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Whilst walking along the riverside near Bewdley, Rosemary Winnall spotted a female Mute Swan swimming upstream with her 3 small cygnets swimming alongside. As she watched, the cygnets climbed up onto their mother’s back one at a time and she continued swimming with them perched aloft keeping warm, and safe from hungry pike.

Although this behaviour is documented for swans, and commonplace with grebes and some ducks, it is the first time she has seen this behaviour with Mute Swans.

Mute Swan with cygnets

(Cygnus olor)

Photograph by – Rosemary Winnall

Mute Swan with cygnets

(Cygnus olor)

Photograph by – Rosemary Winnall