12!

Last Saturday Chris and I saw 11 cygnets in the pond 10 with one mother and one with the other. Yesterday Wilsden Walker experienced the same situation with just one swan mum but with only 9 youngsters. 
During the week the route around the pond is supposed to be closed currently but we found it open this morning so couldn’t resist taking another look. 
This Pen was across the pond with the youngsters but came when it was clear we had food and yes she had all twelve cygnets. (You can count them here much harder when they are all moving.) That's two broods, her own of 7 and the juvenile female’ 5 ( likely her daughter of two seasons ago). Looks like she is taking charge and making a bit of a crèche for them all. The juvenile female then appeared for the food too as did dad, probably of both broods! Extra

They seem to be all getting on fairly well and it’s great to see all 12 have survived. (There was a bit of swabbing with the ducks and a feisty Coot and the juvenile swan literally threw a duckling out if it’s way at one point - all very Spring Watch )

A cool morning again but the sun has appeared earlier today albeit with a wind, good for getting the washing out and dry.

It was good to be back to nearly full compliment of walkers today with Corinthian Column able to rejoin us at last.
Think there could be quite a number of cygnet blips today!