HEST BANK AND TRYING TO SAVE A CYGNET

A pleasant start to the day but somewhat distressing later.

Despite it being yet another grey gloomy day, at least you could see over The Bay a little bit today, I gave myself a kicking and decided I had to go out.  

Every Sunday we drive home from Mum's via Hest Bank, but after Mum's friend Gladys, who lived there, died we've never really visited Hest Bank itself.  So I decided today was the day.

I pulled up outside the Micropub by the railway crossing.  I would have crossed but the barriers were down and there was space there.

I then walked over the crossing onto the foreshore.  Took in my surroundings, very grey and gloomy but still lots of feeling of space and quietness.  I went into The Shore Cafe for a cappuccino and toasted tea cake.  I wasn't expecting much as the cafe itself has the feeling of a sort of transport cafe - but actually the cappuccino was fabulous, lovely and frothy and not weak, the toasted tea cake was a really good one.

After that I walked along the pathway by the shore then back along the pebbled beach taking just a few shots.  Not worth taking the view today but still some bird life, mostly redshanks I think, and some interesting things.

I then decided I would visit the Canal, so walked up Station Road.  It's not far.  I walked a little way in the Lancaster Direction.  All very pleasant, some bird life and quite a few boats all moored up and secured for the winter.

Then I walked back, past the Hest Bank entrance and headed towards Carnforth way.  I came across a few people stood looking at a cygnet on the far bank. Well I think it is still a cygnet as it still has brown feathers but also has a lot of white ones, so almost grown up I think.  It was obviously in distress as it was tangled in some plastic tape of some sort.  Too deep for anyone to get to it and no boats handy that could be used.  The cygnet was in some reeds near a house but that was all shut up and noone obviously there but someone said they would go round and see  if they could get hold of someone.  Someone else said they lived nearby and would contact the RSPCA when they got in.  Another couple was trying to help by making up a sort of rope from more plastic and tape with a weighted glove, then threw it at the cygnet trying to bring it close to us, but all they were doing was distressing it more, so I think I persuaded them to stop.  

I then decided I would trying to contact the RSPCA myself and  not just leave it to someone else.  It took a long time and lots of robots telling to press 1, 2, 3 or 4 several tims before I actually spoke to a person.

They took all the details, sent me a link so I could pinpoint exactly where I was and then said they'd sent to out marked as an emergency.  Whilst talking to them I noticed another cygnet behind that one and that was sadly dead.  The RSPCA lady said it would depend on capacity and she couldn't give a time.  So I waited a while, then went on up to The Hest Bank Inn for a sandwich and a drink before coming back.  The cygnet was still there but everyone else had disappeared.  I was there in total for about 3 hours and could do no more, so sadly had to come away.  As I did so I noticed someone taking a picture on a tablet of one of the Hest Bank bridge with a uniform on and noticed he was from the Canal and River Trust.  So I reported it to him and he said that the RSPCA may well contact them to look into it anyway.

Now I'm home and I've also been on the RSPCA Blackpool and North Lancs Facebook page and messaged them to.  So I'm afraid there is nothing else I can do but it's left me feeling rather distressed and sad.  The people that lived nearby said they would come back regularly to check to see if it had been freed - I do so hope they do that.  Was there something else I should have done, or someone else I should have reported it to. I don't know.  I Googled it and Google said report it to the RSPCA, which is what I've done.

I did take a photo of the cygnet (almost a grown swan I think) in case one was needed (see extra) hope it doesn't upset you.

I'm now going to have a cup of tea and try and not feel so distressed about it all.

Do take care and stay safe and I will see you all tomorrow.