Abbotsbury Swannery

Yes it's that time again and no these aren't last years pics!:D
An afternoon visit to the Swannery at the Fleet Lagoon on the Dorset coast between Weymouth and Bridport (for those unfamiliar with this area).
The cygnets are a week or so earlier than last.
Monks in the distant past used to eat swans, they are sometimes jokingly refered to as 'Abbotsbury Turkeys':D







The ahh factor



This Cob is in a threat pose due to the staff approaching to ring the cygnets.




And you thought I was all black.

 

Nice one Strongy, how much is it to get in now ?

 

Never saw the "black " one when we visited the year before last.:D Hope to pay another visit in the autumn.

 

When my daughter was younger we'd go to the Swannery + Children's Farm so many times on various holidays at Weymouth, Charmouth & West Bay throughout the year that an annual family season ticket was a bargain as we went at least once a day during several weeks holidays spent around that area every year.

I've driven slowly through Abbotsbury village with a badger running alongside me on the path in the early hours of the morning until it turned off towards the Swannery. Also seen lots of barn owls around there on the B3157 in the early hours. Might be around there myself in a week or so.

 

Great pics of the swans Srongy, and even better pics of the cygnets. Just gorgeous.
I'd often seen cygnets, but they were always a bit older than those fluffy jobs in your pics.
Last year I saw the the little fluffy cygnets on Lake Garda and they were just beautiful - but my pics were nowhere as good as yours.
Thank you for sharing them with us.

 

Are you sitting down Zig, its £10 (no concessions!), we have the yearly pass (£27) which lets you in to Abbotsbury Gardens as well (which is also around £10). We have been to both four or five times this year so it's a good saving.

Dai, There are 5 Black swans now with cygnets but they're taken away (Cricket St Thomas I believe) and their wings clipped as they are still regarded as non native.

Scrungee, never seen any owls around there but i'll keep looking.

 

Blimey Strongy, looks like the car park by the river at Weymouth might be a better option then. Last time I was there a swan climbed over a coot to get to the food, stood on the poor things head.

Parallel Badgers sound good Scrunge