Cygnets born at Westlake

Cygnets have been born at Westlake. Arina Riley-Biddle has been watching and photographing them. 

She writes:

At the end of summer, when the lake level was low due to the drought, a breeding pair of of swans built a nest on the bank of the main lake in Westlake Reserve.

The nest was made out of stones, flax and feathers which they had gathered. Five eggs were laid and the female swan (called a 'pen') sat on the nest to keep the eggs safe and warm. Anyone who happened to get too close was hissed at by the male swan (called the 'cob'). 

When the heavy rain came, the water level rose quickly in the lake, right up to the base of the nest. But the pen stayed on the nest to keep the eggs dry.

After battling the rain for two days, the rain stopped. The nest was lucky to escape from flooding. After a few days just two of the eggs hatched into cygnets and can be seen with their parents on the lake.

Arina Riley-Biddle (aged 12)