helenann

By helenann

Seven Swans a Swimming

This morning, we had routine audiology appointments in Alresford. We parked in the Dean, which leads down to the river Arle, outside a lovely old  house with lots of House Martin nests built under the  eaves.  The birds were noisy, and very active, swooping about, because  they were feeding young. Then, suddenly, there was a great commotion as a bird of prey flew among them. It was quite small, mostly brown in colour, and  very agile and acrobatic. After a dramatic minute or two of impressive aerial activity,  the predator flew off; we are not sure if it caught any thing. We think it was a Hobby, which typically eat dragonflies, House Martins and  Swallows. 
We then wandered down  to the  river's edge, where there is popular duck and other  water bird feeding spot. There's even  a box full of small bags of bird food for people to use! Here we met the  proud and  protective Swan parents  and their five cygnets shown in my blip, and we didn't witness any further  avian  dramas.        

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