12/06/2026
🦢 It’s that time of year that sees mute swans (Cygnus olor) giving birth to their cygnets. The male (cob) starts to build the nest, which is finished by the female (pen). In ideal conditions it’s a large mound, with a hollow for the eggs.
🥚 The pen then lays an egg around every two days until her clutch is complete and then spends around 35 days on her eggs, only feeding now and again. The cob meanwhile patrols his territory, keeping it safe for his family.
🪹 The cygnets hatch within a day or two of each other and are soon ready to take to the water, although they still need to get out regularly to dry off, otherwise they become chilled. Cygnets have an instinct to climb, and will often seek the warmth of their parent’s back.
🌾 The two parents pull up w**d for their cygnets, and paddle their feet to stir up titbits to the surface, but cygnets can feed themselves from the start. They cheep constantly to stay close together for safety. For the next six to nine months the adults will teach the youngsters how to be swans and look after themselves and some are ready to become independent as soon as their first autumn.
🌍 Worcester, UK
📷 Nikon Z9 and Nikkor Z100-400mm
👀 Best viewed full screen.
