Sleeping Beauty........

This years nest here on the Moat at Fort Brockhurst is in a more precarious position than usual.

Usually, the swans build their nest in the inner bank of the moat making it inaccessible to members of the public, this year, it's on the outer bank.

The nest is actually no more than six feet from the road side, making it a prime target for egg collectors, or easy target for anyone who wants to harm the swans or damage the eggs that the swans are incubating.

Hopefully all will be well.

Up to now I haven't actually seen the cob on the nest it's been all down to the pen so far.

I'm not sure how many eggs there are in total, I've only  seen one so far this year, that one was not quite covered by the pen's feathers. 

Last year this pair managed to rear six cygnets, who all stayed on the moat until the adults asserted their territorial dominance, driving the cygnets away.

I'm going to try and visit the nest a couple of times each  day until this years cygnets appear.

j.

Hope to get some decent shots of the youngsters once they hatch.