the wrong page.

Seal pups do the same thing dont they? follow the first thing they see ~ i think the advice is dont go near them or they will think you are the parent!