Swans......

[ianrauk]

For some reason Deptford has recently become the centre of the Swan universe.
I have been in this office over looking the creek for 13 years and over that time I can't remember ever seeing so many Swans here. Any twitchers in CC land have any idea what could be attracting them to this quite dreary, urban part of London.

24 of the blighters.

@deptfordmarmoset

 

[pplpilot]

Keep away from swans, they can break your arm you know...

 

[ianrauk]

Pah! That's nothing. You should see the River Avon near Market Walk in Salisbury... that's Swan Central!

For sure Reg. I understand that.
But my point being, why are they suddenly congregating in dreary Deptford suddenly after all these years of not.

 

[snorri]

Possibly the water is becoming cleaner, thus encouraging the life forms that swans feed on to return to the bed of the creek.

 

[ianrauk]

Possibly the water is becoming cleaner, thus encouraging the life forms that swans feed on to return to the bed of the creek.

The water has always been pretty good here as it is quite fast flowing with a huge rise and fall in the tides and there are all sorts of bird wildlife that we see on a regular basis, Herons, Grebes, waders etc.. just puzzled at why suddenly the swans have found an

 

[Milkfloat]

Warning Daily Mail alert http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...dents-frightened-visit-park-Peterborough.html This suggests that the Deptford does not have many Eastern Europeans. I love a good Daily Mail post

 

[marknotgeorge]

The water has always been pretty good here as it is quite fast flowing with a huge rise and fall in the tides and there are all sorts of bird wildlife that we see on a regular basis, Herons, Grebes, waders etc.. just puzzled at why suddenly the swans have found an

Oh, no! @ianrauk has been eaten by a swan!

 

[marknotgeorge]

Speaking of swans, were a fair few on the Trent in Burton last time I went past, and there was a breeding pair in Markeaton Park.

 

[snorri]

Further research (Google ) shows that a local guy is encouraging them to nest in the creek..
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/...s_born_in_urban_Deptford_Creek_in_four_years/

 

[ianrauk]

Further research (Google ) shows that a local guy is encouraging them to nest in the creek..
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/...s_born_in_urban_Deptford_Creek_in_four_years/

Righto, good find.
Now, I have seen at least 2 of those Cygnets, though they are now 'Swan size' except all grey as opposed to white. Which I will guess they will change to soon.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

For some reason Deptford has recently become the centre of the Swan universe.
I have been in this office over looking the creek for 13 years and over that time I can't remember ever seeing so many Swans here. Any twitchers in CC land have any idea what could be attracting them to this quite dreary, urban part of London.

View attachment 100971

24 of the blighters.

@deptfordmarmoset

Yes, I've noticed them from the footbridge quite a lot. They seem to like that spot when the tide's out and slightly closer to the bridge when it's in.

I don't know Alf Hartmann but I recognise Nick Bertand from the bottom of his capacious beard - he's the one holding the muddy cygnet in @snorri 's link.

 

[Cheddar George]

Gentrification doesn't happen overnight. A better class of bird life gradually appears, pigeons bugger off for easier pickings leaving the swans to eat the ciabatta crusts from that artisan bakery that opened last month.
It gradually spreads unnoticed, soon everybody else in Deptford will also have tattoos and ride a bike, it's the ongoing rise of the hipster.

 

[martint235]

They are really good with chips and brussel sprouts

 

[pawl]

For some reason Deptford has recently become the centre of the Swan universe.
I have been in this office over looking the creek for 13 years and over that time I can't remember ever seeing so many Swans here. Any twitchers in CC land have any idea what could be attracting them to this quite dreary, urban part of London.

View attachment 100971

24 of the blighters.

@deptfordmarmoset

BBC news today Dolphins Seals Porpoises have been seen quite high up the Thames.Reason put forward by those who know , water quality has improved the food that these species live on has has increased

Good job they don't eat swans.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Just had a couple of days in London, stopped near Deptford Bridge DLR up Greenwich HS.

I didn't see any swans wandering the streets but there were a few bobbing along the Thames each morning as we took the city cruiser into the busy bit.