The Hope Mill Lane swans

A bit of an emergency blip as I had a busy evening ahead attending an important council meeting.  I drove before dusk to pick up Helena from her Monday afternoon teaching job and gave myself enough time to stop by the bridge over the River Frome where Hope Mill Lane crosses it.  

As I expected the two swans that own this stretch, with its tree lined banks and back gardens running down to the water, were riding the ripples about a hundred yards upstream.  As soon as they saw me they set off to check me out for food, as I'm sure they do to many people who walk by.  I don't feed them which probably explains their rather severe looks and their slightly raised wings.  Soon after this they climbed quickly out of the water and up the bank, before one of them headed straight for me on its big webbed feet in a very ungainly but somewhat threatening manner.  I have had lots of run ins with these two, who sadly never seem to be able to raise any young.  

I rather liked the symmetry of theme here as they swam close by each other as usual, but in opposite directions.