Welcome To The Kingfisher Wildlife Diaries – John Bailey
December 17th 2009
A Year of Swans
I'll remember 2009 as the year of swans. I don't think I've seen so many ever. At times, the Kingfisher Lake here at Lyng, on the middle Wensum, has been host to dozens of them. They tend to graze the shallows, mopping up the weed on the far side of the lake away from the apartments. And if they're not there, they're cruising the river just yards away, feeding over the shining gravels that produce such luxuriant week growth.
It was great to see so many cygnets hatch successfully in the spring. It's good to see them now, growing on, looking healthy, preparing for a life of their own.
But, beautiful and noble as swans are, you have to remember that nature can be a savage world. Adult swans, males especially, are aggressively territorial and this summer alone I've seen at least six serious fights between males, disputing territory. One of these fights actually ended fatally.
But my abiding memory of 2009 will be fishing the big Kingfisher Lake at sunset, watching these birds as glorious silhouettes against the glowing gold of the water. Just because we're fortunate enough to have many swans here, I for one will never take them for granted, for me they'll never become common place. If you do stay in our apartments, take a day out just to watch our swans. Like me, you'll never be disappointed.