A Windy Day

It was windy this afternoon at work when I went for a walk with a colleague to see the swan family. I haven't seen the cygnets for just over 2 weeks and they have changed so much. The cygnets have stronger looking chests and lower necks - and their necks are getting much longer and their wings are developing. They are a mix of downy baby feathers and grown up feathers - so looking a bit scruffy. Mrs Swan is still very much on guard with one eye open as she was resting.
The coots brought out their three baby coots - and my colleague wanted to scoop them up and take them home. Luckily for them she didn't want to get into the pond to collect them. My colleague then chased off a seagull who was standing too close to the duck with her 10 ducklings, who was trying to get them into the reeds. I stood guard as the duck led her ducklings to safety. She did have 13 ducklings 2 weeks ago and she lost all of her first brood ...

So why the blip of the reeds - I don't know. Maybe it shows how windy it was today - and rather than warning us that Mary Poppins will be leaving soon when she's satisfied with her work - it will be the cygnets flying off.